How Much Does Driveway Pressure Cleaning Cost on the Gold Coast?
Quick answer
On the Gold Coast in 2026, professional driveway pressure cleaning costs around $220 for an average single-car driveway, $440 for a medium double driveway, and $660+ for extra-large or steep driveways. A full home exterior package — driveway, pathways, patio and pool surrounds — is around $660. Prices assume standard concrete; heavy oil staining or delicate surfaces like old pavers can add to the job.
What you're actually paying for
A proper driveway clean isn't a bloke with a wand making stripes. We use a rotary surface cleaner — essentially a pressure-washing 'mower deck' — which cleans evenly at consistent height so the finish is uniform edge to edge, then detail the edges and corners with a wand. Wand-only cleaning is why DIY and cheap jobs show zebra striping once the concrete dries.
The price also covers pre-treating oil and stain spots, managing runoff (Gold Coast City Council requires wash water be kept out of stormwater drains where practicable), and the commercial equipment that gets flow rates a rental unit can't match — which is most of why a professional job takes two hours instead of a full weekend.
Gold Coast driveway cleaning prices by size
- Average driveway (single car, up to ~2 car spaces): around $220.
- Medium driveway (standard double, most suburban homes): around $440.
- Extra-large driveway (triple garage, long or steep runs): $660+.
- Full home package — driveway, all pathways, patio and pool area: around $660. This is the best value if multiple surfaces need doing, since setup and travel are shared.
- Per-square-metre comparison: Gold Coast market rates generally run $5–$10/m² for straight pressure cleaning. Our fixed pricing usually works out at or below that for typical driveways — and you know the price before we arrive.
What makes a driveway cost more (or less)
Things that push a quote up: heavy oil or transmission-fluid staining (needs degreaser dwell time and sometimes a second pass), years of built-up mould in shaded sections, tyre-rubber marks, steep gradients that slow the surface cleaner, and delicate surfaces — old sandy pavers or exposed aggregate need moderated pressure and more care. Gum leaf tannin stains can be stubborn: they usually fade substantially but deep old tannin shadows may not lift 100%.
Things that keep it cheap: doing the driveway before it's black rather than after, bundling it with paths and patio in one visit, and clear access (cars off the driveway on the day).
Is sealing worth it after cleaning?
Sealing freshly cleaned concrete slows re-soiling and makes the next clean easier, and on decorative or coloured concrete it revives the finish. It roughly doubles-to-triples the per-metre cost, so for plain grey concrete most of our customers skip it and simply re-clean every couple of years instead. Where it clearly earns its keep is stencilled, coloured or polished finishes, and driveways under trees that stain quickly. Happy to quote both ways so you can compare.
Related Questions
Most single driveways take 1–1.5 hours; a large double with paths and patio is usually 2–3 hours. The concrete is walkable immediately and dry within a few hours in Gold Coast weather.
Fresh oil, almost always. Old oil that has soaked deep into unsealed concrete will improve dramatically — often 80–90% — but a shadow can remain because the oil is inside the slab, not on it. We pre-treat with degreaser and are upfront about what will and won't lift before we start.
Not at the right pressure. Full pressure on old or sandy pavers can blast out jointing sand and scar soft faces, so we moderate pressure and re-sand joints where needed. Exposed aggregate is cleaned at reduced pressure to avoid dislodging stones. This is exactly the kind of surface where cheap wand-work causes damage.
Every 1–2 years for most homes. Shaded, south-facing or tree-covered driveways grow mould faster and lean toward yearly; full-sun driveways stretch to two years or more. Mould on smooth concrete is genuinely slippery when wet, so if the driveway is going green, it's a safety job as much as a cosmetic one.