High-Pressure Cleaning in Adelaide: Driveways, Decks and Paving Done Right

There are few home maintenance tasks as satisfying as pressure cleaning. The immediate transformation — dirty grey paving revealed as fresh light stone, a driveway that looks new again, moss and algae lifted from a deck — is instantly visible and genuinely impressive.

It's also a task that's very easy to do wrong. Wrong pressure setting, wrong distance, wrong technique — and you can permanently damage concrete, strip timber decking, etch pavers, or blast the jointing sand out from between pavers, leaving them unstable.

This guide covers what to pressure clean, what to not pressure clean, how to do it correctly, and when to call a professional.

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What Benefits from Pressure Cleaning in Adelaide Homes

Driveways (Concrete and Asphalt)

Driveways collect a combination of tyre rubber, oil and grease deposits, algae and moss in shaded areas, general grime, and in Adelaide specifically — the red-brown clay dust that follows summer northerlies.

Pressure cleaning removes all of these. A concrete driveway that looks permanently stained from years of use often looks dramatically better after a thorough pressure clean.

Best results: Pre-treat oil stains with a degreaser before pressure cleaning — pressure alone doesn't lift embedded oil from concrete, it just moves it around. Apply degreaser, scrub with a stiff brush, then pressure wash.

Pavers (Brick and Stone)

Paved areas — paths, driveways, entertaining areas — collect moss, algae, lichen and general soiling. Pressure cleaning removes biological growth and restores the colour of pavers significantly.

Caution: The jointing sand between pavers is displaced by professional pressure washing in Adelaide if the wrong technique or pressure is used. See technique section below.

Timber Decking

Timber decking exposed to Adelaide's weather — intense summer UV, winter rain, autumn leaves — develops algae and grey weathering on the surface. Pressure cleaning removes the grey layer and biological growth, preparing the surface for oiling or staining.

Important: Timber requires lower pressure than concrete or pavers. Too much pressure damages timber fibres and can splinter the wood surface. Never use a rotary/turbo nozzle on timber.

Rendered or Brick External Walls

Low-pressure cleaning of rendered walls removes moss, algae and general soiling. High pressure on render can damage or remove sections of render. Always use the lowest pressure that achieves the result.

Fences (Timber and Colorbond)

Timber fences respond well to low-pressure cleaning to remove algae and prepare for restaining. Colorbond and Zincalume fencing can be cleaned with moderate pressure — avoid hitting the factory painted surface at too-close a range.

Outdoor Furniture (Powder-Coated Metal, Plastic)

Appropriate for outdoor furniture at lower pressure settings. Keep the nozzle at sufficient distance.

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What Should NOT Be Pressure Cleaned (or Approached Very Carefully)

Roof tiles: Pressure cleaning roof tiles is extremely contentious. It can remove the granular coating on cement tiles, remove moss (which then washes into gutters and can block downpipes), and dislodge ridge cap bedding. If roof cleaning is needed, this is a specialist job — not a DIY pressure wash.

Painted surfaces: High pressure removes paint. If a surface is painted and you want to keep the paint, avoid pressure washing.

Delicate natural stone (sandstone, limestone, bluestone): These are porous and soft stones that high pressure can damage permanently. Low pressure only, with care.

Older concrete with surface cracks: Water under pressure can penetrate cracks and worsen them, particularly if the water finds a weak point beneath the surface.

Windows and doors: High pressure can penetrate window seals and door weatherstripping, forcing water into wall cavities. Clean windows with a cloth and bucket.

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The Correct Technique

Pressure Settings

Most surfaces need less pressure than people use. More pressure is not better — it's faster, but it causes more damage risk.

Surface	Recommended pressure (PSI)
Timber decking	500–1200 PSI
Pavers and brick	1200–1800 PSI
Concrete driveway	2000–3000 PSI
Rendered walls	500–1000 PSI
Outdoor furniture	500–1000 PSI

Most domestic pressure washers available for hire produce 1200–2000 PSI — sufficient for pavers and moderate for driveways.

Nozzle Selection

Pressure washers come with interchangeable nozzles. The angle determines the spread of the spray:

• 0° nozzle (red): Concentrated stream. Very high impact. Useful for point cleaning of extreme stains. Can easily damage surfaces — avoid on pavers, timber, render.
• 15° nozzle (yellow): Narrow fan. For concrete and very tough surfaces.
• 25° nozzle (green): General cleaning. Most surfaces.
• 40° nozzle (white): Wide, low pressure. For delicate surfaces, rinsing, outdoor furniture.
• 65° nozzle (black): Very wide, very low pressure. For applying cleaning detergents.
• Rotary/turbo nozzle: Spins a 0° stream in a circular pattern — very aggressive. Driveways only. Not for timber, pavers or render.

When in doubt, start with a wider angle (more degrees = wider and less aggressive) and reduce only if the wider setting doesn't achieve the result.

Distance from Surface

More distance = less impact. Start 60cm from the surface and reduce distance until you achieve the result. Never hold the nozzle closer than 15cm to any surface.

Technique for Pavers

To avoid displacing jointing sand: hold the wand at an angle (not perpendicular to the surface) and use sweeping strokes along the paver face, not directly at the joints. This cleans the paver surface while minimising water impact into the joints.

After cleaning pavers, check the joints — if sand has been displaced, brush in new jointing sand (available at hardware stores) once the surface is dry.

Technique for Timber Decking

Hold the wand parallel to the timber grain and work with the grain. Cross-grain pressure washing leaves visible marks. Use lower pressure (max 1200 PSI), 25° or 40° nozzle, and maintain a distance of 30–40cm.

Allow the deck to dry completely before assessing whether oiling or staining is needed.

Pre-Treatment for Better Results

For algae and moss: apply a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) or a commercial moss and algae killer to the surface 20–30 minutes before pressure washing. This kills the biological growth and makes pressure washing dramatically more effective.

For oil stains on concrete: apply degreaser, leave for 15 minutes, scrub, then pressure wash.

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Safety

Pressure washers produce water at pressures that can cause serious injury. The spray can cut through skin.

• Never point the wand at people or animals
• Wear closed-toe shoes and eye protection
• Don't use on a ladder — the kickback can cause a fall
• Keep children and pets away from the work area

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Hiring vs Buying

For most Adelaide homeowners who pressure clean once or twice a year, hiring is more cost-effective than buying. Hire centres in Adelaide offer pressure washers for around $70–$120 per day, with appropriate attachments.

If you're pressure cleaning more frequently — or if you have a large property — a mid-range domestic pressure washer ($300–$600) is a reasonable purchase. Brands like Karcher and Gerni are reliable and well-supported in Australia.

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For professional pressure cleaning of driveways, paths, paving and outdoor areas across Adelaide, contact PF Cleaning Adelaide.

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Written by Victor Jacon — Master Cleaner & Home Detailing Specialist, Founder of PF Cleaning Adelaide.