I have an exposed aggregate driveway that my great-grandfather and grandfather laid about 60 years ago. It's still in great shape , with just one corner cracked due to settling. It is likely about 6"thick They were both masons by training and passion, in the old Italian tradition. My grandfather's house and yard is an ode to brick, concrete and crushed red stone.
Great video Odell. I’ve used this technique for years now self taught. I found that sometimes the water pressure from the hose alone, even if it’s just hitting the surface sometimes displaces the rocks. So I put something flat on top of the concrete (like my trowel, then I pour the water on the trowel and from the trowel the water very gently glided over the stones for exposure
I have watched so many of your videos, they are always very well explained so that non pros ( like me ) can get a great understanding of how the job is done from start to finish, the high standards that you and your team work to on all of the jobs is truly amazing ! This particular finish is one I have always wanted to re-create and I am now look forward to tackling this in the future Many thanks !
Nice job! We do it a little different in the Midwest. We pour a pea gravel Readi-mix. Finish the slab as we normally would, but instead of blooming we spray a surface retarder on. Cover it with poly and come back in the afternoon or next morning to wash. Exposed aggregate is one of my favorite looks, never get tired of it.
We get our concrete delivered with pea gravel already added. We get it to grade, edge it and lightly trial it so we don't push the stone to deep. Then we spray the top layer of concrete with a solution that slows or completely stops the very top layer from setting up. We let it set for 6-8 hours in the summer and usually overnight during the winter. Then we use a low pressure nozzle on a pressure washer to wash all the cement off of the pea gravel. Last step after everything has dried the final time we coat the top with a bronze tinted clear coat that keeps the exsposed agg looking great for many years to come. We never seed our gravel anymore or use anykind of suger. These new products make the concrete world incredible
I know you're busy guy... but I have a work related question, and you know so much about cement I thought I'd ask.... It is said when doing a shower pan ( mortar mix ) that you should dry pack it, so when you grab a hand full it should clump together but not quite fall apart. The idea is dry pack will resist moisture so after tiling should water get to pan material it won't get absorbed...or at least as easy. My take is the mortar should have more water, not runny but an hour or so after screeding you'll see water come up to surface. I also think having been a mason tender YEARS ago, that the material must be wet for the binder ( cement ) to do it's thing properly. Your experience & thoughts are much appreciated, THANKS !
Plastic cement and sand will crack when over 3/4" thick, especially when wet. The dry mix also helps with shaping a shower pans hard slopes, by cutting the grade with a straight edge.
Didn't see or missed if you put any rebar in 2x2 sq? Stepping Stones, good idea or not necessary? Wouldn't mind buying my self a Odell t-shirt for Xmas, you should have a link so people can support you, thanks for your great channel, cheers
Hi David, so I am wondering what you mean by using the term "plastic cement". Also, I am curious about using this method as a finished shower floor. Could it be done as you have shown here in one pour? if so,what would be the minimum or maximum thickness to insure no cracking-or is that possible...? maybe with the use of wire? thanks
PP fibers are my friend on shallow fills, they keep cracking and shrinkage in check although the behaviour of the mix is quite different, harder to pour and level and kind of clumping together. Also needs mixing for quite longer to distribute the fibers evenly.
I recently cut out a bit of my driveway up against the house to correct a draining problem. I've now got a bottle gully in exactly the right place and all hooked up to my drains. I was able to achieve a similar exposed aggregate look to the rest of the driveway by brushing it quite aggressively. I pulled it off more or less by luck if I'm honest. Now I'm subbed to this so that whenever I do this stuff in the future I'm not just winging it. Good work and good videos.
When you covered the pebbles with cement, then how much time did you wait (in hours) before you applied brush and water to remove the top layer of cement?
Loved the video, followed how to do it, mixed 20 bags of concrete, washed the stone like you showed. Applied the stone , trowel it under, waited 7hrs then little water and horse hair brush. Worked great , except I have a few spots that look like the cream stayed on . Tried a stiffer brush but it’s still there. Any ideas on what I can do ? Other then that great video, 1st time working with concrete, your video made that possible.
