Choosing among the many types of concrete finishes is more important than most people think. To many Fredericton property owners, concrete feels simple. You pour it, let it harden, and the job seems finished. The choice only starts to matter when ice, snow, and road salt arrive, or when a new patio turns out far more slippery than expected.
In reality, the finish controls how the surface looks, how it feels underfoot, and how long it will last. The right texture can keep a steep driveway grippy in February, while the wrong one can turn stairs into a safety hazard. Certain concrete finishing techniques cope better with freeze–thaw cycles, heavy vehicle traffic, and de-icing products. Others focus on colour and pattern for patios and entryways, adding strong curb appeal when matched to the home.
At Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete, we have spent more than 15 years helping homeowners, businesses, and developers choose smart concrete surface finishing options for Fredericton conditions. Our team installs everything from simple broom finish concrete on walkways to high-end stamped patios and polished interior floors. In this guide, we walk through the main types of concrete finishes, how each one behaves, and where they work best. By the end, it will be much easier to match the right finish to your driveway, patio, walkway, or commercial space so your concrete looks good and performs well for years.
A concrete finish is the final texture and treatment applied to the surface once the slab is placed and starting to set. It might be as simple as a broom pulled across the top, or as detailed as a stamped pattern coloured to look like stone. This last step decides:
When people talk about different concrete finishes for patios or driveways, they are usually thinking about this surface layer. It affects traction in rain and snow, how much dirt shows, and how often resealing will be needed. A well chosen finish adds value, makes day-to-day use safer, and protects the slab from premature wear. A poor choice can lead to slick spots, scaling, and expensive do-overs.
In Canada, there is another group of concrete wall finish types known as F finishes under CSA standard A23.1. These F1 to F4 ratings describe how smooth formed vertical surfaces such as walls, columns, and exposed architectural features must be after the forms are removed. They relate to the quality of the formwork, not to the textures used on flatwork like driveways or patios. For this guide, we focus on surface finishes and concrete finishing techniques for slabs and stairs, since those are the areas that matter most for homeowners and commercial properties in Fredericton.
Textured finishes add grip and hold up well through freeze–thaw cycles, which makes them the workhorse choice for outdoor concrete in our region.
Broom finish concrete is the classic look many people picture on sidewalks and standard driveways. After the slab is level and surface water has evaporated, a finisher pulls a stiff broom across the concrete. The bristles leave shallow, parallel grooves that act like built-in treads underfoot. By changing the pressure and spacing, we can create different concrete broom finish types, from very light texture to a strong grip for steeper areas.
This is the most budget-friendly of all types of driveway finishes and a favourite for safety-focused spaces. It performs very well on driveways, walkways, patios, ramps, and pool surrounds that see snow, ice, and road salt. The look is simple and practical rather than highly decorative, though a smooth border can dress it up. When Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete handles the pour, we time the brooming carefully so the ridges stay crisp and the concrete cures solid instead of flaky.
An exposed aggregate finish shows off the stones and pebbles inside the concrete mix instead of hiding them under a smooth layer. Shortly after placing the slab, we wash away or chemically loosen the thin cement film on top so the aggregate is partly revealed. The result is a rugged textured concrete finish with a pleasant pebble feel underfoot and much more visual interest than plain grey.
The raised stones create countless tiny high and low points, which means excellent skid resistance and strong wear performance. It is one of the top outdoor concrete finishes for driveways, walkways, patios, pool decks, and commercial entrances around Fredericton. Many different concrete finishes in this category are possible by changing the size, colour, and type of stone, or by adding smooth bands and borders for contrast. Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete guides clients through aggregate choices so the finished surface fits their style, budget, and preferred upkeep.
For quick reference, exposed aggregate works especially well when you want:
A salt finish suits pool decks and patios where people are often barefoot. While the concrete is still fresh, coarse rock salt is pressed into the surface, then washed away after the slab hardens. The tiny pits that remain break up surface water so feet grip better without the harsh feel of full exposed aggregate.
A second option is a swirl finish, made by moving a trowel in overlapping arcs instead of straight passes. The result is a soft fan pattern with moderate traction that works well on patios and decorative walkways, more than on steep driveways. Both styles sit between broom and exposed aggregate in feel and cost, and they rely heavily on the finisher’s technique, which is why our crew at Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete uses them only when conditions are ideal.
