Washed concrete

Compared to wood, metal, stone, brick, or cinder block, concrete is one of the most used construction materials in countless projects. There are several types including ready-mix concrete, rapid-setting concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, stamped concrete, no-mix concrete, and washed concrete.

The latter is recognized by its granular appearance, rough touch, and visible gravel. Many use it when landscaping a garden path or for a poolside terrace. No one can deny that its aesthetic look is very successful.

However, many questions still arise regarding its other strengths, weaknesses, usage, manufacturing, lifespan, and price. If you want answers, you’ve come to the right place. This article provides essential information about this floor covering.

What is washed concrete?

As its name suggests, it is nothing other than standard concrete but with its own characteristics. This concerns its granular appearance and rough touch. It is a floor covering finishing technique where the surface layer is removed using a high-flow water jet.

This surface is thus washed with a pressure washer to reveal the aggregates. Washed concrete is distinguished by its visible gravel. It is particularly popular on sidewalks, poolside terraces, park or garden paths, and many other pedestrian areas.

If you want to know everything about exposed aggregate concrete, it should be said that this type of concrete is close to washed concrete. Visually, they look alike. It is not surprising that many people cannot differentiate them. Exposed aggregate concrete or washed concrete, these coatings highlight the gravel. That is why they have anti-slip properties.

To clarify, the exposed aggregate application requires adding a deactivating product or a set retarder admixture. In contrast, the washed concrete is simply done using a pressure washer. It needs a high-pressure water jet to bring out the aggregates. Additionally, the use of colored stones shows the differences between exposed aggregate concrete and the washed model.

What are the advantages of washed concrete?

Do you want to set up a garden in the city? Choosing washed concrete is an interesting idea that highlights your outdoor spaces. With cement, gravel, sand, water, or even marble gravel per ton, this flooring is pleasant to look at.

It differs from other models in the same category thanks to its aesthetic appearance. Despite the somewhat high equipment rental cost, it sublimely enhances your poolside terrace.

If you want to know everything about exposed concrete, remember that washed concrete has the same advantages in terms of its non-slip qualities. Thanks to its granular appearance and rough touch, this coating limits the risk of slipping even when the floor is wet after rain or snow.

This makes it a very safe option for pedestrian areas such as sidewalks and also for alleys. Due to this non-slip characteristic, many use it for their well or fountain coping stones.

Washed concrete also appeals to many people because of its strength and durability. It can dress your terrace for many years. According to specialists, its longevity can exceed 20 years.

However, unlike interlocking pavers, it does not require complex maintenance. When moss starts to appear, you can get rid of it with a pressure washer.

Besides that, this material resists thermal shocks. Robust, it easily tolerates bad weather, humidity, dust, frost, UV rays, and many other external aggressions. Its manufacturing materials such as sand, cement, water, and aggregates are easy to find. There is no need to use a ton of pink marble gravel to make it.

What are the disadvantages of washed concrete?

Even though this type of concrete has countless advantages, only a few disadvantages can be mentioned. First, it must be admitted that it is not easy to install. Like exposed concrete installation, its laying also requires the intervention of an expert. As a result, the work often demands a significant budget.

Secondly, washed concrete cannot drain rainwater. It is not designed for this purpose. Therefore, it is important to install a drain to avoid problems of surface subsidence and humidity. If you call a professional, they always take this precaution when installing washed concrete.

On the aesthetic side, although most people appreciate its granular appearance and rough touch, others do not necessarily like it. They prefer a smooth surface instead. Moreover, due to its texture, it requires delicate cleaning when stains get embedded.

In any case, washed concrete does not get dirty easily. If you accidentally spill liquids on the floor, consider cleaning it immediately. This coating is able to maintain its original state for a long period of time. That is why it can be used in countless pedestrian streets.

How is washed concrete made?

Like any concrete, the washed type is made of cement sand gravel and water. You are not required to use marble ton gravel. These classic materials may suffice. However, try to find high-quality elements to ensure the durability and strength of your poolside terrace.

Returning to our main topic, constructing a floor in washed concrete involves spreading the previously prepared mixture over a surface that is both clean and even. Once the mixture is well poured, run a high-pressure water jet over the floor. The goal is to reveal the underlying gravel.

During finishing, you have the option to add colorants to the mixture to customize the appearance of your garden paths or your terrace. When composing the washed concrete, please respect its 10 cm thickness to ensure its stability. This both guarantees its resistance to external stresses and to various loads.

Unlike deactivated concrete washing operation, the washed type does not necessarily require the use of deactivating product. A strong water jet is enough to reveal the aggregates and that’s it.

What are the main uses of washed concrete?

Washed concrete has many advantages. It is not only admired for its durability but also for its aesthetic aspect. Even better, it resists thermal shocks and external aggressions. It also offers optimal grip, making it a perfect floor covering for pathways. Non-slip, it limits potential slipping risks.

Besides pedestrian and vehicular paths, it is used on sidewalks, bike lanes, access roads, parking lots, yards, roadways, and pedestrian streets. If you plan to install urban road coverings, you can entrust this project to a professional. You get free quotes after contacting them.

That said, washed concrete can also dress stairs and footbridges. You can also use it for your garage driveway.

To know everything about deactivated concrete, these two types of concrete can be used in high-traffic areas. Due to their rock-solid strength, they tolerate heavy loads. Despite repeated vehicle or pedestrian traffic, they can remain intact.