Amazing video! My driveway is made of aggregate. I've lived in this house 10 years and, not only did I not know what this finish was called, I had no idea how it was done. Thank you, Mr. Odell!
Great look!! Have a quick question... at the end you mentioned a wet look sealer. Do you actually wet the concrete and then apply a sealer specific for a wet application or is it just a wet look sealer that is applied to a dry surface? Thanks and thanks for all your great videos.
Holy smokes I’m glad I watched this before I did my pour. Great information and not a lot of the show business and it’s save me a bunch of disappointment. And it’s been way too many years since I did this and I forgot the finer points. Thanks for putting this up definitely will subscribe to your channel
I love this method and love the exterior of the rugged finish. I think pavers or concrete walkways should have a rough exterior look. Reminds me of the old cobblestone finishes on homes. Thank you so much for this vid. Looking forward to more
Oh thank u. This topic I only thought of when I'm NOT around someone I could ask. Grew up in city and the rock finish slabs seemed a thing of the past. Maybe in center city there be a specialty finish only for hi-end. But all of anything else was replaced with Grey slabs, that I noticed. Thank u for informing me it can be practical still cause it's just applying technique
Thank your taking the time to make these videos, they are very well done. Unrelated to the exposed aggregate video. How much does sand color affect the final dried color? If I was to use a dark brown mason sand and make the mix would it dry a lighter tan color without having to use coloring?
You can also experiment with sugar (or sugar-containing wastes) and starch (to make kind of gel, so it won't dry too fast): sugars slow down setting up of the portland cement, so when you apply it to the top, after few hours the stone would harden, while you still could wash away the top with car washer.
As a builder myself, you do this the exact same way I do. Throw in some concrete wire and fill it up. The more patient you are in the finishing stage, the better it turns out. And yeah, I have also thrown in coins, arrow heads, bottle caps, and even an old license plate or two. The possibilities are endless. And to take it up a notch, I have even took a grinder to it, and then it looks just like the floor of your local bank.
I had a guy do this to a walkway around my house and he used some kind of sugar on it to bring up the stones, came out great, have you ever heard of that?
Really beautiful work. I'm not sure why, but I keep having your videos pop up in my suggested list. Your work and the way you explain the processes is awesome.
Yes. And thank goodness it was not filmed in pea-brain vertical mode to match the pea gravel. Had it been in vertical I would have just skipped it and not watched and downvoted. Indeed a great upload, to the point and very useful.
Thanks for posting. Can you tell us about your form? Looks like that paver will be very heavy. Is the bottom of the form resting on plastic sheeting on the ground? Did you use mesh or rods to keep it from cracking?
@@OdellCompleteConcrete Very well done instructional video. Thank you. Did you reinforce the 2 ft by 2 ft blocks with mesh or rerod? What is the depth? Can you give an estimate of the weight of the final cured block?
Yeah just like my question. I asked 3years ago still not answered. 😢. Maybe he did not understand your question. Was it just the frame sitting on the ground or was there some kind of plywood to hold the cement in or just the frame onto of plastic?
At my moms house the driveway is easily 200ft long and 3 lanes wide and the entire thing is exposed aggregate. In Southeast Florida, it feels great on the feet in the summer time.
Old sidewalks were made like this with all the rocks and I noticed that it holds up and lasts a long time. I've seen new sidewalk blocks deteriorate within 5 years. And the old blocks with all the rock are still nice and they are 60 years old
Nice. I did a horrible version of this that I have to replace for other reasons, thankfully. Before then, I'll check out your other videos and subscribe. Thanks.
Meh. You learn by doing. Just don't learn at someone else's expense! It is a challenging spot for drainage and function and after a few years I have a proper solution plus experience and with your videos I'll be able do something practical and beautiful. Cheers.
