Garage and driveway finishes: which to choose
The driveway is a big slab of your street view and you walk it every day. How plain concrete, exposed aggregate and pavers compare on looks, grip and upkeep in SA and Victoria.
The driveway is easy to leave until last, but it is one of the largest single surfaces people see from the street and the one you cross every single day. New homes across SA and Victoria usually land on one of three finishes: plain concrete, exposed aggregate, or pavers, and each changes the look of the frontage and how much attention it needs over the years. The garage floor is a smaller version of the same choice, where a hard-wearing, easy-clean surface pays off. Here is how the options stack up.
Plain concrete: the practical default
A poured concrete driveway is the simplest and most practical choice, and it is what most homes include as standard. It is tough, easy to hose clean and happy to carry a car for decades. The honest downside is purely cosmetic: a plain grey slab can look a little flat next to a facade you have put effort into. Colouring the concrete or adding a light texture lifts it noticeably while keeping all the practicality, which is a popular middle ground.
Exposed aggregate: the popular upgrade
Exposed aggregate is concrete with the top layer washed back to reveal the stone inside, giving a decorative speckled finish in a range of colours. It is the upgrade a lot of new homes choose because it instantly lifts the frontage, offers good grip underfoot and on tyres, and hides everyday marks and wear far better than plain grey. It does want resealing every so often to keep the colour looking fresh, and like all decorative concrete the result depends on a good contractor.
Pavers: the classic look
Pavers give a classic, high-end frontage with endless patterns and materials, from clay to concrete to natural stone, and they suit traditional and Hamptons-style homes especially well. A big practical plus is that a single stained or cracked paver can be lifted and replaced, which you cannot do with a poured slab. The trade-offs live in the joints: weeds and ants can appear between pavers, and the whole surface can settle or lift if the base underneath is not prepared properly, so the groundwork really matters.
Do not forget the garage floor
The garage slab is the same decision at smaller scale. Plain concrete is fine, but because a garage floor cops oil drips, tyre marks and the odd knock, many owners add a sealer or an epoxy-style coating to make it hard-wearing and easy to wipe clean. It is a modest touch that keeps the space looking tidy and protects the slab, and it is far easier to do before you fill the garage than after.
Plain concrete
- The simplest, most practical driveway surface
- Hard-wearing and easy to hose down
- Can be coloured or lightly textured for a lift
- A clean, understated look that suits many homes
- Plain grey can look flat against a styled facade
- Can show oil marks and surface cracks over time
- Needs control joints and sealing to stay its best
Exposed aggregate
- Decorative stone finish that lifts the whole frontage
- Good natural grip underfoot and under tyres
- Hides marks and wear better than plain grey
- A wide range of stone colours and blends
- A premium finish over plain concrete
- Wants periodic resealing to keep the colour sharp
- Finish quality depends on the contractor
Pavers
- Classic, high-end look with lots of patterns
- A cracked or stained paver can be lifted and swapped
- Suits traditional and Hamptons-style homes
- Choice of clay, concrete and stone pavers
- Weeds and ants can appear in the joints
- Can settle or lift if the base is not prepared well
- More involved to lay than a poured surface
- Needs occasional joint topping and weeding
Plain concrete is the practical, no-fuss choice, and colouring or texturing it is a smart way to lift the look without losing the easy care. Exposed aggregate is the popular upgrade when you want the frontage to feel finished, with good grip and marks that hide well. Pavers suit traditional homes and let you swap a damaged one, as long as the base is prepared properly. For the garage, a sealed or coated floor is a small move that keeps it clean for years.
Still weighing it up?
Tell us about your block and what you want, and we will match you with three builders across SA or Victoria who do this sort of work well.
Match me with 3 buildersCommon questions
What is the best driveway finish for a new home?
It depends on the look you want. Plain concrete is the practical default, exposed aggregate is the popular upgrade for a finished, grippy frontage, and pavers suit traditional homes and can be individually replaced. All three work well when laid properly.
Is exposed aggregate better than plain concrete?
For looks and grip, many people think so. Exposed aggregate lifts the frontage, hides marks better and gives good traction, while plain concrete is simpler and easier to hose clean. Exposed aggregate does need periodic resealing to keep its colour.
Do paver driveways have problems with weeds?
They can. Weeds and ants sometimes appear in the joints between pavers, and the surface can settle or lift if the base is not well prepared. Good groundwork and occasional joint topping keep a paved driveway in good shape.
Should I seal or coat my garage floor?
It is worth considering. A sealer or epoxy-style coating makes the garage floor hard-wearing and easy to wipe clean, which helps because garages cop oil, tyre marks and knocks. It is much easier to do before the garage is filled with gear.