Well water, iron, and why St. Johns driveways go orange
The Floridan aquifer that supplies most of this area is naturally high in dissolved iron. That is harmless to drink and invisible in the water, but it does not stay invisible once it hits concrete.
When iron-rich water evaporates on a hard surface in Florida sun, the iron oxidises. What is left behind is iron oxide — rust — chemically bonded into the top layer of the concrete. It shows as orange or reddish-brown staining, usually in the arc of a sprinkler head or in streaks running from a downspout.
The important point is that this is not a cleaning problem, it is a chemistry problem. High pressure will not remove it and bleach will not touch it. It takes an oxalic-acid based rust remover, applied wet, given time to dwell, then flushed.
- Sulphur in the same water leaves a separate grey-black staining, treated differently
- Rust treatment is from $45 and is quoted as a separate line
- We will point out which heads are causing it so you can adjust them
- A rust inhibitor added to the irrigation system prevents recurrence long-term
The neighbourhoods, and what each one needs
32259 covers a wide span of build eras, and the age of the home changes the job more than the street does.
| Neighbourhood | Built | Most common request | Typical spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julington Creek Plantation | 1990s – 2000s | House wash + roof soft wash | $549 – $849 |
| Durbin Crossing | 2005 – 2015 | House wash + driveway + rust | $399 – $599 |
| RiverTown | 2015 – present | Driveway rust + paver clean | $249 – $449 |
| Aberdeen | 2005 – 2015 | House wash + driveway | $379 – $549 |
| Bartram Springs | 2003 – 2012 | House wash + fence | $399 – $629 |
| Fruit Cove | 1980s – 2000s | Roof cleaning + house wash | $599 – $949 |
Julington Creek's tree cover is its other problem
The older neighbourhoods along Julington Creek kept a lot of their mature canopy, which is lovely to live under and hard on exteriors.
Shaded walls never fully dry, so mildew establishes far faster on the north and east elevations. Roofs under overhanging limbs collect leaf litter that holds moisture, and that is where black algae streaking starts. Homes in this pocket often need washing every 12 months rather than the 18 to 24 we would recommend in an open subdivision like RiverTown.
Services we run in St. Johns
All six of our services are available here. These are the three St. Johns customers book most often, in order:
From $109Driveway Cleaning
An even, stripe-free finish — plus the rust nobody else removes.
Prices & method
From $249House Washing
Kill the algae at the root, not just the colour on the surface.
Prices & method
From $399Roof Cleaning
The no-pressure method that won't void your shingle warranty.
Prices & methodSee the full list on our services page, or read the Jacksonville price guide for the per-square-foot rates.
Neighbourhoods we cover in St. Johns
We work throughout St. Johns and the surrounding St. Johns County area, including:
- Julington Creek Plantation
- Durbin Crossing
- RiverTown
- Aberdeen
- Bartram Springs
- Julington Creek
- Fruit Cove
- St. Johns Forest
Landmarks nearby: Julington Creek, Durbin Park, Bartram Trail, St. Johns River. If your street isn't listed, send us the address — we almost certainly cover it.