Great video. Couple of quick ?s: --what type of concrete to use, can one use pre-mix concrete aka Quikrete (like you'd buy at the big box stores) and then add aggregate? Same ratio? --other ?: you don't have to add water/sugar mix before rinsing? Thanks!
How do you know when to start exposing the aggregate? What is the concrete suppose to look like? Can this same process be done with quikrete regular concrete mix? Do I use a metal tool to smooth the top before exposing the aggregate? Sorry, I'm new at this.
Hello David. Do you think you can make a quick video on grading slope or proper grading. Driveway add ons or sidehouse pathways .Can you include a methods on how to do it the easiest and most effective way .thanks for the consideration.
I tried this but i didn't get that nice creamy concrete at the top that easily covers the layer of pebbles when you run the float over them. Instead, i had a watery layer at the top and the pebbles didn't get fully covered by the concrete when I ran the float over them, even pushing down hard and going back and forth vigorously. The problem was that the mortar i made didn't have a homogeneous soupy, creamy consistency throughout, but rather was somewhat firm and dry beneath with a layer of water on top. The mix i used was about 1 part cement to 6 parts sand. Should I have used a ratio more like 1:3 cement to sand? Was the low amount of cement the reason the mix wasn't holding the water properly?
Dave, I tried this today. Your mix. Pretty solid and rich. No pox holes. The only thing I think I did wrong was add too much sand? I keep having sand coming out of my mixture after I took off the cream layer , after it hardened for about 5 hours. I did use a multipurpose sand in the beginning but had to switch to a masonry sand as I ran out of the grittier stuff. Could this be the reason why? I am just trying to improve. I thought about making a Portland paste to lay over the top to maybe keep the sand in-line. Any advice would be awesome Travis
Thanks for sharing. The builder of my 30 year old house did the driveway like that and it still looks amazing. What kind is sealer do you use this type of driveways?
My Glow Aggregate sales guy sent me this video as a "how-to" and said I could put their stones mixed in with these. I'm looking at trying this on a sample first & then hitting my larger projects. Scott at Ambient Glow, thank you for showing me this. LOVE LOVE LOVE this channel. Total Odell fan! I'm a subscriber now, too. Would love to see an Odell project with the glow so I can see how pros do it. Maybe even like a 3 brand comparison/review. Did I hear you say to wait 7 hours to wash it off?? I figured it'd be more like an hour or so. Thanks!
@@OdellCompleteConcrete You make it look so easy. Plus, you talk in a very relaxed tone of voice while making these concrete masterpieces. Just like Bob Ross and his paintings. Its very comfortable to watch, and seeing the final end result of these creations, which started from nothing but a bunch of supplies. Almost like visual a ASMR. I'm still waiting for you to start saying "You see this nice little concrete block, he looks lonely, let's give him a little friend. Yes, just a nice little friend for him to talk to. There we go, two nice little concrete blocks enjoying the great outdoors."
good info im ust about to do exposed concrete,me and some mates did a pour and it was rough so i had to use a big concrete grinder then a sealer looks good but next time round going to do exposed much less work
Thanks for the video. A quick question: you waiting seven hours before washing the concrete to expose the stone, how do you know when it is ready to wash? I live in AZ, I assume it would be ready quicker here with the dry air.
Nicely done. I was wonder if I could start with a paver underneath and pour a layer on mix and pebbles over that. I say this, because I already have some pavers, but would like to improve the look by adding the pebble surface. Do you think that would work using the form around a paver. I don't know if sticking to the paver would be a problem. Maybe Porter's would work best. I'd like you opinion, since you seem to know much more than I do. Thanks!
I’m will be pouring a hand seeded, exposed aggregate, hand mixed, 10 foot diameter gazebo pad. Probably take all day to pour. Can I wait till next morning to brush and expose?
I really liked your video. I've got to raise my driveway about 5 inches and slope it to 3 1/2 to 4 inches. Don't want to do a complete pour. Your blocks will be a great alternative. Thanks for your video.
