Sealing an Exposed Aggregate Driveway: Wet-Look Finish, Cost & Upkeep
Exposed aggregate looks its best sealed — deep, wet and rich. Here's how the finish works, why it's worth it, and how to keep it that way.
The quick version
- Sealing brings out the colour of the stones and gives that deep 'wet-look' finish exposed aggregate is known for.
- Bare aggregate goes flat, grey and dirty because the open, textured surface traps everything.
- A wet-look seal makes it easier to clean and protects against oil, salt and UV.
- It needs resealing every few years as traffic and sun wear the finish.
Exposed aggregate is one of the best-looking driveway surfaces going — all those pebbles and stones set into the concrete. But bare and unsealed, it dulls off to a flat grey and traps dirt in every gap. Sealing is what makes it look the way it did on the day it was laid, only better.
Why aggregate needs sealing more than most
The exposed stones give the surface loads of texture — which is exactly why it grabs dirt, grime and algae, and why it goes flat and grey without protection. That open surface also lets water, oil and salt soak straight in. A seal fills and protects that texture, so it stays cleaner, richer and easier to look after.
The wet-look finish
The finish most people want on aggregate is wet-look — a glossy clear seal that deepens the colour of the stones and makes them pop, like they're permanently wet. You can also go satin for a softer sheen. Either way, the transformation on a tired aggregate driveway is dramatic — it's one of our favourite before-and-afters.
Cost and upkeep
Like any driveway sealing, it's priced per square metre on the size and condition of your driveway. Upkeep is easy: hose it down when it needs it, and reseal every few years as the wet-look wears in the tyre tracks and under the sun. On the coast, salt and UV mean it's worth staying on top of the reseal cycle.
Does sealing make exposed aggregate slippery?+
A high-gloss wet-look seal can be a little slick when wet. For sloped or shaded aggregate driveways we can add a fine anti-slip additive, or go with a satin finish, so grip isn't an issue.
My aggregate driveway has gone dull and grey — can it be brought back?+
Almost always. A proper clean lifts the ingrained dirt out of the texture, then a wet-look seal brings the colour of the stones right back. It's one of the most satisfying transformations we do.
How often does exposed aggregate need resealing?+
Every couple of years as a guide — the wet-look wears first in the wheel tracks and full-sun areas. We'll give you a realistic reseal window for your driveway.
Written by the Clean & Seal team — two brothers who clean and colour-seal driveways across the Central Coast, NSW. We wrote this from real jobs, not a brochure.