Versatile, washed concrete is also useful on the poolside terrace. It is more precisely installed around the pool. It can also be found on house patios. In all cases, this floor covering can imitate the look of slabs. Decorative, it highlights the gravel.

What is the difference between washed concrete and deactivated concrete?

Regarding the deactivated concrete differences with washed concrete, we can say that these are clearly visible in the washing operation. This action serves to reveal the aggregates.

For washed concrete, the surface mortar is removed using a high-pressure water jet. The goal is to remove the surface mortar which has been previously treated to prevent drying and then hardening. Simply put, you must proceed with washing immediately after laying the concrete. You are thus working on fresh concrete.

On the other hand, the exposed aggregate concrete washing operation takes place later. In most cases, you can perform it one day after the concrete has been placed. Additionally, this type of concrete requires the use of a retarder product.

This product will be sprayed onto the surface of the coating. As a result, the setting is delayed. After that, you can clean the floor with high pressure solely to reveal the aggregates.

But clearly, it must be admitted that these two concretes look alike. Their common feature lies in their granular appearance and rough touch. Washed or exposed aggregate concrete, they highlight the pebbles to obtain a rough surface.

Moreover, their composition is similar. They are made with sand and cement water aggregates in sufficient quantity. Regarding the laying technique, it is similar to standard concrete, that is to say with pouring and then screeding. The next step is leveling and finally, finishing.

How to maintain washed concrete?

Like any outdoor surface, washed concrete can get dirty over time due to dust. Whatever its characteristics, it requires regular sweeping to extend its lifespan and especially to keep a well-maintained aesthetic appearance.

Before going into details, it should be specified that a poolside terrace in washed concrete should not be cleaned with detergents. Likewise, the use of aggressive cleaners is strongly discouraged. Otherwise, you risk prematurely damaging the surface. It does not need them to maintain its cleanliness.

To proceed with cleaning, the operation starts by removing the debris or the coarsest granules by sweeping. To do this effectively, you can use a blower. This device is effective for removing dead leaves as well as waste. Moreover, it is very easy to handle.

Regarding the actual cleaning, you can simply use soapy water. Once poured onto the concrete, do not hesitate to scrub with a hard-bristle broom. It is also possible to use a scrub brush broom.

To ensure the surface is perfectly cleaned, leave the washing solution in place for a few minutes. Then rinse with clear water using a pressure washer. If you do not have one, use a garden hose. It should be noted that washed concrete can air dry. If possible, the use of a sealing product may be necessary.

What is the lifespan of washed concrete?

As mentioned above, this coating resists thermal shocks. Although it is installed outdoors, it easily withstands rain, UV rays, frost, and sun. In this respect, washed concrete has significant durability. It can cover your outdoor space for about twenty years.

Like most concretes, it is made of cement, aggregate, sand and of course water. Thus, while traditional concretes can last for 50 years, washed concrete, like other decorative concretes, can accompany your poolside terrace for several decades.

There is, however, one condition. If you want to extend its lifespan, make sure to take care of it regularly. Fortunately, this flooring requires no complex maintenance. Frequent cleaning will suit it very well.

Moreover, this operation does not require any expensive equipment. This is not the case with other coatings, as their maintenance entails a high equipment rental cost.

How much does it cost to create a washed concrete surface?

Whether you plan to use it to build your garden path, driveway, or poolside terrace, the price of washed concrete, like that of exposed aggregate concrete, can be somewhat expensive compared to standard concrete. In any case, you should budget between 65 and 95 euros per square meter on average.

To save money, please compare prices. Take the time to contact several professionals and you will receive different free quotes. It is important to emphasize that the pricing of washed concrete can vary depending on countless factors.

The type of materials used is one of them. Generally, classic washed concrete does not require the use of marble gravel tons. You just need common cement, sand, gravel. But if you plan to use colored gravel, this will undoubtedly increase the price. The same applies to the use of white or lighter cement.

Besides that, the surface area to be covered is another parameter that can affect the price. If you plan to build a large washed concrete terrace, it is normal that both the material and labor costs will be high.

Similarly, the complexity of the site can change the cost. If the work is easy to accomplish, the installation of concrete does not require a large budget. The last criterion relates to the thickness of the slab. If this is substantial, it will certainly increase the price.

What styles and finishes are available for washed concrete?

Type of Aggregate	Background Color	Visual Effect	Recommended Use
River pebbles	Light gray / Beige	Rustic and soft	Garden paths
Crushed granite	Anthracite gray	Modern and sober	Design terraces
White quartz	Pure white	Bright and high-end	Poolside areas
Ochre limestone	Yellow / Sand	Provencal and warm	House entrances

When you want to know everything about exposed aggregate concrete, it is often recognized by its colored gravel. These are not only decorative but also facilitate the customization of the exterior surface.

Currently, washed concrete can similarly come in several styles. With a variety of color combinations, it can easily and beautifully match multiple landscaping styles.

Whether your outdoor decoration is modern, traditional, or even atypical, this flooring can adapt effortlessly to all themes. To obtain different shades, you just need to add colorants to the mix. This gives you the opportunity to customize the appearance of your washed concrete floor according to your tastes.

Among the trendiest shades, most people choose concrete in black, gray, beige, white, green, ochre, blue, dark gray, or even red and pink. Be sure to consider the color of other decorative elements on your terrace to make the right choice.