I have an exposed aggregate driveway that my great-grandfather and grandfather laid about 60 years ago. It's still in great shape , with just one corner cracked due to settling. It is likely about 6"thick They were both masons by training and passion, in the old Italian tradition. My grandfather's house and yard is an ode to brick, concrete and crushed red stone.
nice
You need to make a video of that and post it. That sounds absolutely beautiful
What is a good sealer for an old aggregate driveway?
@@OdellCompleteConcretehow long do you wait after you smooth everything out to start the exposing process?
Great video Odell. I’ve used this technique for years now self taught. I found that sometimes the water pressure from the hose alone, even if it’s just hitting the surface sometimes displaces the rocks. So I put something flat on top of the concrete (like my trowel, then I pour the water on the trowel and from the trowel the water very gently glided over the stones for exposure
Good idea
I'm 58 years old, you learn something new everyday thanks dude.
YW
I’ve always wondered how this process was done. Thank you for an easy to follow tutorial!
YW
TY
Steve Most of the time you don't seed it. It's in the mix. You use the different kinds and colors of rock instead of white rock.
Small little stuff like he's doing it would be cheaper.
I have watched so many of your videos, they are always very well explained so that non pros ( like me ) can get a great understanding of how the job is done from start to finish, the high standards that you and your team work to on all of the jobs is truly amazing !
This particular finish is one I have always wanted to re-create and I am now look forward to tackling this in the future
Many thanks !
TY
GL
I always enjoy watching how seamless you make multi step processes look.
TY
@@OdellCompleteConcrete What is ty
@@evan.5967 ty is thank you. I suppose.
@@chrisonyeso8529 sorry I didn’t realise in the context, I was like “TY”??
Very nice. Good tip about running water through the bag of stones first to clean them before using them.
+Jere616
Yes it helps.
TY
Don't know about you but it takes ages cleaning a bag of gravel before use
Nice job! We do it a little different in the Midwest. We pour a pea gravel Readi-mix. Finish the slab as we normally would, but instead of blooming we spray a surface retarder on. Cover it with poly and come back in the afternoon or next morning to wash. Exposed aggregate is one of my favorite looks, never get tired of it.
That's a good system,
I've did it like that before
2021: 4 years after you posted this video, it is still EXCELLENT! Thank you!
YW
TY
Also 2022!!
2023 fool
Man I love watching a Master at work-absolutely flawless final product. Well done, sir!
TY
This is the way videos should be made, very clear on your speaking and video came across very nice and clear! Bueno!!
We get our concrete delivered with pea gravel already added. We get it to grade, edge it and lightly trial it so we don't push the stone to deep. Then we spray the top layer of concrete with a solution that slows or completely stops the very top layer from setting up. We let it set for 6-8 hours in the summer and usually overnight during the winter. Then we use a low pressure nozzle on a pressure washer to wash all the cement off of the pea gravel. Last step after everything has dried the final time we coat the top with a bronze tinted clear coat that keeps the exsposed agg looking great for many years to come. We never seed our gravel anymore or use anykind of suger. These new products make the concrete world incredible
Rugasol Retardant
I don't like seeding is a lot more work,
but in some areas you don't have nice river rock available in bulk.
Why bronze tinted?
I know you're busy guy... but I have a work related question, and you know so much about cement I thought I'd ask....
It is said when doing a shower pan ( mortar mix ) that you should dry pack it, so when you grab a hand full it should clump together but not quite fall apart. The idea is dry pack will resist moisture so after tiling should water get to pan material it won't get absorbed...or at least as easy. My take is the mortar should have more water, not runny but an hour or so after screeding you'll see water come up to surface. I also think having been a mason tender YEARS ago, that the material must be wet for the binder ( cement ) to do it's thing properly.
Your experience & thoughts are much appreciated, THANKS !
