Pressure washing in Markham for interlock, decks and fences

Most outdoor surfaces that look worn out are just dirty. A few years of Ontario weather leaves interlock dark and mossy, turns a deck silver-grey and puts green streaks on the shady side of a fence.

We do pressure washing across Markham and nearby. It takes that layer off so you can see what shape the surface is really in.

We wash the same interlock and wood we maintain and repair:

• Interlock driveways, front walks, steps and backyard patios.
• Wooden decks, including the stairs and railings.
• Wooden fences and privacy screens.

Some people call it power washing. It’s the same job, usually booked for a blotchy driveway, a slippery green patio corner, a deck due for a coating, or a house going up for sale.

1. We clear and sweep the area. On interlock, we pull the weeds and grass out of the joints first.
2. We set up for the surface (see the table below).
3. We go over moss, algae and stains, and tell you before we start which will come out and which will only fade.
4. We rinse the dirty water off walls, steps and garden beds.
5. The surface dries before anything else goes on it.

Interlock, pressure-treated wood and cedar each need their own pressure, tip and drying time.

Scroll sideways to see the whole table.

For driveway pressure washing, a surface cleaner spreads the pressure evenly, so you don’t get wand stripes.

Washing interlock lifts some joint sand, so the job normally ends with new polymeric sand once everything is dry. To protect the pavers as well, interlock cleaning and sealing adds a sealer on top.

A washed deck is ready for a waterproof coating or paint, and a washed fence for fence painting or staining. Coatings grip clean wood far better than dirty, weathered fibres, and our deck staining guide covers timing and product types.

You can see the whole sequence in our projects: an interlock patio washed and re-sanded, a deck washed and coated and a fence washed and repainted.

Size, dirt and follow-up work set most of the price, so we quote after seeing the job. Steps, railings, borders and tight corners take longer than open, flat surface.

Deep moss and weeds in every joint take far longer than a surface that’s only grey. Oil drips and rust marks need their own treatment, and new joint sand or a coating afterwards is extra work again. Access matters too, including whether there’s water close to where we’re washing.

Spring to early fall is the practical window. Washing only needs a day above freezing, but polymeric sand, paint and coatings need dry weather to set, and wood has to dry first.

We plan the job around the forecast so the washing and the finish aren’t a week apart.

• Sweep or blow off interlock and decks every few weeks so dirt and seeds don’t settle.
• Clear wet leaves in the fall. They stain pavers and keep wood damp.
• Trim back shrubs that touch the fence.
• Point downspouts away from pavers so water doesn’t wash out the joints.

Our guide on how to clean interlock covers what’s safe to use at home.

A small patio or a short run of fence is a fair weekend job with a rented machine, as long as you keep the nozzle back and on a fan setting.

A narrow tip marks pavers and raises fuzzy lines on wood that you then have to sand out. Wet polymeric sand left on the surface dries to a white haze on the pavers.

The spray can also hurt you. Consumer Reports reported that pressure washer injuries sent an estimated 6,057 people in the US to the emergency room in 2014.

Our guide to pressure washing decks, fences and interlock without damage goes through the settings for each surface.

Call us for a big driveway, a full deck with stairs, or when washing is the first half of a bigger job. We also do the sanding or coating, so you don’t need a second company for the finish.

We work across Markham and nearby, including Richmond Hill, Stouffville and Scarborough.

The quickest way to start is to text a few photos of what needs washing to (437) 684-2535 with your street or postal code. We’ll come and look, then give you a free quote.

• Interlock that has gone grey, green or black
• Moss or green slime on a shady patio, walkway or steps
• A deck that has turned silver-grey or feels slippery when wet
• Fence boards with dark streaks, mildew or peeling paint
• Weeds and dirt packed into the joints between pavers
• A deck or fence you want to paint or coat this year