Why the surface cleaner matters more than the PSI
Almost every company in Jacksonville advertises a PSI figure. It is close to meaningless on its own. What determines whether your driveway looks professionally cleaned or ruined is the tool on the end of the hose.
A rotary surface cleaner is an enclosed disc with two or four jets spinning underneath it. Because the jets sweep a continuous circle and the housing keeps a constant distance from the slab, every square inch gets the same dose of pressure. That is what produces an even finish.
A hand wand puts a single fan of water on the concrete. The operator has to overlap perfectly, at a constant speed and angle, for the whole slab. Nobody can do that by hand across 600 square feet — hence the stripes.
| Rotary surface cleaner | Hand wand | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Even, no visible passes | Striped unless perfectly overlapped |
| Speed | About 4× faster | Slow |
| Risk of etching | Low — constant standoff | High — easy to linger |
| Water use | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Open slabs, driveways, patios | Edges, corners, steps, detail work |
The three stains pressure alone will not remove
This is the part most quotes leave out. Pressure removes dirt, algae and surface grime. It does not remove anything that has chemically bonded to or soaked into the concrete. Three of those are extremely common in Jacksonville.
- Irrigation rust is the number one call we get in Jacksonville — sprinkler heads throwing iron-rich well water onto the slab
- Rust removal is a separate line on the quote, from $45, because it needs a different chemical and a second pass
- Anyone who promises to remove a five-year-old oil stain completely is guessing
| Stain | Cause | Treatment | Typical result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange / rust staining | Well and irrigation water high in iron | Oxalic-acid based rust remover, dwell then rinse | 90–100% removal |
| Oil and transmission fluid | Parked vehicles | Degreaser + poultice, sometimes two rounds | 70–95% depending on age |
| Battery acid / etching | Leaked acid pitting the surface | Neutralise; the pit is permanent | Colour evens, texture stays |
| Red clay tyre marks | Construction traffic | Alkaline pre-treat, then surface clean | 95–100% |
| Black algae film | Shade and humidity | Sodium hypochlorite pre-treat | 100% |
Driveway cleaning prices in Jacksonville
We price concrete per square foot, which is how you should compare any Jacksonville quote. Our rate is $0.15–$0.25 per square foot with a $109 minimum for a standalone visit.
| Area | Approx. size | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-car driveway | ~350 sq ft | $109 – $139 | 45 min |
| Two-car driveway | ~600 sq ft | $129 – $189 | 60–90 min |
| Three-car driveway | ~900 sq ft | $179 – $259 | 90 min |
| Driveway + walkway + entry | ~800 sq ft | $159 – $229 | 90 min |
| Pool deck | ~700 sq ft | $149 – $229 | 90 min |
| Rust / oil treatment | Per affected area | From $45 | Add 30 min |
Should you seal concrete after cleaning?
For plain broom-finish concrete, usually not. Sealer on standard grey concrete adds cost, can go blotchy, and needs redoing every few years. Clean it and leave it.
For decorative concrete — stamped, stained, or exposed aggregate — sealing is worth it, and it needs redoing every two to three years in Florida sun. Pavers are a different conversation entirely; see our guide to paver sealing for what actually goes wrong.
What's included in every job
No line items appear on the invoice that weren't on the quote. Everything below is part of the price:
- Full surface-clean of the driveway slab
- Wand detailing of edges, expansion joints and the garage apron
- Front walkway and entry path included at no extra charge
- Post-clean rinse of the kerb and gutter so runoff does not stain
- Weed and moss removal from expansion joints
Rust and oil treatment is priced separately because it needs different chemistry. Read more in our Jacksonville pricing guide, or see what to ask before hiring anyone.
Expert tips from our crew
Things worth knowing whether or not you hire anyone. Several of these will save you money, and a couple of them will save you from a repair bill.
Photograph the orange staining before you call anyone
Irrigation rust shows as an arc or fan matching the sprinkler's throw. That pattern is diagnostic — send us a photo and we can price the rust treatment without visiting, instead of discovering it on the day.
Never let anyone use a 0° red nozzle on your slab
There is no job on a driveway that needs it. It will carve a permanent line in the concrete in about a second, and the only fix is resurfacing the whole slab.
Wait 12 months before cleaning brand-new concrete
New concrete has not reached full strength and etches easily. If it must be done sooner, it needs lower pressure and a surface cleaner that never stops moving.
Clean the whole slab, not just the dirty half
Partial cleaning leaves a visible boundary line you then have to chase across the rest of the concrete. It is always faster and cheaper to do the lot in one pass.