Plastic cement and sand will crack when over 3/4" thick, especially when wet.
The dry mix also helps with shaping a shower pans hard slopes, by cutting the grade with a straight edge.
Thanks
Didn't see or missed if you put any rebar in 2x2 sq? Stepping Stones, good idea or not necessary? Wouldn't mind buying my self a Odell t-shirt for Xmas, you should have a link so people can support you, thanks for your great channel, cheers
Hi David, so I am wondering what you mean by using the term "plastic cement". Also, I am curious about using this method as a finished shower floor. Could it be done as you have shown here in one pour? if so,what would be the minimum or maximum thickness to insure no cracking-or is that possible...? maybe with the use of wire? thanks
PP fibers are my friend on shallow fills, they keep cracking and shrinkage in check although the behaviour of the mix is quite different, harder to pour and level and kind of clumping together. Also needs mixing for quite longer to distribute the fibers evenly.
I don't know how much this is done anymore but I remember this quite a bit when I was younger.
Nice
My favorite method, so far. I like the look and the nonslip aspect.
I recently cut out a bit of my driveway up against the house to correct a draining problem. I've now got a bottle gully in exactly the right place and all hooked up to my drains. I was able to achieve a similar exposed aggregate look to the rest of the driveway by brushing it quite aggressively. I pulled it off more or less by luck if I'm honest. Now I'm subbed to this so that whenever I do this stuff in the future I'm not just winging it. Good work and good videos.
Good idea.
TY
I am getting ready to do this at my New House being built up in Northern Idaho. So excited about it as it looks so good
good idea
GL
When you covered the pebbles with cement, then how much time did you wait (in hours) before you applied brush and water to remove the top layer of cement?
@3:56
@@georgewashington1106 he is asking how much time he waited to expose the pebbles… 🙄
@@danni372 He referenced 7 hours at that time stamp. Go look
He was at 7 hours when he put the gravel in. You wash the cream off when the sugar water is dry
Same question
Loved the video, followed how to do it, mixed 20 bags of concrete, washed the stone like you showed. Applied the stone , trowel it under, waited 7hrs then little water and horse hair brush. Worked great , except I have a few spots that look like the cream stayed on . Tried a stiffer brush but it’s still there. Any ideas on what I can do ?
Other then that great video, 1st time working with concrete, your video made that possible.
acid wash may help.
Amazing video! My driveway is made of aggregate. I've lived in this house 10 years and, not only did I not know what this finish was called, I had no idea how it was done. Thank you, Mr. Odell!
YT
YW
Great look!! Have a quick question... at the end you mentioned a wet look sealer. Do you actually wet the concrete and then apply a sealer specific for a wet application or is it just a wet look sealer that is applied to a dry surface? Thanks and thanks for all your great videos.
Brian Weston
It's a sealer that gives a wet look appearance.
Applied to dry concrete.
The natural look it gives is great. Like a conglomerate rock.
shades2
Yes
I LIKE IT
+shades2
Beautiful
Holy smokes I’m glad I watched this before I did my pour. Great information and not a lot of the show business and it’s save me a bunch of disappointment. And it’s been way too many years since I did this and I forgot the finer points. Thanks for putting this up definitely will subscribe to your channel
Glad it was helpful!
Ive watched loads of concrete videos & i have to say your videos are by far the best. Especially the stepping stone videos youve just done.
TY
Thus the reason I love concrete. You can do anything with it.
Yes so true
Water the plants with it? Or flush the toilet with it? Put it on your breakfast in the morning?
