High pressure cleaning of patios and driveways

Patios and driveways form an important part of the exterior appearance of your home. High pressure cleaning is an important requirement after a few years of exposure to erosive elements.

Although regular maintenance with scrapers and blowers can extend the time between consecutive pressure cleanings, they are inevitably necessary to keep your property looking like new. Though considered a low-maintenance invention, over time your paver or driveway will give way to moss, mud, tire marks, and even efflorescence.

Pressure cleaning driveways and patio pavers requires some equipment. A pressure pump, a set of nozzles and detergent are the minimum. Therefore, it is recommended to hire professionals to perfectly execute the pressure cleaning task. Incorrect pressure during spraying can destroy the surface of your bricks and ruin them forever. Still, it’s a good recreational activity if you know what to do. For that, check out the list below and start spraying…

Relocate all pots, plants, and furniture from your driveway or patio. Any dirt or debris left under these will stay and further deteriorate the patio. Use a leaf blower and scraper to remove any leaves or clay clumps or solidified deposits along with the leaves.

After properly setting up your pressure washer, i.e. connecting the drive line to the nozzle and setting the correct pressure for the pump, review the type of cleaning solution your patios were designed with. You can consult a house washing expert if you see fit. Always wear safety glasses when working with pressurized systems.

Patios and bricks absorb water. Therefore, it is important to properly soak them with water before any cleaner application. Use a low pressure setting and stand a few feet back to further reduce the effective pressure of the application. Unless it’s soaked, the brick will soak up the cleaning solvent or detergent and eventually ruin it.

Next, apply the detergent or cleaning solvent to identifiable sections and leave for 5-10 minutes. Look for sections that are drying out. A new application is needed in those areas. The best method for pressure cleaning a patio is to use a low-pressure sprayer with more detergent.

After the detergent has done its job, switch to a low pressure delicate nozzle and flush any remaining detergent from the system. Cover two or three rows of bricks at a time and slowly remove the cleaning solvent from the surface. Multiple passes may be required for deeply stained stains.

After the brick has dried, if you find any white efflorescence, you may need to remove it by hand. Use a efflorescence remover solution and rub by hand. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations. Do not use pressure washers to apply efflorescence removal solution. Additional water applied to the surface can sometimes cause more harm than good!

After this, simply rinse with a stream of water. That is all! Proper high-pressure cleaning can not only make your pavers last a lifetime, it can also preserve the luxurious look of your property by increasing its value overnight.