Exposed aggregate sealing on the Central Coast.

Walk through any new estate in Erina Heights, Wamberal or the Wyong growth areas and you will see exposed aggregate driveways on most blocks. It looks fantastic when fresh, the river pebbles and crushed stone exposed in a decorative matrix, but it is more exposed than plain concrete by design. The cement matrix that holds the stone is vulnerable to UV chalking and salt attack. The original sealer applied at the pour wears off within two to four years on the Coast, and then the surface dulls, the stone colours flatten, and fine cement dust starts lifting off underfoot.

What resealing does.

A fresh seal re-wets the stone so the warm browns, golds and greys come back, binds the cement matrix so it stops shedding dust, and forms a barrier against salt, oil and tannin staining from overhanging gums. On a coastal driveway this is not just cosmetic, it slows the matrix erosion that eventually pops stones loose and ages the whole surface.

Sealer choice for aggregate.

• Wet-look high-build: rich glossy colour, the most-requested look, recoat every 2 to 3 years in salt air. ~$18 to $26/m².
• Satin solvent-based: a softer sheen with strong colour, good middle ground. ~$16 to $22/m².
• Matte penetrating: natural dry look, best slip resistance, longest service life. ~$14 to $18/m².

A worked example.

A 70m² exposed aggregate driveway in Wamberal that had gone grey and dusty four years after the build: pressure clean to lift salt and grime, let it dry fully, then two coats of a UV-stable wet-look sealer with a slip additive on the sloped section near the garage. Around $1,300 to $1,700, one day on site, drive on it after 24 to 48 hours. The owner gets the original honey-and-charcoal stone colour back and a surface that stops dusting onto the cars.