Service

Pressure washing

Concrete, pavers, and hard exterior surfaces cleaned with hot or cold water systems matched to the substrate. Water containment and permitting are handled as part of the scope, not an afterthought.

What's Included

Scope of work

Sidewalk and plaza surface cleaning
Loading dock and receiving area cleaning
Entrance canopy and column base cleaning
Parking lot line and surface cleaning
Gum and adhesive residue removal
Building perimeter and foundation wash
Dumpster pad and enclosure cleaning
Rust and mineral stain treatment
Graffiti pre-treatment (where surface allows)
Wash water containment and disposal
Permit application where required by municipality
Before/after photo documentation on request
Method

How the work is performed

01

Surface assessment

Confirm substrate type, jointing, sealant, and existing staining to select pressure, nozzle, and water temperature.

02

Containment setup

Berms, drain covers, or vacuum recovery are placed to keep wash water out of storm drains before work starts.

03

Pre-treatment

Degreaser or gum remover is applied and given dwell time on heavily soiled or stained areas.

04

Surface cleaning pass

Hot-water systems for oil and grease, cold water for general grime, applied with a rotary surface cleaner on flatwork for even results.

05

Detail cleaning

Edges, corners, columns, and vertical surfaces are hand-washed where a surface cleaner can't reach.

06

Water recovery and site walk

Remaining water is vacuumed or squeegeed to drains, containment is removed, and the site is walked for missed spots.

Access Approach

Access approach

  • Ground crew
    The standard approach for sidewalks, plazas, and loading docks — no elevated access needed.
  • Boom or scissor lift
    Used for building perimeter washing above reach, such as high entrance canopies or upper podium walls.
  • Water-fed pole
    Occasionally used for rinsing upper facade sections in combination with a ground-based pressure unit.
Pricing

What drives the price

  • Surface area
    Priced per square foot of hardscape, with a minimum call-out for small sites.
  • Contamination level
    Oil, gum, and rust require pre-treatment time beyond a routine wash.
  • Frequency
    Scheduled quarterly or semi-annual contracts cost less per visit than one-off cleans.
  • Access complexity
    Stairwells, tight loading bays, and vertical surfaces slow production rate.
  • Staging / permits
    Right-of-way or discharge permits add lead time and municipal fees to the quote.
Frequency

Recommended frequency

Vancouver's wet climate accelerates moss, algae, and grime buildup on concrete and pavers, so most commercial sites need washing more often than drier markets.

Retail plaza / storefront frontage — quarterly
Office tower entrance and loading dock — semi-annual
Strata common areas — annual to semi-annual
Industrial receiving and dock areas — quarterly
Parking lots and drive aisles — annual
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Will pressure washing damage pavers, stamped concrete, or stone?+

Not at the pressures and nozzles we select for those surfaces. We test an inconspicuous area first, use a surface cleaner attachment for even coverage on flatwork, and drop pressure on jointed or coloured concrete to avoid stripping sand or sealant.

Do you need permits for sidewalk or right-of-way cleaning?+

City of Vancouver and most municipalities require a discharge permit for wash water entering storm drains, and some require a right-of-way permit if we're working on public sidewalk. We handle both applications as part of scoping the job.

What happens to the dirty water?+

Wash water is contained with berms or vacuum recovery and directed away from storm drains. On sites with an oil/water separator or sanitary connection, we route through it; otherwise water is vacuumed and hauled off site for disposal.

How is this different from soft washing?+

Pressure washing uses higher pressure suited to hard surfaces like concrete, pavers, and metal. Painted stucco, EIFS, and most cladding need soft washing instead — see our building envelope soft washing page for that scope.

Can you remove gum, oil stains, and rust streaks?+

Yes, with pre-treatment. Gum and oil respond to a degreaser dwell time before hot-water washing; rust streaks from railings or rebar need a rust-specific chelating treatment, which we quote separately from routine washing.

Next Steps

Related pages

Get a budget estimate, review our insurance and safety credentials, or see recent work in our case studies.

Client Feedback

Trusted for hardscape and building perimeters

Verified feedback from clients who rely on our pressure washing programs for plazas, sidewalks, and loading areas.

Read our reviews on Google →
The Spiffy Window Cleaning crew arrived on schedule, were courteous, worked diligently and did a great job. The windows look fantastic. An added bonus - the management and employees are customer oriented and responsive.
James Kellett
Google review
Class act! Super easy to book and showed up on time and did a stellar job! I had all of the glass windows cleaned and let me tell you winter was unkind to all of our sliding glass doors and now they are perfection. Will be booking them again soon!
Jenny Beth Meischl
Google review
David and all of the team at Spiffy are good guys who aim to please. They did a wonderful job on my windows, gutters inside and out, and my deck glass which was covered in years of green algae. I didn't think I needed cleaning, but after it was done, I must say, I do enjoy my clear views.
Karen L
Google review

Get an estimate for pressure washing

Tell us the surface type and square footage and we'll quote a frequency that fits your budget.

Next step

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