Pressure Washing in Stilfontein

Light rain is usually fine — surfaces are already wet. Pros avoid freezing temperatures (ice risk on cleaned surfaces and damaged equipment) and heavy storms. In hot dry regions, local water restrictions can limit or ban high-volume outdoor cleaning during drought periods, so check the current rules before booking.

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.

Renting a machine costs a fraction of a pro visit, but consumer machines are slower, and the main risks are damage (etched concrete, stripped paint) and injury — a 3000+ PSI jet can cut skin. DIY makes sense for a small, flat concrete area. Hire a pro for two-storey walls, roofs, timber, render, or anything needing ladders or chemicals.

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.

Pressure washing uses high-pressure water and suits hard surfaces: concrete, pavers, brick. Soft washing uses low pressure plus a cleaning solution and is the right method for painted render, siding, roofs, and timber, where high pressure would strip paint, gouge wood, or crack tiles. A good pro will recommend soft washing for delicate surfaces without being asked.

It depends on the municipality's current restriction level. Cape Town's higher restriction levels have banned hosing paved surfaces with potable water, while low-volume high-pressure equipment or non-potable water may still be allowed. Ask the contractor to confirm compliance for your municipality before booking.

Expect roughly R350-R750 per hour for a crew with equipment, R500-R1,800 for a standard driveway, and R1,500-R5,000 for a full house exterior depending on size. Johannesburg and Cape Town sit at the top of the range.