Stone-Textured Exposed Aggregate Patios for Las Vegas
Wash-back concrete reveals natural stone embedded in the slab, creating a patio surface that grips wet feet and hides wear. Las Vegas Concrete sizes and selects aggregate to match your backyard style, then seals the finished surface to lock in color and durability. No stamping, no pattern tooling, just honest stone texture and low maintenance.
How Exposed Aggregate Concrete Works in Las Vegas Yards
Exposed aggregate is a poured concrete slab where the top layer of paste is washed away after the concrete sets, leaving the stones visible and tactile. The aggregate stays locked in the concrete matrix underneath, creating a surface that is both decorative and functional.
The base is standard: compacted soil, granular fill, air-entrained concrete mix, proper slope for drainage. The difference is in the finish. Once the concrete reaches the right set time, a light wash removes the surface paste and reveals the stone. A sealer then protects the exposed surface and brings out the natural color of the aggregate.
Compared to stamped patios, exposed aggregate skips the tooling step and costs less. Compared to plain concrete, it adds visual depth and wet-weather grip. The patio base is identical in all cases; only the surface treatment changes.
Recent work
Installation sequence
Pouring an Exposed Aggregate Patio, Step by Step
Select stone size and color
Pea gravel for fine, subtle texture or larger river rock for bold visual impact. We show samples in daylight so you see how the aggregate reads in your yard.
Prepare base and set forms
Excavate to depth, compact granular base, set forms with proper slope away from the house so water drains off the patio surface.
Pour and screed concrete
Air-entrained mix is placed, screeded flat, and left to cure to the right firmness. Timing the wash-back is critical to expose the stone cleanly.
Wash and seal the surface
Light pressure wash removes the top paste layer, revealing the aggregate. Once fully cured, a penetrating sealer locks in the stone and color.
Making the choice
Exposed Aggregate vs Other Patio Finishes
Three main decorative patio options exist: exposed aggregate, stamped concrete, and plain concrete. Exposed aggregate sits in the middle for cost and upkeep. The stone texture is permanent and doesn't fade like a stamp pattern can over years of sun and foot traffic.
If an existing patio is sound but tired, patio resurfacing can refresh it without a full tear-out. Exposed aggregate also ties well into walkways, pool decks, and other yard concrete work.
Grip, durability, sealing, and how the finish holds up in Las Vegas weather.
No, the opposite. The stone texture gives traction wet, which is why it is popular for patios that get pool splash, rain or morning dew. Much grippier than a smooth or even broom-finish patio.
Typically every three to four years in Las Vegas, slightly less often than stamped patios but more often than plain concrete. The seal protects the spaces between the stones from water getting in.
Not when the patio is poured and sealed properly. The aggregate is embedded in the concrete matrix, not laid on top, so the stones are mechanically locked in. Sealing protects the matrix from freeze-thaw working stones loose.
Yes. The base concrete can be integrally coloured under the exposed surface, and the aggregate choice shifts the tone too. We bring sample boards so you can see combinations in daylight before the pour.
Exposed aggregate usually costs less than stamped concrete because the stamp tooling and labour are not part of the job. The trade-off is a different decorative style, texture from stone rather than pattern from a stamp.
Describe your backyard and the look you want. We'll bring aggregate samples to your site, measure the space, and send a written quote within one business day. No obligation, no pressure.
