Concrete cleaning beyond the driveway

Pool decks, steps, retaining walls, garage floors and the walk out back. Same material, a dozen different stains.

Concrete is the most forgiving surface we clean, and also the easiest to mark if the wand is held too close. This page covers everything concrete that isn't the driveway out front; for that, see driveway pressure washing.

Common jobs

Pool decks

Algae in the expansion joints and around the coping. Washed with care near the pool so cleaner doesn't drain into the water.

Steps and stoops

Hand-wand work on the risers and edges, where a surface cleaner won't fit.

Retaining walls

Block and poured walls on sloped lots, often mossy on the uphill side.

Garage floors

Degreaser first, then a scrub and rinse toward the door, never toward the house.

Sidewalks and curb strips

Red clay, leaf tannin stains and the green film that makes them slick.

Basement entries

Low, damp, shaded and often the slipperiest concrete on the property.

Concrete sidewalk with red clay and mildew staining, a sharp clean line where the spray has passed — Red clay and mildew lifting off a sidewalk

Stacked-block retaining wall in a sloped Knoxville yard, mossy upper courses above clean washed courses — Retaining wall, mossy courses above and washed courses below

Slippery is a safety problem

That green film on a shaded walk or pool deck is more than ugly. Wet algae on concrete is slick, and it's usually on the steps people use most. Cleaning it off, and sometimes treating it so it doesn't come straight back, is one of the most useful things you can do before winter.

Hot or cold water?

Most residential concrete gets clean with cold water and the right detergent. Hot water helps on grease: restaurant pads, garage floors with years of drips, equipment areas. The difference is explained in pressure washing vs power washing.

Questions

Asked about concrete cleaning

Still wondering about something? Call (865) 390-6589 and ask. It costs nothing to ask.

Will washing make my concrete look new?

It removes what's on the surface. It won't fix cracks, spalling or color differences between slabs poured at different times.

Can you remove rust stains?

Usually, with a rust remover that's separate from the normal wash. It's priced as its own line so you can decide.

Is the pool safe during a deck wash?

Cleaner is kept away from the edge or captured, and the deck near the coping is rinsed with plain water. If you're worried, cover the pool or ask us to skip cleaner near the edge.