Thank you so much for this incredible video.I have thought of this process for a very long time ! So clear and simple.! Greetings from Ontario Canada
Yw
TY
I love this method and love the exterior of the rugged finish. I think pavers or concrete walkways should have a rough exterior look. Reminds me of the old cobblestone finishes on homes. Thank you so much for this vid. Looking forward to more
Oh thank u. This topic I only thought of when I'm NOT around someone I could ask. Grew up in city and the rock finish slabs seemed a thing of the past. Maybe in center city there be a specialty finish only for hi-end. But all of anything else was replaced with Grey slabs, that I noticed. Thank u for informing me it can be practical still cause it's just applying technique
Yes
GL
Really beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
YW
TY
Damn it Odell. Now you've given me more ideas! LOL
If we water after 7 hours like this won't it enter the wooden mould and mix with the concrete. Strength may reduce too... Pl revert
Thank your taking the time to make these videos, they are very well done.
Unrelated to the exposed aggregate video. How much does sand color affect the final dried color? If I was to use a dark brown mason sand and make the mix would it dry a lighter tan color without having to use coloring?
Yes sand and rock effects color.
A lot of people on CZcams don't know what they're doing. This guy is not that. Great video
I've seen those.
TY
You can also experiment with sugar (or sugar-containing wastes) and starch (to make kind of gel, so it won't dry too fast): sugars slow down setting up of the portland cement, so when you apply it to the top, after few hours the stone would harden, while you still could wash away the top with car washer.
True
I have used that system.
You have simple, educational well done videos! Thank you!!
YW
TY
Great idea man. I'd love my whole driveway like this.
TY
We pour 10 to 30 yards a day and use geactavator to spay it.
Absolutely my favorite concrete finish. Thank you for this!
YW
TY
As a builder myself, you do this the exact same way I do. Throw in some concrete wire and fill it up. The more patient you are in the finishing stage, the better it turns out. And yeah, I have also thrown in coins, arrow heads, bottle caps, and even an old license plate or two. The possibilities are endless. And to take it up a notch, I have even took a grinder to it, and then it looks just like the floor of your local bank.
sounds like some nice stuff
I had a guy do this to a walkway around my house and he used some kind of sugar on it to bring up the stones, came out great, have you ever heard of that?
Absolutey awesome technique
TY
When doing a large drive you need pressure I do this work every day and we ordered our mix with the rock thats going to be shown
I hear you
Awesome
Thank you very much from us Wales in the UK for showing me how to do this...fantastic informative video.
Glad it was helpful!
The thing is am glued on your channel......keep posting please...👍
Hi David. I would really like to see an exposed aggregate driveway with crushed/broken glass. Merry Xmas from the U.K. all the best for the new year
That would be nice.
Merry Christmas
All About Resin Drives
awesome, great work. you really know your craft. learning a lot from your vids.
YW TY
Mr. O'Dell,
What a magnificent work you have created👏👏👏👏
TY
Really beautiful work. I'm not sure why, but I keep having your videos pop up in my suggested list. Your work and the way you explain the processes is awesome.
ty
Yes. And thank goodness it was not filmed in pea-brain vertical mode to match the pea gravel. Had it been in vertical I would have just skipped it and not watched and downvoted. Indeed a great upload, to the point and very useful.
Super video dam nice job and it looks easy thanks
NP!
Wonderful man, thanks
TY
glad you pointed out using clean rock.. very important and great video
Important details.
YW
Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing your know-hows. Wishing you the very best to you and your fam.
Thanks for posting. Can you tell us about your form? Looks like that paver will be very heavy. Is the bottom of the form resting on plastic sheeting on the ground? Did you use mesh or rods to keep it from cracking?
I used it them for my driveway. Truck and trailer on them no problem
@@OdellCompleteConcrete Very well done instructional video. Thank you.
Did you reinforce the 2 ft by 2 ft blocks with mesh or rerod? What is the depth? Can you give an estimate of the weight of the final cured block?
Yeah just like my question. I asked 3years ago still not answered. 😢. Maybe he did not understand your question. Was it just the frame sitting on the ground or was there some kind of plywood to hold the cement in or just the frame onto of plastic?
