Overlap, Direction and Pace on Concrete

Technique matters as much as pressure

A pressure washer can clean a driveway or damage one, depending on how it’s used. Holding the wand too close, using too high a PSI on a soft or aged surface, or working in the wrong pattern can leave streaks, etch marks, or uneven color where the surface got hit harder in some spots than others.

We use a rotating surface cleaner attachment for open driveway areas, which spreads pressure evenly across the concrete and avoids the visible lines a wand can leave behind. Edges, corners, and tight spots get a wand with pressure adjusted down to avoid gouging the surface where a large attachment can’t reach.

How we approach a driveway

• Pre-treat heavy stains before pressure washing
• Surface cleaner attachment for even coverage on open concrete
• Lower pressure and a wand for edges, joints, and tight corners
• Rinse and inspect before calling the job finished

Concrete, pavers, and stamped surfaces need different handling

Plain poured concrete can generally take higher pressure. Pavers need lower pressure and more care around the joints, since blasting out the sand between them creates a bigger problem than the stain did. Stamped or colored concrete gets the gentlest treatment of all, since high pressure can wear down the color coat over time. We adjust pressure and technique to the material before we start, not partway through.

What it costs

Pricing depends on the driveway’s size and how much cleaning it needs. We quote in writing after seeing the site, before any work starts.