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Driveway and deck pressure washing Beta
A neighbor pressure-washes your driveway, walk, patio or deck to lift dirt, mildew and grime. Small flat jobs here; big ones go to a business.
- How often
- Yearly
- Where the work happens
- Outdoors
- Who it suits
- Best done by an adult
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Pressure washing blasts built-up dirt, mildew, pollen and algae off concrete, pavers and wood. A neighbor-size job is a driveway, a front walk, a patio or a simple ground-level deck: the flat surfaces that slowly turn green or grey.
Homeowners getting ready to sell or host, people tired of a slippery green walkway, and anyone prepping a deck for stain ask for it, usually once a year.
A neighbor with their own pressure washer can handle the small flat jobs. Roofs, second-story siding, delicate surfaces, commercial lots and anything that needs soft-washing with chemicals are bigger jobs, and those belong with a local pressure-washing business.
Also called: pressure washing service, driveway power washing, deck pressure washing, patio cleaning, power wash sidewalk, concrete cleaning.
What's usually included
- Moving furniture, planters and cars out of the way
- Sweeping off loose debris and pre-rinsing
- Washing concrete, pavers or deck boards in even passes
- Rinsing nearby walls, windows and plants afterward
- Putting everything back where it was
What to ask before you hire
- Which surfaces exactly, and roughly how big are they?
- Do they bring the machine and use your water?
- Plain water, or a cleaner too?
- Are old oil or rust stains part of the job, or just worth a try?
- Where should the cars be parked, and is anything fragile nearby?
Staying safe
- Never point the wand at a person, a pet or your own feet, because the spray can cut skin.
- Keep the spray away from outdoor outlets, light fixtures and electrical boxes.
- Wet surfaces get slick, so wear shoes with grip and take steps and deck edges slowly.
- Wear eye and ear protection, since gas machines are loud and kick up grit.
Driveway and deck pressure washing by town
Questions people ask
How often should a driveway be pressure washed?
Once a year is common, and more often in shady, damp spots that grow mildew. Some people time it before sealing the driveway or before a big event.
Can pressure washing damage my deck?
It can if the pressure is too high or the nozzle too close. A careful neighbor tests a hidden spot first and keeps the wand moving.
What about my roof or two-story siding?
Those are better done by a pressure-washing business with the right equipment, ladders and soft-wash methods.
Can the washing happen while I am at work?
Often, yes. If they can reach an outdoor faucet and the cars are moved, many people leave it to the neighbor and look at the result that evening.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- You will need a pressure washer with the right tips, a surface-cleaner attachment for flat concrete, a hose, eye protection and closed shoes.
- Use the widest tip and lowest pressure that gets the job done, since too much can etch concrete, splinter wood and blast the sand out of paver joints.
- Test a hidden corner first, especially on wood or colored pavers.
- Quote after you have seen the surface, because size and how dirty it is decide the time, and a look at what driveway washing costs around you will tell you what is fair.
- Once-a-year customers are easy to keep if you send a reminder the same season next year.
- Know where your limit is, and pass roofs, upper siding and big lots to a pressure-washing business.