Decorative concrete finishes turn plain slabs into feature surfaces that work as part of the overall design of a home or commercial property. With the right pattern and colour, a driveway or patio can look like stone, brick, or wood while still delivering the strength of concrete. These options cost more than basic broom work, yet they add strong visual impact and are some of the most sought after types of concrete finishes for patios, pool decks, and front entries.
A stamped concrete finish is one of the most popular decorative choices for patios and driveways in the Fredericton area. Fresh concrete is poured, levelled, and coloured either with pigment in the mix or with a colour hardener on top. Flexible polyurethane mats with moulded patterns are then pressed into the surface over a coloured release powder, leaving deep texture that closely resembles stone, brick, cobblestone, or even wood planks.
With this method, many patterns are available for different concrete finishes, such as:
The finished surface offers a high-end appearance at a lower cost than real stone, and the continuous slab means no shifting joints or weeds between units. Stamped concrete does need periodic resealing to guard colour and texture from Fredericton winters and strong sun, and repairs can be harder to blend perfectly. Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete brings more than 15 years of stamping experience, plus design renderings that show clients how patterns and colours will look on their own property.
Colour alone can make a big difference to plain grey concrete. Integral colour is a simple option where pigment is mixed into the concrete before it leaves the truck. The entire slab is tinted all the way through, so small chips or wear spots do not show a different base shade. This approach gives a solid, even tone and works very well for outdoor concrete finishes on patios, walks, and driveways that need a softer, more natural look.
Stains and dyes change the colour of hardened concrete after it is in place:
By mixing these approaches, we can create many different concrete finishes for indoor living areas, basements, entryways, and covered patios, then protect them with a clear ultraviolet-resistant sealer. Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete offers colour consultations so the finished work ties in neatly with siding and surrounding hardscape.
Smooth finishes give a clean, modern look that works especially well in interior spaces.
A trowelled finish is one of the most familiar smooth concrete textures. After the slab is floated level, a finisher works the surface with a steel hand trowel or uses a power float machine to create a float concrete finish on large areas. This compresses the top layer and closes pores, leaving a hard, dense surface that is fairly smooth and easy to sweep. A light trowel finish concrete keeps a bit of texture, while repeated passes create a glossy, almost glass-like look. On big warehouse floors, this is often called a power float concrete finish.
Indoors, this style suits garages, basements, workshops, and warehouses. Outside in Fredericton, we usually limit it to borders and small accents, since a hard trowelled field can become very slippery when rain, meltwater, or ice sit on the surface. When clients want a smooth concrete finish, we walk through where water, snow, and traffic will fall so the design stays both attractive and safe.
A polished concrete finish takes the trowelled surface several steps further through mechanical grinding and polishing. After the slab cures, machines with diamond-embedded pads slowly refine the surface, moving from coarse passes to very fine ones. A liquid densifier is applied along the way to harden the top layer and improve resistance to wear and stains. The finished floor can range from a soft satin glow to a high-gloss, mirror-like sheen.
Several polished concrete finish types are available, depending on how much aggregate is exposed and how reflective the owner wants the floor. Polished concrete is common in retail stores, office lobbies, showrooms, and modern homes because it holds up to heavy traffic and is simple to clean with routine sweeping and occasional damp mopping. Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete uses specialised grinders and dust control systems to create these premium indoor surfaces for clients across Fredericton.
Some projects need more than texture or colour. Specialty coatings and applications adapt concrete for heavy duty use or for features such as stairs that must stay safe in all weather.
Epoxy is a high-performance coating applied over cured concrete rather than a finish created during the pour. Two liquid components react on the slab and form a thick, hard surface that bonds tightly to the concrete. This system suits garages, workshops, industrial areas, and commercial kitchens because it resists hot tires, dropped tools, oil, salt, and many chemicals while staying easy to mop clean.
For added safety, non-slip additives such as fine aggregate or flakes can be broadcast into the wet coating, giving more grip without losing the clean look. Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete always prepares the slab carefully so the coating sticks properly and gives long service.
