How Much Does Pressure Cleaning Cost? [2024]

If you want to clean almost any large surface area outside your house, high-pressure cleaning is usually the best and most cost-effective way to do it. You can rent pressure cleaning equipment from a local equipment hire shop, but there are many advantages to hiring a professional pressure cleaning service.

As a ballpark figure expect high-pressure cleaning to cost from $150 for 1 to 30 square metres. Read on to find out:

• What are the benefits of hiring a professional pressure cleaning service? 
• What can I have pressure washed?
• How much does professional pressure cleaning cost?
• What pressure-washing equipment can I hire?
• How to hire a professional pressure washing service. 

Benefits of hiring a professional pressure cleaning service

Hiring a basic high-pressure water machine can cost $40 for a day but it can be surprising how long it takes to do it yourself. Though pressure washing can seem like a simple exercise, there are a lot of factors that a professional take into account when they pressure wash. 

Apart from saving you the time it would take to wash it yourself, a professional pressure washer will know the best pressures and techniques to clean it efficiently. 

One of the biggest reasons to use a professional service is that they can guarantee the protection of your surfaces. Different surfaces require different water pressures and cleaning techniques. What might work fine on a grimy concrete driveway, for instance, may strip the paint off of your house. 

They’ll also have better equipment than what you will be able to hire. The tools they use will be specialised to the jobs you need. 

Pressure cleaning also uses cleaning agents to be effective and it's not uncommon for a DIY pressure cleaning job to result in a clean footpath, but a brown lawn that's been killed by a harsh detergent. A professional pressure cleaning service will know the right agents to use on each surface so runoff doesn’t cause irreparable damage to the surrounding areas. 

What areas of my home can I have pressure cleaned?

Many of the outside areas of your home can be pressure cleaned. Wherever there is a hard surface like concrete or roofing you will be able to clean using pressure washing. Some of the main areas people get pressure cleaning are:

Driveway

One of the common areas people think to get pressure cleaning is on their driveways. The constant exposure to dust, tires of cars and chalk drawings can make them incredibly dirty. Usually, a service will scrub or soak your driveway to remove oil stains before they begin pressure washing. 

Exterior walls

Exterior walls are another area that is easier to clean with a pressure wash. Professional services can make sure that your walls are cleaned without damaging them. Their rates and methods will change depending on the material and size of your home. 

If your home is made of wood or another soft material, high-pressure washing should be avoided. Use low-pressure washing, which will take longer but leaves the surface undamaged. 

Patio

Another area of common traffic, patios can get dirty from constant use. A high-pressure cleaning service can breathe new life into one of your common entertaining areas and they will take care of grease stains, hard-to-remove grout and lingering dirt. 

Roof

Your roof can also be cleaned by a professional pressure cleaning service and they are highly recommended for safety reasons. Whether it's for general cleaning or to remove mould, once the roof becomes wet, it becomes slippery. Add cleaning agents to the mix, even a gently sloping roof becomes dangerously slippery. Only professional roof cleaners have the equipment and experience to clean roofs safely and effectively.

How much does pressure cleaning cost?

Like other trade professionals, pressure cleaning companies base their rates on their time and materials. In most cases, they charge by the square metre, with different charges applying to different surfaces. Travel and set-up times are usually factored into the overall costs which can mean that sometimes the company may charge as much to clean 10 square metres as it charges for 30 square metres.

Typical quotes for pressure cleaning can be:

• $150 - 1 – 30 
• $180 - 40
• $200 - 50
• $325 - 100

The price also depends on the area to be cleaned. Some estimated quotes by area are:

• Driveway - $200
• Exterior - $350
• Patio - $150
• Roof - $150 - $350

Note: Roof cleaning can be impacted by the pitch and size of your roof. High-pressure roof cleaning prices start from $2 per square metre for metal or concrete tile roofing. Some cleaners will charge by the hour, with around $40 per hour being the average.

What pressure cleaning equipment is used?

A pressure cleaning professional will use some essential equipment to get the job done properly. The equipment they use will depend on the area being cleaned. For instance, cleaning a driveway usually requires:

• High PSI pressure machine, often petrol driven
• Special detergent or cleaning products
• Broom and brush
• Gloves
• Protective sheeting, to prevent damage to surrounding items and garden
• Painting tape
• A long garden hose
• Concrete or paver sealer

How do I prepare before my pressure cleaning service?

Once you’ve hired a pro pressure cleaner, be sure to remove items from the area that could get damaged. For example, bicycles and other sports equipment, toys, storage containers and boxes and cars. You can use a plastic sheet and tape to cover doors and windows, so they aren’t sprayed with water or dirt during cleaning. This also avoids damage to precious paintwork.

Hiring the right tradie for your job

Make sure your service provider is right for your job by asking them these questions:

• Are you insured?
• Do you have references?
• Can you provide a written quote for my job?
• When can you start my job?

You can also tell a lot about a business by your initial contact with them. Did they get in touch promptly? Were they polite? Did they keep their first appointment? If they don’t make you feel comfortable it is probably not a good idea to hire them.

Getting quotes from high-pressure cleaning services

To get the best deal on pressure cleaning, always get at least three quotes. To get even better value for money, check if they have other services you might need such as sealing your driveway after having it pressure cleaned. Hiring one service to do multiple jobs can save you on travel and set-up time.