Pressure Washing Your Santa Barbara Driveway

Dirt, oil stains, and even tire tracks can detract from the look of a driveway over time.  So too, however, can cracks and chips, and therefore it’s important to learn the proper techniques for keeping your driveway looking clean and spiffy.  Hiring a professional driveway cleaning service usually begins with a search term, such as “driveway cleaning near me,” but before you start calling around, it’s good to know what the process entails.  Specifically, different types of driveways and hardscapes require different levels of care.  The cost to pressure wash a driveway may be directly related to the type of work required, but it’s of no consequence when the job is done correctly.

So, if your driveway is…

  • concrete, you’ll want to be cautious if it’s cracked or spalling as this can indicate that the concrete is brittle—perhaps from age—and should be handled with care. Ask your driveway cleaning service to take the condition of your concrete driveway into consideration before beginning the work.  A driveway cleaning professional will know whether your driveway is better suited for power washing versus pressure washing.  See other articles on this website to learn the difference!
  • asphalt, it’s strong and smooth and may hide dirt but could likely benefit from a cleaning. Here in Santa Barbara, however, higher temperatures mean that asphalt tends to be softer and therefore it’s important to plan to power wash your driveway on a cooler day or when the sun is behind the house.  Pressure washing asphalt is a great way to prepare it for a resealing—the ultimate in improving the look of your driveway.
  • pavers, there’s probably unsightly dirt that’s pushed up or caught at the many joints between units. And that can lead to the urge to power wash it all away.  There are a couple methods of cleaning a paver driveway, with the most detailed and time consuming being a process in which pavers are lifted out, washed, and placed back.  While this technique works wonders for removing dirt and weeds from the joints, it’s incredibly time consuming and would require use of a plate compactor and a fresh application of jointing sand afterward.  A driveway cleaning professional in Santa Barbara can suggest less extensive but equally impactful ways of pressure washing your paver driveway.

LANDSCAPE COMPANY NEAR ME

There are 2 reasons most clients contact us: to bring drive-up appeal to their home or to replace their current gardener. We take these two reasons to heart. We understand how important your landscape is to you. We are experts on drive-up appeal, water conservation landscaping, seasonal and climate planting, irrigation, and much more.

If it’s time for a clean driveway, it’s good to understand various cleaning methods and which might be best for yours before you reach out to get quotes on the cost to pressure wash a driveway. A driveway cleaning service can be your partner in keeping your paved surfaces looking fresh and clean for years to come.

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Jorge CortezContractor and Owner
California Landscape Licensed Contractor. Having grown up right here in Santa Barbara, Jorge Cortez graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in 2007 and went on to join the United States Marine Corps. After completing a tour in Afghanistan and receiving an honorable discharge, Cortez continued his education at Santa Barbara City College. Today, with over fifteen years of experience in landscape maintenance, he combines his passion for the land with his business acumen as owner of SB Evolution Landscape.