Types of Concrete Finishes: Broom, Troweled, Stamped, Exposed Aggregate & More

What are the main types of concrete finishes?

There are six families: rough-floated, steel-troweled, broomed, grooved or stamped, exposed aggregate, and colored. Most are made in the same pour, while the concrete is still workable, so the choice has to be made before the truck arrives. The finish changes how the slab looks, how it grips underfoot and how easy it is to clean, but not how much concrete you order.

Professional floor work follows ACI 302.1R, the American Concrete Institute’s guide to concrete floor and slab construction, which covers finishing alongside site preparation, joints and curing. For homeowner flatwork, the clearest primary source we found is QUIKRETE’s Special Concrete Finishes project sheet, which this page follows. Brand names are used descriptively only; this site is independent of every manufacturer.

Sources: QUIKRETE Special Concrete Finishes (methods, timing, 1 in stamp depth, 60-day stain wait); Brown University standard 32 13 14 (exposed aggregate methods).

How do I choose a concrete finish?

Decide on cleaning, weather and traction first, then looks. QUIKRETE’s guide asks three questions in that order:

• Will it need frequent, thorough cleaning? Choose a smooth troweled finish; grooved or heavily broomed surfaces hold dirt.
• Will it see freeze-thaw, abrasion or heavy traffic? Avoid splattered finishes, which the guide says are more likely to peel and spall.
• Does it need grip? Use a floated, rough aggregate or evenly grooved finish, which give the best footing.

You can combine finishes on one project; a common pattern is a broomed field with smooth troweled borders, or stamped panels framed by broom finish.

What is a broom finish and how is it done?

A broom finish is a texture of fine ridges made by pulling a broom across concrete that is still soft. It is the standard finish for outdoor walks and drives because the ridges give grip when wet. QUIKRETE’s directions:

• A damp, stiff-bristled broom gives a coarse texture for slopes and heavy traffic; a dry, soft-bristled broom gives a medium to fine texture.
• Pull the broom toward you in parallel, slightly overlapping strokes; never push it back and forth.
• Broom sidewalks and driveways at right angles to the direction of traffic. On a 4 × 50 ft (1.22 × 15.24 m) walk, that means strokes across the 4 ft width.
• Rinse the bristles often to keep the tips clean.

QUIKRETE notes the effect depends on how soon you broom, how stiff the bristles are and whether the broom is wet or dry. Try a test strip at the end of the slab that will be least visible.

What is a smooth troweled finish?

A smooth finish is made by steel-troweling the surface after floating, and it is the easiest concrete to clean. Troweling waits until the surface water has evaporated and the concrete has lost its sheen; QUIKRETE gives 30 minutes to several hours depending on weather and the mix, with 30 minutes to an hour typical.

The first pass sweeps the trowel in overlapping arcs. For a denser surface, a second pass holds the leading edge up slightly and presses harder, and a third pass, with the edge higher and more pressure, gives an almost glossy finish. That gloss is also why smooth concrete is slippery when wet; keep it for garages, shops and interiors, or add a broom texture outdoors.

How are stamped and grooved finishes made?

Stamped concrete imprints a brick, stone or tile pattern into concrete that has stiffened slightly. QUIKRETE’s method: after the surface has been floated and troweled, step on the stamping pad to press the design to a depth of about 1 in (25 mm). On a 4 in (100 mm) slab that is a quarter of the thickness, so the timing window is short and large areas need a crew with enough stamp sets. Stamping tools can be rented at many rental centers.

Grooves can be cut with a jointer, made to look like flagstone, or pressed with a piece of bent pipe for deep, clean lines; scoring is done when the concrete has partly set. Stamped slabs are almost always colored, either with integral color or a color applied to the surface, and sealed.

How is exposed aggregate concrete made?

Exposed aggregate removes the top film of cement paste so the stones show. Brown University’s paving standard (Section 32 13 14) specifies two methods:

QUIKRETE describes the DIY version: use clean, damp stones, press them in with a heavy screed, remove excess mortar with a stiff broom, then wash with a fine spray until no cement film is left on the stones. Hand-set stones should be pressed in so more than half of each one is embedded. Exposed aggregate gives strong traction, but it is harder to clean than troweled concrete.

What are colored and other decorative finishes?

Color goes in two ways. Integral color is mixed with the water before it is added to the dry mix, which keeps one batch uniform; with several batches, the proportions must be controlled closely. Surface color (paint, colored coating or stain) goes on after curing; QUIKRETE says the concrete or mortar must be at least 60 days old before staining, and recommends a long-nap roller of 3/4 to 1 in (20 to 25 mm) for paint.

Smaller textures include a sandy finish (fine sand shaken over partly set concrete and rubbed in with burlap) and hammered aggregate (pebbles or shell set with a screed to spread each blow). On existing concrete, a resurfacer can add color and texture without a new pour; see concrete resurfacing cost. Whatever the finish, cure the slab properly; see concrete curing time.

Does the finish change how much concrete I need?

No. Order by length × width × thickness plus waste, whatever the finish. The calculator above is set to a 12 × 12 ft slab at 4 in. Figures with 10% extra, from scripts/types-of-concrete-finishes.ts:

Bag counts use QUIKRETE’s yields of 0.60 ft³ per 80 lb bag and 0.45 ft³ per 60 lb bag. What the finish does change is the schedule: stamped and exposed aggregate work needs the whole slab placed quickly so every part reaches the same stiffness together, which favors ready-mix over bag mixing on anything larger than a small pad. Price the pour with cost to pour a concrete slab or the concrete patio cost calculator, and size it on the concrete calculator home page.