Pressure Washing in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

Fresh oil mostly comes out with a degreaser pre-treatment plus hot-water pressure washing. Old oil that has soaked deep into concrete may only fade, not disappear — an honest pro will tell you this before quoting rather than promising full removal. Ask specifically whether stain treatment is included or extra.

High-pressure washing damages most roof coverings — it strips granules from asphalt shingles, cracks and dislodges tiles, and can force water under the covering. Roof cleaning should be done by soft washing or manual moss removal plus a biocide treatment. If a company proposes blasting your roof at full pressure, choose someone else.

Common products are sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions for organic growth, degreasers for oil, and biocides for moss and algae. Used properly they are rinsed off and diluted, but they can harm plants, pets, and ponds during application. Ask the pro how they protect garden beds and where the runoff drains — dirty water should not go into surface-water drains in many jurisdictions.

Four things drive the spread: surface area and condition (heavy staining doubles the time), access (upper storeys, tight side passages), method (soft washing with chemicals costs more than a quick rinse), and what is bundled (resealing, weed treatment, gutter clear-out). A cheap quote is often just a rinse with no pre-treatment — clarify the scope before comparing numbers.

Move cars off the driveway, clear pots, furniture, and toys from the work area, close all windows and doors, and cover or flag anything fragile like garden lights. Point out hairline cracks, loose pointing, or flaking paint in advance — pros will work around known weak spots but cannot see them under grime.

Roughly April to October in most provinces — pros stop when temperatures approach freezing because wet surfaces become ice hazards and equipment can freeze. That short season means spring slots book out weeks ahead; fall is often easier to schedule.

A typical single-storey house wash runs roughly $250-$500, and driveways $130-$400 depending on size and staining. Expect quotes 10-20% above US prices in dollar terms, with Toronto and Vancouver at the top of the range.