Power and pressure washing in Evansville, IN for concrete and hard surfaces

The front walk has gone dark in the shady stretch by the porch. The steps have a black line along every edge. The pool deck looks gray even on a dry afternoon.

That’s pressure washing work. Concrete is hard enough to take force, and force is what gets ground-in grime off it. Evansville hands that grime plenty of water to live on, too. The city averages 47.91 inches of precipitation a year, according to NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for the airport.

Pressure is also the wrong tool for most of your house. So this page covers both sides. What we pressure wash, what we won’t, and how a job runs from start to finish.

Hard surfaces we pressure wash

• Driveways and garage aprons. The wide, flat work most people call us about.
• Sidewalks and front walks. Including the shady stretch that never quite dries.
• Patios. Plain concrete, plus pavers with extra care (more on that below).
• Pool decks. Tell us what yours is made of when you call.
• Steps and stoops. Edges and corners get a hand wand.
• Curbs. Where the street grime and mower clippings collect.
• Dumpster pads. Mostly at businesses, HOAs and apartment buildings.

For the stain-by-stain detail on home driveways and patios, like oil, rust and leaf marks, see our concrete and driveway cleaning page.

What we won’t pressure wash

A pressure washer can strip, gouge, or push water where it doesn’t belong. These surfaces get soft washing instead. That means low pressure, with a cleaning solution doing the work.

• Shingle roofs. Shingles hold their granules in asphalt, and InterNACHI notes that “over time, the bond between the granules and asphalt deteriorates.” We don’t add force to a bond that’s already weakening. We never pressure wash a roof.
• Most siding. The siding trade group says some siding makers don’t recommend power washing at all, and others limit the pressure (PEPA).
• Soft or old brick. The Brick Industry Association caps water pressure at 400 psi at the nozzle unless the brick maker allows more. That’s a ceiling, not a goal.
• Painted wood and weathered decks. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory says power washing “can remove wood from the surface.” Our wood restoration page covers how we handle decks and fences.
• Anything with loose paint. Pressure gets under the edge and lifts more of it.

Want the reasons surface by surface? Our article on pressure washing vs soft washing goes through each one with the trade group sources.

Before

After

How a pressure washing job runs

1. We walk it with you. Before any water goes down, we point out cracks, flaking spots and old stains. You’ll know what was there before we started.
2. We clear the area. Planters, chairs, grills and cars come off the concrete. Doors and the garage door stay shut.
3. We test a small spot. Pressure starts low and only goes up as far as that surface needs.
4. We wash. Flat areas get a surface cleaner, which gives an even finish. A hand wand takes care of steps, edges and curbs.
5. We rinse. The loosened dirt gets rinsed off the concrete and away from the house.
6. We walk it again. You see the result with us before we pack up.

When we turn the pressure down

Concrete can take force. Not every slab can take the same amount.

• Flaking surfaces. The concrete industry’s guide to scaling describes this as the top surface flaking or peeling after freeze and thaw cycles. Full pressure can lift more of the loose layer. We ease off and tell you what we see.
• Exposed aggregate. The stones on top are the look you paid for. We clean around them at a gentler setting.
• Pavers. The sand between them helps hold them in place, and too much pressure can wash it out. We test a corner first.
• Stamped, colored or coated concrete. A coating can lift under pressure. We try a hidden spot before the rest.

Commercial flat work

Property managers deal with a different list. Entry walks with gum and grime. Curbs by the parking lot. The dumpster pad behind the building. Tell us when the walks are busiest and we’ll plan the work around it. Our commercial and multifamily page covers how we work with HOAs and managed properties.

You probably don’t need this if…

• It’s loose leaves and dust. A broom and a garden hose will do.
• You want your roof pressure washed. We won’t do it. Shingles get a low-pressure soft wash, explained on our roof cleaning page.
• The slab is cracked, sunken or heaving. A wash won’t change that. Call a concrete contractor.
• It’s one small stoop and you already own a pressure washer. Keep it low and keep the tip moving. You may not need us.

What happens next

Book a free exterior evaluation. We’ll walk your hard surfaces with you, say which ones pressure suits and which need a gentler method, and flag anything a wash can’t help. Then you decide.

Rather talk it through first? Call or text Terrance at (812) 664-6222, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

Common questions