Decorative concrete

Exposed Plus — exposed aggregate concrete

A decorative exposed aggregate concrete built on green cement and GGBS: the top layer of paste is removed to reveal the stone within, leaving a textured, slip-resistant surface with a lower carbon footprint than conventional concrete.

System Exposed aggregate decorative concrete

Binder Green cement with GGBS and shrinkage-reducing admixtures

Reference projects Meryal Waterpark · Panda Zoo · Lusail Circuit

Supplied and applied by Conmarble Natural Finishes

At the core of Exposed Plus is the pairing of green cement with GGBS — ground granulated blast-furnace slag, an industrial by-product with latent hydraulic properties. The combination reduces the carbon associated with conventional cement production and increases the durability and strength of the concrete itself.

GGBS reacts with the calcium hydroxide produced during cement hydration to form additional calcium silicate hydrate gel — the binder that gives concrete its strength — producing a denser matrix that is less prone to cracking. Shrinkage-reducing admixtures work alongside it, minimising cracking through the cure and reducing maintenance over the life of the surface.

The finish itself is architectural: once the concrete has taken its initial set, the top layer of cement paste is removed to expose the embedded aggregate. The blend of stone is chosen per project, so the surface can be tuned from a quiet sand-and-grey to a strongly figured decorative deck — and motifs, colour bands and inlays can be worked into it, as the themed walkways at Meryal Waterpark show.

Where it is used

• Driveways and walkways — a slip-resistant, durable surface for heavy foot and vehicular traffic
• Public spaces — plazas, parks and communal areas where the surface has to look good and last
• Commercial developments — a robust external floor that carries the visual identity of the scheme
• Residential projects — patios, pool decks and outdoor living spaces

Performance

Shrinkage and cracking	Shrinkage-reducing admixtures minimise cracking through the cure, protecting the structural integrity of the slab
Workability	GGBS particles are finer than OPC and fill the gaps between larger cement grains — a more compact, uniform mix that places and finishes well
Chloride resistance	The denser GGBS matrix resists chloride ingress, protecting reinforcement in marine settings and where de-icing salts are used
Thermal cracking	GGBS generates less heat during hydration than Portland cement, reducing thermal cracking risk in large pours

Exposed Plus contributes to sustainable building practice in three concrete ways — and they compound over the area of a large external works package.

• Reduced carbon: GGBS is a by-product of the steel industry, and every tonne used displaces energy-intensive Portland cement and its CO2
• Resource efficiency: supplementary cementitious materials divert an industrial by-product from landfill into the building fabric
• Green building alignment: the reduced-carbon mix and improved thermal behaviour contribute to green building standards and rating submissions

Specification clause

Decorative concrete: Conmarble Exposed Plus exposed aggregate concrete, incorporating GGBS and shrinkage-reducing admixtures, laid to the areas scheduled at the thickness detailed. Aggregate blend, colour and exposure depth to the approved sample panel. Surface exposed by [washing / brushing / abrasive blasting] once set, cured to best practice, and sealed with the approved sealant. Substrate movement and construction joints carried through the surface. Supply and installation by Conmarble Natural Finishes.

Copy clause

Square brackets mark the choices that belong to the project. Send us the finishes schedule and we will return the clause completed, with the sample and mock-up programme against it.

Meryal Waterpark, Qetaifan Island Exposed Plus decorative concrete — pool decks and walkways across the park View the project →

We supply the material and we apply it, so the specification and the workmanship sit with one party. Send a finishes schedule, an elevation or a mood board and we will come back with the system, the build-up, the sample programme and a completed clause.