Replies

1. 
   patren61270 | Jan 17, 2003 06:56pm | #1

   To Pat,

   Here's a web site that may be helpful to you.

   http://concrete.com/index.htm

2. 
   fredsmart48 | Jan 17, 2003 07:08pm | #2

   it is just a normal pore, but before is sets they spray a retarder on the surface the rest of the concrete cures for maybe 2 hours and then you take a pressure washer and wash off the top 1/4"  portland cement leaving behind your pebbles, rock.

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Jan 18, 2003 05:32am | #8

   It's not really a normal pour...the aggregate is different.  Here is texas the standard way is to order concrete with all smooth stome, although some builders do salt the top layer of regular concrete with smooth stone.

1. 
   toast953 | Jan 18, 2003 08:08am | #9

   Good Evening Pat, some ideals?, well, I would want to see some of  "Your" Concrete Contractors, other previous poured "Pepple" finishes. Or, if you see  a exisiting driveway/sidewalk that you like, find  "that person" who performed the work, the actual work, ie, a talented concrete finisher, that is going to charge you, for your Peppled concrete finish. For in my experience, there is a world of difference, between plain concrete flatwork vs exposed types of aggregeates,  including the  concrete finisher's  that are able to do both. Be safe out there, Jim J.

3. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 17, 2003 07:32pm | #3

   Have you done a Google search for "exposed aggregate"? Lots of results, and many of them even appear to be relevant. :)

1. 
   Boxduh | Jan 17, 2003 10:00pm | #4

   The look of the pebbles is important, so find out what your various redi-mix operators use when they deliver pea gravel concrete.  What you want is probably the look of washed round "river stone."  Here they only use crushed granite so we had to salt the top of the slabs with a layer of washed stone after we first screeded it off, then screeded again to work the stone in, then float until smooth.  Get some retarder from a concrete specialty supplier, and spray it on after you have floated it once.  What I did was to make up four little 12" x 12" x 3" deep forms and poured them and troweled them at the same time as the slab pour, and sprayed them also with the retarder.  They work as test slabs for the spray-off.  When the slabs firm up well, try to spray off the cream and expose the gravel on one of your little test pieces.  I found a pressure washer too strong; a garden hose with a spray nozzle worked well for me.  If the cream is too soft and too easy to spray off on your first test piece (you want to leave the gravel pieces well bedded in cement), then wait a while, do it again, and when satisfied, work the big slabs.  You will like the effect.

2. 
   peaehm | Jan 17, 2003 10:46pm | #5

   Thanks for the help!

1. 
   bobtim | Jan 18, 2003 03:32am | #6

   I have heard of finishers that used Coke soda pop for retarder.  Strange but true. Don't have a clue as to why it works.

1. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 18, 2003 04:55am | #7

   I had forgotten we discussed this before, until the Coke reminded me.

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages/?msg=20201.1

4. 
   donnhello | Aug 22, 2010 03:07pm | #10

   Can Help

   Have 34 years experience in concrete and pebble Deck (expoxy) as well as washed pea gravel in  concrete.

   Please call:  Ron (936) 232-5008 

1. 
   DanH | Aug 22, 2010 03:29pm | #11

   Ron, you're new here, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt:  It's not generally considered proper to place an ad in any forum here other than "Reader Classified" or "Help Wanted/Work Wanted", and especially not after only being a member for 6 minutes.

   Besides which, the post you responded to is over seven years old.

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Aug 23, 2010 07:31am | #13

   Heck, Dan, I didn't look at the date either.

   This new forum still has me screwing up.

5. 
   DaveRicheson | Aug 23, 2010 06:07am | #12

   Call your local batch plant. They will usually have two different mixes for an exposed aggregate finish. One will have smooth river rock as the dense aggregate  (3/4" size), and other will have a pea gravel type aggregate  (smaller 1/4-3/8" size river rock. Both are finished normally, and as mentioned, then sprayed with a retarder to slow the surface set.

   Do not use a pressure washer to rinse the slurry  of cement/sand off the top.

   Use a hose with normal water pressure, and be gentel with it. A pressure washer, even a small one, will blow way to much slurry off the top. Latter you will be kicking yourself when the top continues to erode away because the bonding layer was washed away with a pressure washer.

   If you sub the concrete flatwork, the contractor will know how to pour an exposed aggregate finish. Expect tp pay a little more for both the material and the place/finish labor.

1. 
   DanH | Aug 23, 2010 07:59am | #14

   Latter you will be kicking yourself when the top continues to erode away because the bonding layer was washed away with a pressure washer.

   Sounds like the voice of experience.

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Aug 23, 2010 11:27am | #15

   Nope.

   FIL hired and excavator to haul off some big rocks.Guy said he had a man that could pour and exposed aggregate side walk for him. I got out there about the time the "cocncrete man" was finishing up. No retarder and a  hundred psi from a jet nozzle destroyed it. He had the rip it out and repour the whole thing, and still screwed it up. Turns out the guy was a mechanic for the excavation company, but "knew a lot about concrete."

   I learned the trade pouring commercial walls, floors, drives, curbs, etc. Learned something from everyone I ever worked for, good and bad. Hope I just remeber the good stuff.

1. 
   Scott | Aug 23, 2010 11:37am | #16

   >>>Turns out the guy was a

   >>>Turns out the guy was a mechanic for the excavation company, but "knew a lot about concrete."

   Dang, I hate stories like this, when moronic ignorance costs a customer a ton of time and money. I hope the guy didn't get paid a nickle.