Should I get a Rock Salt Finish for concrete?

Rock Salt Finish is actually an older style of textured finish that's surging in popularity again in 2026. It's a finish wherein actual salt rocks are pressed into the top of wet concrete and later washed off to give it a nice natural dappled finish. It sits somewhere between a smooth trowel finish and exposed aggregate look (without the extra cost!).

Close up of Rock Salt concrete finish

Rock Salt concrete is often a preferred choice for pool contractors (for pool surrounds) and landscapers. Their reasons for loving it are valid – landscapers love the earthy aesthetics in the garden setting, and the price.

It's a really simple and cost-effective (initially) way to add a little character to a basic residential pour. However, as professional concreters, we see things a little differently.

Why we don't recommend Rock Salt Finish to most customers

While we agree it's very pretty (Ooh la la) and blends nicely with all your Australian Natives and timber finishes around the house – over time, you can spend a lot more to maintain the integrity of the concrete and steel reinforcement.

Salt is a corrosive and it behaves no differently when it comes to your driveways, pathways and floating steps. Once in contact, it settles into the DNA of your concrete blend and will continue to impact the chemical balance we've worked SO hard to get right on your pour. We're pretty good at what we do and Holcim engineers are fantastic at balancing the mix for longevity. However, chemistry is chemistry and when you introduce salt to a material as porous as concrete, you allow chlorides to seep into the concrete and break down the natural passive film that protects steel from rusting.

Should the steel in your concrete begin to rust, it will expand to several times its original volume, meaning you're going to start seeing cracks pretty soon.

How to maintain Rock Salt concrete

If you absolutely love this finish and it's a non-negotiable for your home – here's how to mitigate any potential rusting and early degeneration of your concrete.

• Sealing: A high-quality penetrating sealer is essential. It helps create a barrier to reduce porosity in the concrete and prevents chloride ions from reaching the steel. For the longevity of your concrete, you must stay on top of sealing with more regularity than other finishes – no 'ifs' or 'buts' about it.

  
  

• Proper drainage: Whoever your Surf Coast concreter may be, ensure the concrete is sloped effectively to prevent any standing water on the surface (since this ultimately encourages the salt to be absorbed).

If you don't follow these recommendations, you could find yourself with a piece of very cracky concrete only a few years into it.

Need a quality Surf Coast concreter?

Contact your local Surf Coast concreting team at Arkonik Concreting to chat through your decorative concrete needs. Our expert team can guide you through the whole process and help bring your vision to life.

Get in touch with our team or call us!