Pressure washing uses pressurized water, usually through a rotating surface cleaner, to lift algae, mildew, dirt and stains from hard flatwork such as concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios and pool decks. myYardPros provides it for Northern Virginia homeowners whose concrete has turned dark, blotchy or slippery, adjusting pressure to each surface and treating stains water alone will not remove.
Concrete turns dark mostly because it is porous and stays damp, which lets algae, mildew and lichen grow in the surface. In Northern Virginia's humid summers a shaded driveway or north-side walk can go from light gray to blotchy black in a couple of seasons, and the film makes steps and pool decks slick.
Bad pressure washing leaves its own marks. A narrow tip held close etches lines, a hand-swept wand leaves zebra stripes, and water alone leaves the roots of the growth in the pores, so the dark color returns within months.
Done properly, the job uses a rotating surface cleaner for an even finish, a pre-treatment that loosens growth and stains, pressure matched to the material, and a mild post-treatment that kills what remains. Siding and roofs are handled by soft washing instead.
We pressure wash the hard, horizontal surfaces around a home.
Broom-finished concrete is cleaned with a surface cleaner for uniform color from apron to garage. Oil drips, tire marks and rust or clay stains are pre-treated with cleaners made for each stain.
Front walks collect the heaviest algae because they sit in the shade of the house. Edges and risers are cleaned with a wand at reduced pressure so the whole entry matches.
Concrete, stamped concrete and stone patios are cleaned at pressures suited to the finish. Stamped and colored concrete gets a gentler pass to protect its sealer, and flagstone joints are not blasted out.
Pool decks are cleaned for traction as much as looks. We keep debris and cleaning solution out of the water as far as practical and rinse toward deck drains or lawn.
Block retaining walls, stone steps and concrete curbing are cleaned with a wide fan tip at moderate pressure, keeping the spray off loose mortar and the soil behind the wall.
The right pressure depends on how hard the material is and what holds it together.
| Surface | Typical approach | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Broom-finished concrete | Surface cleaner, commonly around 2,500 to 3,500 psi | New or flaking concrete needs less pressure. |
| Stamped or exposed-aggregate concrete | Lower pressure, wide fan tip, more reliance on cleaner | Sealer and color can lift, and stones can loosen. |
| Concrete pavers and brick | Moderate pressure, angled to spare the joints | Washed-out joint sand lets pavers shift. |
| Flagstone and natural stone | Low to moderate pressure after a test spot | Soft or layered stone can flake. |
| Asphalt driveways | Low-pressure rinse with cleaner only | High pressure loosens the binder and aggregate. |
Figures are typical starting points, adjusted on site after a test area.
Every job follows the same five steps.
We measure the flatwork, note each material and its condition, identify stains, locate a water spigot and check where rinse water will drain. You get a written scope.
We move light furniture and planters, sweep loose debris, avoid outlets and low-voltage lights, wet nearby plants, and check where water could reach a garage or basement door.
A cleaning solution is applied to algae and mildew and given time to work. Oil, rust and clay stains each get a cleaner chosen for that stain.
We clean in overlapping passes with a surface cleaner, detail edges and steps with a wand, then rinse loosened dirt off the slab and away from the house.
A light treatment kills remaining spores and evens the color as the concrete dries. We rinse plants again, reset furniture and walk the surfaces with you.
A rotating surface cleaner moves steadily along a mildew-darkened concrete walkway, leaving an even, bright path behind it while rinse water runs off into the lawn.
These surfaces are damaged by high pressure and need a different method.
Tell us what you are seeing. We will look at the site, explain the options in plain terms and give you a written estimate.
Pressure washing a typical two-car concrete driveway in Northern Virginia commonly costs about $150 to $400 as of 2026. Adding a front walk, stoop and patio often brings a visit to roughly $300 to $800. These are market planning ranges, not myYardPros quotes.
The main factors are total square footage, how heavy the growth is, and stain treatment, because oil, rust, clay and leaf tannin stains take separate products and time. Access matters too: long hose runs, steep driveways, many steps and tight pool enclosures slow the work. Bundling the driveway with a house wash usually costs less than separate visits.
We price after seeing the surfaces in person. Request an on-site estimate or call (571) 200-9600.
Before you decide: Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing · All cost and pricing guides · How we price a project · How our estimates work
We pressure wash residential driveways, walks, patios and pool decks across Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties, including Sterling, Ashburn, Herndon, Vienna, Centreville, Springfield and Woodbridge. No permit is typically needed.
Local conditions shape the work. Red clay washed onto concrete leaves orange staining that needs a specific cleaner, and de-icing salt combined with freeze-thaw cycles can leave driveway surfaces flaking, which calls for lower pressure. Storm drains here generally flow to streams untreated, so we direct rinse water toward lawn where we can.
If a slab stays green because water sits on it, cleaning is a temporary fix. A yard drainage solution or a downspout discharge line addresses the cause. For pavers, see paver cleaning and sealing.
Sound, cured concrete handles pressure washing well when a surface cleaner and a suitable pressure are used. Damage comes from narrow tips held too close, which etch visible lines, and from high pressure on new, weak or flaking concrete. We test a small area first.
Most driveways in Northern Virginia stay clean for one to two years. Shaded, damp and north-facing concrete darkens sooner, and sunny slabs last longer. A post-treatment that kills remaining algae spores helps, as does fixing downspouts or low spots that keep the concrete wet.
Often they can be lightened considerably, but not always removed. Fresh oil responds well to a degreaser and hot water. Old oil that has soaked deep, rust from fertilizer or irrigation water, and battery stains each need a specific cleaner, and some leave a faint shadow.
Concrete gains most of its strength in about the first month, but the surface stays vulnerable for longer. We generally avoid aggressive cleaning in the first year and use low pressure with a mild cleaner if it must be washed. Ask your installer about any sealer applied.
Sealing is optional for plain concrete. A penetrating sealer can reduce water and salt absorption, which helps against freeze-thaw surface damage and makes later cleaning easier. The slab must be clean and dry first. Sealer matters more for pavers, where it also protects joint sand.
Move vehicles off the driveway, close windows and doors, and bring in doormats, toys and cushions. Make sure an outdoor spigot is turned on and working, leave gates open, and keep pets inside. Tell us about any cracks, loose pavers or leaks into the garage.
Long-form guides on pressure washing from the crew that does the work, with Northern Virginia costs, timing and permit detail.
Wait for the pine pollen to finish, then wash the concrete, pavers and stone. Keep pressure off the siding, the deck boards, the shingles and the window seals. A surface-by-surface guide for Northern Virginia homes.
Is the wood dry, is the weather right, and is the deck still worth staining? A homeowner's guide to the water-drop test, stain types, lap marks, dry times and when hiring costs less than redoing it.
Green streaks on vinyl siding or a fence look like a pressure washer job. The siding makers say otherwise. Learn what the growth is, what you can clean by hand, and what to leave to a crew.
All guides in this category · Planning guides · Glossary · FAQ
Soft washing is a low-pressure cleaning method that applies a detergent solution to kill algae, mold, mildew and lichen, then rinses it away gently.
Paver cleaning and sealing is a restoration service that deep cleans pavers, treats stains and white efflorescence haze, refills the joints with polymeric sand and applies a protective sealer.
A paver driveway is a vehicle-rated surface of thick interlocking concrete pavers laid over a deep, compacted stone base.
Downspout drainage is buried solid pipe that carries roof water from each downspout, and the discharge from a sump pump, to a pop-up emitter or other outlet well away from the house.
Tell us about your property and what you want to fix or build. We will visit, measure and send a clear written estimate. We serve Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties.
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