Get the green off the ground.
Paths, driveways, patios, decks and fences, each washed with the pressure it can actually handle. Concrete can take a firmer hand. Timber, composite and anything sealed get the gentle treatment.
That green stuff is slippery.
Moss, algae and lichen leave a slick film on damp paths, decks, steps and driveways. Come winter, that can turn the walk to the car into a bit of a skate.
Steps and slopes are the worst of it. NZ building guidance recognises that stairs and sloping surfaces need extra care for slip resistance, and good practice on top of that is keeping them clear of moss, leaves and debris.
Getting the growth off helps cut the risk. No clean can promise nobody ever slips in the wet, but it beats tiptoeing down your own front steps. And a green driveway makes the whole place look tired.
Source: Oncore Service, keeping outdoor surfaces safe and slip-resistant
Concrete can take it. Timber can't.
One pressure for everything is how decks get wrecked. Hard concrete can handle a firmer wash. Timber, composite and sealed surfaces need a much gentler approach. Here's how each one gets done.
Plain concrete Firmer
Broom-finished paths, drives and patios are the toughest thing we wash, so they can take a firmer hand. The moss still gets pre-treated first, so pressure isn't doing all the work.
Exposed aggregate Moderate
Those stones are only held by the concrete around them. A tight jet held close can pop them loose, so it's moderate pressure and a wide fan, kept moving.
Pavers Gentle
Go too hard and you blast the sand out of the joints, etch the faces or shift the pavers. So it's lower pressure, a wide-angle nozzle and a careful rinse along the joints.
Timber decks Gentle
Soft grain tears under high pressure. It's called furring, and it leaves boards rough, splintery and quicker to get grubby. Decks get a soft wash instead, low pressure and a timber-safe solution.
Composite decks Gentlest
Each composite maker sets its own pressure limit, some say skip the pressure washer altogether on older boards, and going past the limit can void the board warranty. Your brand's own care guide gets the final say. Confirm: do you check the brand's care guide before starting?
Fences Gentle
Timber palings, stained or painted, get a soft wash. Stain makers like Wattyl advise against high-pressure blasting on stained timber, and cedar is a soft timber that marks easily under high pressure. Confirm: the solution you use on cedar.
Not sure what yours is made of? Send a photo with your quote request and we'll work it out.
Sources: Hydroclean on exposed aggregate, Panda Pavers on pavers, Suds Wash on timber decks, Trex composite care guide, Wattyl Forestwood care and Dryden on cedar
Full noise does real damage.
Blasting everything as hard as the machine goes is quick. It's also how decks go furry and pavers lose their joints. Here's what we work to avoid.
Same pressure, every surface.
- Furred timber, where torn grain leaves a deck rough and splintery underfoot.
- Etched or shifted pavers from a narrow jet held too close.
- Jointing sand blasted out, so the pavers can start to move.
- Stones knocked loose from exposed aggregate.
- Sealer or stain worn back on surfaces that were coated to protect them.
Treat first, then go easy.
- Moss, algae and lichen pre-treated, so the solution does the heavy lifting.
- Lower pressure and a wide fan on timber, composite, pavers and aggregate.
- Firmer pressure saved for plain concrete that can take it.
- Nozzle kept moving and well back, not parked in one spot.
- Joints, edges and garden margins rinsed at the end.
Slide the moss away.
Driveways are where the difference really shows. There's something very satisfying about a clean stripe through the green.
Placeholder: shoot the same stretch of driveway or path from the same spot, before and after, and they drop in here.
Chemistry first, pressure second.
Show us the surface You
Send a few photos and tell us what it's made of, if you know. Concrete, pavers, timber and composite all get washed differently, so it matters.
We pre-treat it
Loose leaves and muck get swept off, then the moss, algae and lichen get a cleaning solution and time to soak in before any washing starts.
We wash and rinse
Pressure and nozzle matched to the surface, in steady overlapping passes. Then the joints, edges and garden margins get a good rinse.
After the clean.
Resealing, once it's clean
Sealer goes on once a surface is clean and fully dry, so straight after a wash is the natural time to think about it. It fills the tiny pores in concrete and exposed aggregate, which makes it harder for moss, oil and dirt to get a grip.
Metro Water Blasting suggests a clean once a year, or every six to nine months on the coast, and sealing can help a clean surface stay that way for longer. Yours will depend on shade, damp and how much moss is about.
Resealing is optional, and it's a separate job from the clean. Confirm: do you reseal yourself, quote it separately, or point people to someone who does? Already sealed? It gets the gentle end of the range, and if the old sealer looks worn or patchy, we'll point it out.
Sources: Peter Fell, cleaning and maintaining your concrete and Metro Water Blasting on driveway and path cleaning
Paver joints topped up
Washing can loosen jointing sand. Topping the joints back up, often with polymeric sand, helps stop the pavers shifting. Confirm: do you resand, or quote it separately?
Anti-moss treatment
Without one, moss can start creeping back within weeks in shady, damp spots. A longer-lasting treatment helps slow the regrowth. Confirm: do you offer one, and which product?
Stubborn stains
Oil, rust and tannin stains often need their own treatment on top of a standard wash. Confirm: do you treat stains, or stick to the general clean?
Ground-level questions.
Can you clean my deck without wrecking it?
My driveway's green and slippery. Can you sort it?
How long will it stay clean?
Concrete's tough. Can't you just blast it?
What pressure do you actually use?
Will the cleaning solution hurt my garden or pets?
Do I need to move the outdoor furniture?
How much does it cost?
The rest of the house.
Let's get your house juicy.
Tell us where you are and what needs a wash. We'll come back to you with a price.
Rather talk? Call 021 000 0000 or email hello@juicyhousewash.co.nz.
Sweet, it's in.
We'll be in touch with your quote soon.