Driveway & path cleaning in Pakenham.
We lift years of oil, tyre marks, lichen and that creeping black mould line off your driveway, paths and porch. Rotary surface cleaning for an even finish, no zebra striping, with optional sealing to keep it cleaner for longer.
What we clean.
The driveway is the first thing anyone sees of a Pakenham home, and it is the surface that shows neglect fastest. Between the cool damp air off the ranges, overhanging gums dropping leaf litter and oil, and the heavy clay dust kicked up across the Cardinia growth corridor, a concrete driveway here goes from new to grimy in three or four years. We clean every hard exterior surface on the property:
- Plain and broom-finish concrete: the standard driveway across Pakenham’s older estates. High-pressure surface clean lifts the grey film and mould line.
- Exposed aggregate: the default in Cardinia Lakes, Lakeside and Arena. Cleaned with an even flat-head pass so stones are not dislodged.
- Stamped and coloured concrete: cleaned at a controlled pressure to protect the colour hardener and sealer.
- Pavers and brick paths: cleaned, then re-sanded in the joints where needed to lock the pavers.
- Porches, steps, pool surrounds and patios: the same surfaces that grow slippery green algae on the shaded side.
Oil, lichen and the black mould line.
Three problems dominate Pakenham driveways. Oil and tyre rubber under the carport, which we lift with a degreaser pre-treatment. Lichen, the grey-green crusty spots that take hold on the damp southern half of the slab. And the black mould line that creeps in from the edges where the lawn meets the concrete. High pressure alone removes the surface growth but it returns within a season. We pre-treat with a biodegradable detergent that kills the mould and lichen at the root, then surface clean, so it stays gone far longer.
Sealing, and why it is worth it here.
On exposed aggregate and decorative concrete we recommend a penetrating sealer after cleaning. In Pakenham’s damp climate a sealed driveway sheds oil and resists the mould line far better, and the colour comes up richer. We only seal once the slab is bone dry, normally the day after the wash. Sealing is $6 to $12 per square metre on top of the clean.
What a Pakenham driveway clean costs.
A standard double driveway, around 40 to 60 square metres, is $180 to $320. A worked example: a 50 square metre Cardinia Lakes exposed aggregate driveway with light oil staining comes to about $250 cleaned, or $550 cleaned and sealed. Larger or heavily stained driveways run $300 to $500. Add paths, porch and a back patio and most homes land between $280 and $480 for the lot. Full detail is on our pricing guide and the pressure washing cost in Pakenham article.
Driveway cleaning pairs naturally with a house soft wash, the two together are a half-day job and the most popular combination we do across the shire.
Where we clean driveways.
Driveway cleaning questions.
How much does driveway cleaning cost in Pakenham?
A standard double driveway (40 to 60 square metres) is $180 to $320. Larger or heavily oil-stained driveways run $300 to $500. Sealing afterwards is $6 to $12 per square metre. A 50 square metre Cardinia Lakes exposed aggregate driveway with light oil is about $250 to clean, or $550 cleaned and sealed.
Will pressure washing damage my exposed aggregate driveway?
Not with a rotary surface cleaner used at the right pressure and distance. We use a flat-head cleaner that spreads pressure evenly so the aggregate stays put and there is no striping. The risk only comes from a narrow turbo nozzle held too close on an aged surface, which we do not do.
Can you remove oil stains from concrete?
Most oil and tyre marks lift with a degreaser pre-treatment plus high-pressure washing. Very old oil soaked deep into a slab may leave a faint shadow, but we remove the large majority. Stubborn stains get a poultice degreaser and a return visit to rinse.
Should I seal my driveway after cleaning?
On exposed aggregate and decorative concrete in Pakenham, yes. A penetrating sealer makes future oil and lichen easier to wash off, deepens the colour and slows the mould line. We seal once the surface is fully dry, usually the day after cleaning.
Free driveway cleaning quote.
Send a photo of your driveway and we will price it, usually the same week.