I like Dave always wondered how it was done nice finish
Have you ever done video with radiant heat
No
TY
This is defiently not how it is done, this is more of a rigged way. Correct way is having a cement truck fl of river stone poured not added
@@Aj-tb5vm its a paving stone. fkn troll
At my moms house the driveway is easily 200ft long and 3 lanes wide and the entire thing is exposed aggregate. In Southeast Florida, it feels great on the feet in the summer time.
Yes sound like it would
Old sidewalks were made like this with all the rocks and I noticed that it holds up and lasts a long time. I've seen new sidewalk blocks deteriorate within 5 years. And the old blocks with all the rock are still nice and they are 60 years old
Rocks are the hardest part of concrete
First, and is it possible to go back to your prior jobs and see the finished and lived in work?
We actually did this at my house and if you go watch the vlog #3 you will see i put this in my front yard to extend my driveway
Nice. I did a horrible version of this that I have to replace for other reasons, thankfully. Before then, I'll check out your other videos and subscribe. Thanks.
Sorry to hear but hopefully the videos help!
Meh. You learn by doing. Just don't learn at someone else's expense! It is a challenging spot for drainage and function and after a few years I have a proper solution plus experience and with your videos I'll be able do something practical and beautiful. Cheers.
great
ty
I love it David!! Glad I found your channel along with tigran! Both have opened the door for different opportunities!!
Glad you like the channel!
Great video. Couple of quick ?s: --what type of concrete to use, can one use pre-mix concrete aka Quikrete (like you'd buy at the big box stores) and then add aggregate? Same ratio? --other ?: you don't have to add water/sugar mix before rinsing? Thanks!
yes any concrete will work, and retardants aren't necessary
thanks for responding so quickly, subbed!
i love to watch guys that do concrete right. good job.
Ty
Thank you very much for taking the time to show us.
You bet!
OCC, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience of concrete with us.
YW
Love the video! Do you have any tips on how to get an exposed aggregate finish on concrete?
Ok, I have to admit I was not expecting that finish. Brilliant work.
OSS
This is exactly the video I was looking for. You’re the man.
Ty
Superb. A craftsman. Thanks for showing us.
Yw
Looks great.
Would love to see same technique on vertical surface.
Me too
Beautiful work! Greetings from Poland
Thank you! Cheers!
it is a good alternative creating the countertop by treating the surface directly without flipping, and more over without polishing
I concur
Great video - that's a fantastic technique. I plan to try it this weekend.
Good luck!
How do you know when to start exposing the aggregate? What is the concrete suppose to look like? Can this same process be done with quikrete regular concrete mix? Do I use a metal tool to smooth the top before exposing the aggregate? Sorry, I'm new at this.
I've always love this look for a driveway and a walkway 😍😍
Me too
TY
a good honest worker
Masterfully done mate. Great explanation. I’d definitely hire you.
Hello David.
Do you think you can make a quick video on grading slope or proper grading. Driveway add ons or sidehouse pathways .Can you include a methods on how to do it the easiest and most effective way .thanks for the consideration.
Joe Biden
Sure no problem.
TY
Nice hand mixed finished concrete. Awesome. Well done video. Thanks for sharing.
YW
I tried this but i didn't get that nice creamy concrete at the top that easily covers the layer of pebbles when you run the float over them.
Instead, i had a watery layer at the top and the pebbles didn't get fully covered by the concrete when I ran the float over them, even pushing down hard and going back and forth vigorously.
The problem was that the mortar i made didn't have a homogeneous soupy, creamy consistency throughout, but rather was somewhat firm and dry beneath with a layer of water on top.
The mix i used was about 1 part cement to 6 parts sand. Should I have used a ratio more like 1:3 cement to sand? Was the low amount of cement the reason the mix wasn't holding the water properly?
I second that comment.
Dave,
I tried this today. Your mix. Pretty solid and rich. No pox holes.
The only thing I think I did wrong was add too much sand? I keep having sand coming out of my mixture after I took off the cream layer , after it hardened for about 5 hours. I did use a multipurpose sand in the beginning but had to switch to a masonry sand as I ran out of the grittier stuff.
