We get this question on almost every call. The honest answer is that two driveways on the same street can be very different jobs, so we'd rather look at your property than quote a number off a chart. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the price, so you know what you're paying for.
The surface
Concrete driveways, brick, interlock patios, vinyl siding, wood decks and fences all get cleaned differently.
Concrete, brick and interlock can take real pressure. They're usually the quickest per square foot, unless they're heavily stained.
Vinyl and aluminum siding can't. High pressure forces water behind the panels. We soft wash siding with a cleaning solution at low pressure. It takes more product and more care, but it's the right way to do it.
Wood decks and fences need a gentle touch so the wood doesn't fuzz or gouge. If you plan to stain afterwards, read should you pressure wash before painting or staining.
The size
A single-car pad in a Leslieville laneway is a different job from a three-car driveway in Vaughan. For siding, the number of storeys matters as much as the footprint, because of ladders and reach.
The condition
A surface that gets washed every spring cleans up fast. One that hasn't been touched in five years takes a lot longer. Oil stains on the driveway, rust marks from patio furniture, black algae on a north-facing wall and moss between interlock pavers all need extra treatment, and some stains only lighten rather than disappear. We'll tell you up front which ones.
Access and water
A detached home in Etobicoke with a wide side yard is easy to work around. A downtown row house where hose has to run through a gate, around a neighbour's fence or up a back lane takes longer. We also need an outdoor tap that works.
Extras that change the quote
- Re-sanding interlock after washing, so the joints don't wash out or sprout weeds
- Sealing interlock or concrete, which is best done right after a clean
- Gutter cleaning or other exterior work done in the same visit, which saves a second trip. See our exterior maintenance service.
How to get an accurate quote quickly
Send us a few photos: the whole surface from a distance, a close-up of the worst stains, and the path from the street to the work area. Tell us roughly how big it is and when it was last cleaned. For most jobs, that's enough for a firm quote without a site visit.
A word on very low quotes
If someone quotes far below everyone else, ask what's included. Is siding being blasted at full pressure instead of soft washed? Is the cleaning solution included? Will they deal with the runoff and leave the area clean? A cheap wash that damages siding or etches concrete isn't cheap.
When to book
Late spring is the sweet spot: pollen season is done and you get a clean house all summer. Shaded properties in places like Richmond Hill and Aurora grow algae faster and often benefit from a second light wash in early fall. If you're listing a home for sale, wash it right before the photos.
One honest tip
Don't rent a machine and do the siding yourself. Concrete, sure. It's hard to hurt concrete. But we've repaired plenty of siding and window seals damaged by rented pressure washers turned up too high.
Want a firm number for your property? Call or text us at (365) 360-1416 with a few photos, or see our pressure washing service.
