This article explains the seven most popular concrete finishes for Wellington driveways, including practical tips on choosing the right one based on local weather, site conditions, and design preferences.
Wellington driveways take on a lot more than just cars. There’s the rain, the wind, the occasional hail, and the constant shifting of weather from one suburb to the next. You might start your morning with clear skies and end up with puddles by lunch. That unpredictability doesn’t just affect your roof or your gutters — it also impacts how your driveway holds up over time.
For many Wellington homeowners, concrete is the preferred choice for driveways. It’s strong, versatile, and built to last. But concrete doesn’t have to look plain or unfinished. There are several ways to finish it that make a driveway safer, more attractive, and more suited to the surrounding home.
Before we get into the most popular finishes, let’s cover a few things that matter when deciding what’s right for your driveway.
Not all driveways are the same — especially in Wellington. Your finish should match the conditions around your property, not just the look you're going for.
Here’s what usually influences the right choice:
Slope and Surface Grip: If your driveway is on a hill or has a noticeable incline, you’ll need a finish with texture. Smooth finishes look sharp but can be risky when wet.
Weather and Drainage: Some finishes hold up better under frequent rain and pooling water. For homes near the coast or in high-rainfall suburbs like Karori or Kelburn, drainage-friendly textures make a difference.
Maintenance Level: Do you want a low-maintenance option, or are you okay with sealing it every few years? That’s a key detail that gets overlooked.
Aesthetic Fit: Some homes look better with modern, clean lines. Others suit a more natural, textured feel. The finish can either blend into the background or make a statement.
Now that those basics are covered, let’s get into what finishes Wellington homeowners are asking for the most.
Exposed aggregate is hands-down one of the most requested concrete finishes across Wellington. It gives a textured, decorative surface by revealing the stone underneath the top layer of cement. The result isn’t just good-looking — it’s durable and weather-ready.
The texture helps prevent slipping, which makes it a great choice for driveways on a slope or in areas prone to heavy rain. Because you can choose the type of stone and its colour, there’s a lot of room for customisation. Some homeowners go for natural river pebbles for an earthy look, while others prefer sharp-edged crushed stone for something more modern.
It also hides minor imperfections better than smooth concrete. If you’ve got trees nearby or regular leaf litter, you’ll appreciate a finish that doesn’t show every mark or stain.
This is what many people picture when they think of a traditional concrete driveway. A broom finish is created by dragging a stiff broom over the surface before it fully cures. It leaves a lightly textured surface that offers grip without being too rough.
It’s simple, clean, and reliable. That’s what makes it a favourite in older suburbs like Hataitai and Newtown, where homeowners often value function and budget over flair. But that doesn’t mean it looks basic — a well-done broom finish still has sharp edges and can be poured with borders or saw cuts for a more tailored look.
Broom finishes also work well when you want your driveway to blend in, rather than stand out. For people who want the concrete to do its job and not take attention away from the house, this is the way to go.
Stamped concrete brings a lot more personality to your driveway. Using patterned mats, we can imprint the look of stone, brick, or even wooden planks onto the surface while it’s still wet. It’s a clever way to give your driveway a high-end appearance without having to lay individual pavers or tiles.
The detail can be surprising — you can get grout lines, grain textures, even subtle curves and angles built right into the surface. Pair it with a colour tint and it becomes a real design feature at the front of your property.
It’s especially popular in newer subdivisions or homes with a polished architectural style. If your driveway is one of the first things people see, this finish adds curb appeal without compromising on durability. Just keep in mind that stamped concrete should be sealed every few years to keep the pattern crisp and the colours vibrant.
Coloured concrete isn’t just about looks — it’s also practical. The pigments are added to the mix before pouring, which means the colour runs through the slab, not just on top. That helps reduce the appearance of chips or wear over time.
Homeowners in Wellington often go for earthy reds, warm browns, or deep charcoal tones — colours that either blend in with native plants or match the roofline and exterior of the house. Some use it to match retaining walls or path borders, creating a more connected look across the property.
You can combine colour with almost any other finish, too. Whether it’s broomed, stamped, or trowelled, adding colour makes even a basic slab feel like part of a well-thought-out design.
While more commonly used indoors, polished concrete is sometimes requested for outdoor driveways — particularly when the homeowner wants that sleek, almost glassy surface.
The concrete is ground down in multiple passes, smoothing it out and revealing a bit of the internal texture. The surface is then sealed to protect it from moisture and make it easier to clean. You’ll often see polished finishes on flat driveways that lead directly into garages, giving a clean visual line from outside to inside.
The downside? It’s not ideal for wet or sloped areas unless extra non-slip additives are used. In Wellington’s climate, that means it’s usually best reserved for covered spaces or sections that don’t get constant exposure to rain.
But when done right, polished concrete has a real wow factor. It reflects light, makes spaces feel bigger, and delivers a very contemporary, minimal look.
Salt finish concrete is one of the more unique options, and while it’s not seen everywhere yet, it’s slowly becoming a go-to for homeowners who want something understated but distinct.
This finish is created by pressing coarse rock salt into the surface while it’s still soft. After curing, the salt is washed away, leaving behind small indentations. The result is a finish with tiny pits and a speckled texture — not as rough as exposed aggregate, but more interesting than a broomed surface.
Because it’s subtle, it fits well with both modern and traditional homes. It also holds up well under foot traffic and is fairly low maintenance, making it a smart pick for homeowners who want style without a lot of fuss.
Trowel finishes are smooth, sleek, and refined. They’re achieved by working the surface of the concrete with a steel trowel, producing a tight, dense surface with a consistent sheen.
This finish is often chosen for its clean appearance — no patterns, no texture, just a flat surface that reflects light evenly. It can look incredibly sharp when used with dark-coloured concrete, and it’s sometimes chosen for decorative driveways or private entry areas that don’t see heavy vehicle use.
That said, this finish isn’t ideal on sloped driveways or in areas with lots of rain. It can be slippery if it’s not treated with a grit additive or sealer. But when conditions are right, a smooth trowel finish can be a bold design move.
While the surface finish sets the tone for your driveway, the border can really complete the look. In Wellington, where landscaping styles vary from sharp modern lines to more relaxed native planting, edging helps blend the driveway into its surroundings.
Some homeowners opt for a clean saw-cut edge. Others use darker coloured concrete strips or even brick-style impressions along the sides to create contrast. It’s also common to see a combination — a broom-finished driveway with a smooth or coloured border.
Borders aren’t just visual; they help define where the driveway ends and garden or gravel begins. They also help contain loose material like mulch or soil during Wellington’s windier days.
If you’re already investing in a new concrete driveway, planning out the edging is a small decision that can have a big visual impact.
If you’re building a new driveway in Wellington, you’re not just picking a slab of concrete — you’re choosing how it will look, feel, and perform for years to come. The finish matters. It’s the difference between a surface that’s purely functional and one that enhances your home’s curb appeal while standing up to Wellington’s changing weather.
What makes one finish better than another isn’t just about style — it’s about matching your choice to your home, your lifestyle, and your site conditions. Some properties need traction. Others benefit from low maintenance. Some homeowners want their driveway to quietly blend in, while others want it to make a statement.
No matter where your priorities land, there’s a finish that can do the job and still look the part. That’s the real beauty of concrete —it’s not just strong; it’s adaptable.
When you work with a local crew that understands Wellington’s terrain, you’re not getting a generic product. You’re getting a surface designed for your space, your needs, and your weather. Whether you’re after something bold or something basic, we’re here to help make sure your finish fits — not just for the day it’s poured, but for the years that follow.