Could this be the reason why? I am just trying to improve. I thought about making a Portland paste to lay over the top to maybe keep the sand in-line.
Any advice would be awesome
Travis
thank you. well done, and very helpful. gonna give it a try over these next few days.
GL
Thanks for sharing. The builder of my 30 year old house did the driveway like that and it still looks amazing. What kind is sealer do you use this type of driveways?
Very pleasant voice and simple understandable, narration. Thank you!
TY
My Glow Aggregate sales guy sent me this video as a "how-to" and said I could put their stones mixed in with these. I'm looking at trying this on a sample first & then hitting my larger projects. Scott at Ambient Glow, thank you for showing me this. LOVE LOVE LOVE this channel. Total Odell fan! I'm a subscriber now, too. Would love to see an Odell project with the glow so I can see how pros do it. Maybe even like a 3 brand comparison/review. Did I hear you say to wait 7 hours to wash it off?? I figured it'd be more like an hour or so. Thanks!
He never replied to you to this question, seven hours or one hour or so?? Did you find out how long do you have to wait? Regards, Roman
It seems so simple yet is so beautiful.
TY
Great video, I always wanted to know how the deck around my pool had been made, looks exactly like the paver
Great
*You're like the Bob Ross of concrete.*
Bob Ross the king
@@OdellCompleteConcrete You make it look so easy. Plus, you talk in a very relaxed tone of voice while making these concrete masterpieces. Just like Bob Ross and his paintings.
Its very comfortable to watch, and seeing the final end result of these creations, which started from nothing but a bunch of supplies. Almost like visual a ASMR. I'm still waiting for you to start saying "You see this nice little concrete block, he looks lonely, let's give him a little friend. Yes, just a nice little friend for him to talk to. There we go, two nice little concrete blocks enjoying the great outdoors."
Very nice method to make own pattern and texture on a slab
Thanks for liking
good info im ust about to do exposed concrete,me and some mates did a pour and it was rough so i had to use a big concrete grinder then a sealer looks good but next time round going to do exposed much less work
Good idea
GL
Good for non slip driveway where it snows?
For sure
Thanks for the video. A quick question: you waiting seven hours before washing the concrete to expose the stone, how do you know when it is ready to wash? I live in AZ, I assume it would be ready quicker here with the dry air.
You know when your getting a light broom texture
Awesome video, very good instructions.
Thanks for sharing, it’s much appreciated.
yw
I like how you really know your craft. I've seen other video's of yours and I appreciate your channel.
TY
Thank you for the video! Helpful as always!
Happy to help!
We had to recast the original slabs, like these in London England on a vctorian shcool, nice work!!
Cool, thanks
Always, fantastic work!
Thanks again!
Nicely done. I was wonder if I could start with a paver underneath and pour a layer on mix and pebbles over that. I say this, because I already have some pavers, but would like to improve the look by adding the pebble surface. Do you think that would work using the form around a paver. I don't know if sticking to the paver would be a problem. Maybe Porter's would work best. I'd like you opinion, since you seem to know much more than I do. Thanks!
Try Resin Rock by Vuba
That's artistry sir. Very nice.
TY
A beautiful job. Thanks for sharing your skills
Thank you! Cheers!
Finally!!! I've wanted to know how to do this for years!!! Thank You!!
yw
I’m will be pouring a hand seeded, exposed aggregate, hand mixed, 10 foot diameter gazebo pad. Probably take all day to pour. Can I wait till next morning to brush and expose?
I really liked your video. I've got to raise my driveway about 5 inches and slope it to 3 1/2 to 4 inches. Don't want to do a complete pour. Your blocks will be a great alternative. Thanks for your video.
The only way to go
Brokski you killed it great vid.
TY
Making samples is great for jobs... I havent done a salt finish in years... I like the vids. Great job.
Awesome
Thank you for useful content. Using your technique today
Glad it was helpful!