A Blueridge driveway after a long, wet winter

The situation

A family home in Blueridge, near the forest below Mount Seymour, has a two-car concrete driveway that runs down from the street. By the end of winter it was dark green along the edges, black under the trees and slick enough that the kids had stopped riding bikes on it.

The owners had tried a rented pressure washer the year before and ended up with light and dark stripes across the whole pad.

Why DIY washing leaves stripes

A hand wand held at slightly different distances cleans unevenly, which shows up as stripes or swirl marks on concrete. It's a common problem, and one that can usually be put right.

A rotary surface cleaner keeps the nozzles at a fixed height and spins them evenly over the surface, so the whole pad comes out one consistent colour.

How we approach it

• Moss and algae along the edges and shaded areas are pre-treated so they release from the surface rather than just getting trimmed back.
• The main pad is cleaned with a surface cleaner, then edges, expansion joints and the area against the garage door are detailed by hand.
• Rinse water is directed to the street drain or lawn rather than into the garage or neighbour's yard.
• If earlier stripes are still visible, an even clean usually blends them, though very deep marks can take a second pass.

Keeping it that way

Shaded North Shore driveways will grow back eventually. A yearly clean in spring or early fall usually keeps them safe and looking good.

Questions we hear