Concrete is an excellent material for stairs because it handles heavy use and harsh weather without flexing or rotting. The finish on stair treads is especially important, since even a small amount of moisture can make smooth surfaces risky. For exterior sets, we usually recommend a light broom texture or modest exposed aggregate on the treads so shoes have reliable grip, while the risers and sides receive a smoother trowelled treatment. Stairs can be straight, curved, or fan shaped and can be coloured or bordered to match nearby patios, walks, and driveways.
With so many types of concrete finishes available, it helps to step back and think about how the space will be used. A stamped showpiece patio will not perform well as a loading dock, and a glass-smooth garage floor will not suit an outdoor stair. Working through a few key questions makes the choice clearer and avoids paying twice.
The factors below are the ones we review during on-site visits around Fredericton and nearby communities. They apply whether you are choosing concrete finishes for patios, driveways, walkways, or commercial entries, and whether your style leans simple or highly decorative.
To help compare some of the most common options at a glance, the table below outlines how a few finishes stack up.
Finish type | Best uses | Relative cost | Maintenance level |
|---|---|---|---|
Broom | Driveways, walks, patios, stairs | Low | Low to moderate, reseal every few years |
Exposed aggregate | Driveways, walks, pool decks | Medium | Moderate, reseal and occasional deep clean |
Stamped | Patios, driveways, entries | High | Moderate to higher, regular resealing needed |
Polished | Interior floors, commercial spaces | Medium to high | Low, routine cleaning only |
Epoxy coated | Garages, workshops, kitchens | Medium to high | Low to moderate, occasional touch ups |
Concrete finishing looks simple from a distance, yet timing and technique decide whether a slab lasts or fails early. Working the surface while bleed water still shines on top traps moisture and weakens the upper layer, which can lead to flaking and peeling in our climate. Waiting too long has the opposite problem, since the concrete becomes too stiff to accept texture or pattern.
Do-it-yourself projects also struggle without the right tools and planning. Professional crews use bull floats, trowels, stamps, and sprayers in a careful sequence, and they design proper slopes and drainage so water runs away instead of freezing in puddles. Without that knowledge, it is easy to end up with uneven thickness, poor base compaction, random cracks, and little or no sealing.
Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete brings more than 15 years of local experience to every pour, along with reliable materials and specialised equipment. We understand how Fredericton’s freeze–thaw cycles, clay soils, and road salt affect different types of concrete finishes, and we plan mixes, reinforcement, and curing around those realities. Our crew also pays close attention to sealing conditions, applying products only when temperatures stay above ten degrees and the slab is dry and clean.
Choosing the right finish is just as important as deciding where concrete should go on a property. The many types of concrete finishes affect winter safety, day-to-day maintenance, and how long a slab will last. When the finish fits the job, driveways stay drivable, patios stay comfortable, and walkways stay secure through snow and sun.
For Fredericton and nearby communities, that often means textured outdoor concrete finishes for grip and adding decorative touches such as stamped patterns or colour where they make sense. It also means good preparation and sealing so the concrete can handle freeze–thaw cycles and road salt. Atlantic Hardscape and Concrete helps clients compare options, from economical broom surfaces to premium stamped and polished work, then manages the project from first design chat to final sealing.
For most Fredericton driveways, an exposed aggregate finish is one of the toughest options because the stone-rich surface handles heavy traffic and harsh weather very well. A properly installed and sealed stamped concrete finish can also perform at a high level while offering more decorative pattern and colour. Standard broom finish concrete is slightly simpler but still reliable when thickness, joints, and sealing are done correctly.
In our climate, most outdoor concrete benefits from resealing every two to three years. Areas with heavy vehicle traffic or frequent de-icing salt may need attention a little sooner, while shaded patios can sometimes wait longer. When water stops beading on the surface, colour looks dull, or the slab appears chalky, it is time to book sealing with a professional crew.
Many finishes can be added to existing slabs as long as the concrete is sound and properly prepared. Stains and dyes can change the colour, while thin stamped overlays or micro-toppings add texture and pattern without full replacement. Polishing is another option for interior floors if the original pour is in good shape. A site visit lets us confirm which upgrades are realistic for each surface.
Safety around water is the first priority on any pool deck. Textured options such as broom finish, light exposed aggregate, or a salt finish give bare feet good grip while staying comfortable. Stamped concrete with modest texture can also work when paired with a slip-resistant sealer and lighter colours that reflect heat. During planning, we focus on layouts and finishes that keep swimmers safe and the space attractive.
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