Exposed Aggregate Concrete Cost in Ottawa
About $13 to $28 per sq ft
A wide envelope from 2025-26 Ottawa-area and Ontario published prices. Small jobs often hit a minimum charge of about $5,500, according to two Ottawa price pages.
Reviewed 2026-09-30 · how we set these ranges
Exposed aggregate is concrete with the top layer of cement paste removed so the stones show. Under the finish it is exterior flatwork, so the same Building Code standard applies. Size your job below to see where it sits against the published range.
Size your job
$13 to $28 per sq ft
Published band for this finish. Enter a size to see the area math.
Get quotes for thisAn illustration from published 2025-26 prices, not a quote. Excavation, removal, disposal and extras can be added.
What shows up in the quote
| Line | Published figure | Ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Exposed aggregate slab | About $13 to $28 per sq ft | How the stone is exposed, and whether a sealer is included |
| Minimum charge | Small-job minimum (see the note above) | Whether a minimum applies |
| Base preparation | No published figure | Base depth and material in writing |
| Disposal at Trail Road | $144 per tonne for concrete without rebar | Whether disposal is in the price |
The rules behind this job
The 2024 Ontario Building Code standard for exterior flatwork and garage floors is at least 32 MPa at 28 days with a water-to-cement ratio no higher than 0.45. Site-batched concrete for those uses needs 5 to 8% entrained air; ready-mix follows CSA A23.1.
O. Reg. 163/24, Div. B, 9.3.1.6 and 9.3.1.7For site-batched concrete the Code says the aggregate must not be larger than one third of the slab thickness, and its appendix warns that adding water on site can reduce strength and increase porosity and shrinkage cracking.
O. Reg. 163/24, Div. B, 9.3.1.7(2) and Note A-9.3.1.7The National Research Council's Building Digest 116 says over-vibration and excessive trowelling affect entrained air adversely.
NRC Canadian Building Digest 116 (1969)Since March 1, 2026 the City of Ottawa has required a hardscaping contractor licence for businesses that install or alter concrete pads, patios, walkways, steps, driveways and retaining walls on private property. Licence holders must carry at least $2,000,000 of commercial general liability insurance and give clients the City's Landscaping Education Guide. Ask to see the licence and check the City's list yourself; we do not check it.
City of Ottawa, Hardscaping Contractor Licence
Ask before you sign
- How will the stone be exposed, and is a sealer included?
- Will any water be added at the truck?
- Is removal of an old slab priced as its own line?
- Does a minimum charge apply to my size?
More on this work: Exposed Aggregate
Quick answers
Is exposed aggregate under different Code rules?
No separate rules were found: it is exterior flatwork, so the 2024 Ontario Building Code standard of 32 MPa at 28 days and a 0.45 water-to-cement ratio applies, with the aggregate-size limit for site-batched concrete.
How does exposed aggregate compare with broom finish on price?
In the published prices we read, yes: about $13 to $28 per square foot against about $9 to $15 for a plain broom finish. We found no published breakdown of the difference.
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