What does driveway cleaning include?
Driveway cleaning covers the whole slab edge to edge: the apron at the road, the kerb crossing, both edges and the path to the front door where it joins the driveway. Oil, rust, mould and lichen are pre-treated so they release, the area is cleaned in overlapping passes with a rotary surface cleaner, and paver joints and expansion gaps are detailed by hand. You receive before-and-after photos taken from the same angle, plus notes on anything we noticed such as cracks or lifting pavers.
Why clean a driveway rather than leave it?
A driveway is usually the largest hard surface on a property and the first thing people see. Mould and algae make shaded sections slippery after rain, and black lichen roots into the concrete surface, so the longer it sits the more of a shadow it leaves behind. Oil that has been left through a few summers soaks in and stops lifting completely.
How often should a driveway be cleaned in Sydney?
Most Sydney driveways look right for a couple of years between cleans. Shaded and tree-covered driveways, and those on the southern side of a home, green up faster and often need it more frequently. Many owners book before selling, leasing or repainting, because the frontage is what photographs first.
How is a driveway professionally cleaned?
A professional clean starts by identifying the surface — plain concrete, exposed aggregate, stencilcrete or pavers — and setting the pressure for it, testing an out-of-sight section first. Stains and growth are pre-treated and left to dwell, then a rotary surface cleaner covers the slab in overlapping passes, which is what prevents the striping left by a narrow wand. Edges, kerbs and joints are finished by hand and the debris is rinsed away from garden beds.
How much does driveway cleaning cost in Sydney?
Driveway cleaning is priced by area from our published rate card, starting from $249 including GST, and a typical job falls within $400–$640 (double driveway, ~80 m²). Area, surface type, how set-in the oil and mould are, and slope or access are what move the price. Your exact fixed price is confirmed in writing before we book.
Will pressure cleaning damage exposed aggregate, pavers or stencilcrete?
Not at the right pressure. High pressure through a narrow wand can strip cement paste from exposed aggregate, blast the sand out of paver joints and cut into stencilcrete coatings. Those surfaces are cleaned at lower pressure through a surface cleaner, which spreads the force, and we test a hidden section before starting.
Can oil stains be removed completely?
Fresh oil usually lifts. Oil that has soaked deep into concrete generally fades rather than disappearing, and very old stains can leave a permanent shadow. We photograph the affected area first and tell you what to expect before we start rather than after.
What are the black spots on my driveway?
They are almost always lichen, which has a root system in the concrete surface rather than sitting on top of it like dirt. It needs treating so it dies off before cleaning. Well-established lichen can leave faint shadows that keep fading over the following weeks.
Should I seal my driveway after cleaning?
Sealing is optional and priced per square metre. A penetrating sealer slows mould and lichen returning and makes oil easier to wash off, so it earns its keep most on shaded, tree-covered or exposed-aggregate driveways. If your driveway is already sealed we check the condition first, because sealing over a failing seal is a waste of money.
Do I need to be home, and what should I move?
You do not need to be home as long as we can reach an outside tap. Moving cars, bins and pot plants off the driveway before we arrive means we can clean the whole slab in one visit instead of working around obstacles.
