Top-Rated How Often Should You Pressure Wash a Driveway in Western Washington?

Concrete is the most forgiving surface on your property, and the one people put off the longest. For most homes in Western Washington the answer is once a year — and the reason has less to do with looks than with what is actually growing in the surface.

Why our climate is different. Concrete is porous. Every winter it holds water for weeks at a time, and that steady moisture is what algae and moss feed on. The black streaking on a north-facing driveway is not dirt sitting on top; it is growth that has rooted into the pores. That is why a garden hose barely touches it.

The once-a-year rule. A yearly wash keeps growth from establishing deep in the surface. Let it go two or three years and moss builds a root structure that works the concrete apart, and the sand between pavers washes out. Cleaning yearly costs less than the repair, and each wash is easier than the last.

When to schedule it. Late spring through early fall is ideal, once the heavy rain has let up — the surface dries faster and results last longer. That said, most of this work is fine in the rain, so if fall is when you have time, it still works.

What the job involves. Flat concrete gets a surface cleaner, not a wand. A wand leaves stripes and can etch lines into the surface; a surface cleaner spreads pressure evenly for a consistent finish edge to edge. Pavers get the same treatment, and joint sand is replaced afterward if it has washed out.

Signs you have waited too long. Patches that stay dark after several dry days, slick spots when wet, and missing sand between pavers. The slickness is worth acting on quickly — algae on concrete gets genuinely dangerous underfoot.

New customers get $50 off their first service. Text or call and I will get you a number.