Cleaning a driveway or patio lifts off salt crust, green growth, rust spots and oil from poured concrete, pavers and stone. Rob is a Woodstock contractor, subcontractor-free, who takes these jobs in Lakewood, IL, where winter salt, shade and lake damp dull the flat surfaces. Pricing follows a photo, so text one to (815) 451-0106.
Flat surfaces take the worst of the weather because everything lands on them. Rain, snow, salt, leaves, oil, rust and sprinkler water all end up on the driveway and patio, and they have nowhere to go. In Lakewood, with lake-adjacent lots and plenty of tall trees, that results in black patches in shady corners and a dull gray cast almost everywhere else.
This page is a decision guide for the surface. It describes what you are looking at, what cleaning can restore, and what it cannot. A cracked, scaling driveway needs repair, not a wash. A dirty but sound one is a great candidate for a cleaning. Either way, a photo is how Rob starts.
Read your driveway: five stains and what causes them
White crust is salt or efflorescence, which is mineral deposit drawn out of the concrete by moisture. Black or green patches are algae and mold, most often in shade or where water pools. Orange spots are rust from metal furniture, fertilizer or iron-bearing water. Dark blotches are oil or grease. A uniform gray film is general dirt and leaf tannin.
Each type responds differently. Salt and algae usually clean up well, which is why spring is the busy season for this work. Rust and oil can fade but sometimes leave a ghost. Knowing which you have helps set expectations before the work starts.
Patios, pavers and the problem with sand joints
Concrete patios are straightforward. Pavers are trickier, because the sand between them locks the stones in place. Too much force blasts it out, which lets weeds in and the pavers shift. Rob keeps the pressure suitable for pavers and tells you if the joints need refilling afterwards.
Natural stone and older flagstone can be soft and porous. A gentler approach prevents pitting. The concrete cleaning guide gives background on how each stain forms.
Shade, sprinklers and slope: why one corner always stains
Look at where the water goes. The wet corner of a driveway is usually the one near a downspout, under a tree, or at the bottom of a slope. Water sits there longer, so algae takes hold first. If the corner is stained every spring, the cause is drainage, and cleaning is a temporary answer.
Redirecting a downspout, trimming a branch or re-aiming a sprinkler can reduce return stains. Rob mentions what he sees. For gutters that pour onto the slab, gutter cleaning often fixes the overflow that causes the stain.
Cracks, scaling and when cleaning is not the answer
Freeze-thaw cycling lifts and flakes the top of concrete, especially when salt is used heavily. Once the surface is scaling or the slab is heaving, a wash will only show the damage more clearly. Patching or resurfacing is a concrete contractor's job.
Cleaning still has a role here, since it makes cracks visible so repairs can be planned, and it is a sensible first step before sealing or resurfacing. Ask for a candid read of the slab when you send photos, and include a shot of any cracks next to a ruler or coin so the width is clear.
- Flaking top layer
- Cracks wider than a pencil line
- Sunken or heaved sections
- Standing water that never drains
Cleaning, then sealing, or just cleaning
A sealer can reduce how much salt and water the surface absorbs, and it can deepen color on pavers. It is optional, needs a fully dry surface, and has to be reapplied on a cycle. Not every driveway benefits.
Many homeowners choose a cleaning each spring and skip sealing. Rob lays out both choices when he quotes. For a broader approach with hard surfaces and other work, the pressure washing and curb appeal packages pages show how services combine.
Driveway & Patio Cleaning through the year in Lakewood
Early spring
Rinse salt crust and winter grit off the drive and apron before it soaks deeper. Note any new cracks.
Late spring
Prime time for full cleaning of patios and pavers, ahead of outdoor entertaining.
Summer
Spot clean oil and rust when they appear. Fresh stains are easier to lift than old ones.
Late fall
Clear leaves, which leave tannin stains, then think about sealing before salt season starts.
Getting a quote
The driveway is the first thing a guest steps onto and the patio is where they linger, so both deserve a decent look. If yours is stained, slick or crusted, text Rob a photo at (815) 451-0106. He will describe what cleaning can bring back, what only repair can fix, and what the work will cost before he starts, with a few follow-up questions about how the slab drains. Mention anything you have already tried, such as store-bought cleaners or a rented machine, because earlier attempts change what Rob expects to find on the surface.