What PSI do I need to clean a driveway?

Around 2,000 to 3,000 PSI cleans concrete and brick paving well. A mid-range electric washer at 1,800 to 2,200 PSI handles most suburban driveways, especially with a surface cleaner attachment, while heavy or large areas suit a petrol unit.

Can I pressure wash render or timber decking?

Yes, but at low pressure with a wide tip held well back, or you will etch render and fur up soft timber. Use detergent and dwell time to do the work instead of force, and test a hidden area first.

What should I never pressure wash?

Avoid high pressure on windows and seals, electrical fittings and power points, soft mortar, painted surfaces you want to keep, and anything that might contain asbestos. Never aim up under cladding or eaves.

Electric or petrol pressure washer for a home?

Electric is quiet, light and plenty for paths, cars, furniture and general home use. Choose petrol only for big driveways, acreage or heavy jobs away from a power point, accepting the extra weight, noise and servicing.

Pressure Washing Guide

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Pressure Washing and Exterior Cleaning

Your guide to pressure washing and exterior cleaning - building guidance for Adelaide and South Australia.

BPBuildPilot Editorial4 min readLast updated Feb 2026

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Content scope

This guide has been reviewed for South Australia (Adelaide metro + regional SA). Building licensing, warranty, stamp duty and approval rules differ in other Australian states — verify against your local authority before acting.

A new home looks sharp for the first year, then paths grey off, the driveway grows mould in the shade, and render streaks under the gutters. A pressure washer brings most exterior surfaces back fast, but used wrong it strips paint, carves lines in soft timber and forces water behind cladding. This guide covers pressure washing around an Australian home properly: matching pressure to the surface, what to never blast, the attachments that make the job quicker, and what to budget. Costs are 2025 and 2026 Australian pricing.

At a glance

Electric pressure washer

$120 to $450

General home and suburban use

Petrol pressure washer

$400 to $1,200

Large driveways, acreage and heavy jobs

Surface cleaner attachment

$50 to $200

Driveways, paths and large paved areas

Read time

4 min

Including FAQ and supplier shortlist.

Key takeaways

Match pressure to the surface: high for concrete, low for timber, render and paint
Never aim up under cladding or eaves, or blast seals, power points and asbestos-era fibro
Let detergent dwell to clean mould instead of blasting at high pressure
A surface cleaner attachment makes driveways fast, even and streak-free

Things to consider before you choose

Plain practical advice for Australian builds. No fluff.

Match the pressure to the surface

Concrete driveways and brick paving handle high pressure, around 2,000 to 3,000 PSI, while timber decking, render and painted surfaces need far less. Start with a wider spray tip further from the surface, then move closer only if needed. Too much pressure permanently etches concrete and furs up soft timber.

Know what not to blast

Avoid high pressure on windows and seals, electrical fittings and outdoor power points, soft mortar, asbestos-era fibro sheeting, and anything painted you want to keep. Never point a washer up under cladding or eaves where water can get behind the sheeting. If a surface might contain asbestos, do not disturb it at all.

Use detergent and dwell time, not just force

For mould, lichen and grime, a dedicated pressure-washer detergent applied and left to dwell for a few minutes does most of the work, so you can clean at lower pressure. This is gentler on surfaces and far more effective on organic growth than blasting with water alone.

Pick the right attachment

A rotating surface cleaner attachment makes driveways and large paved areas quick and streak-free, a turbo nozzle cuts through stubborn spots, and a soft low-pressure tip or snow-foam lance suits render and cars. The right head turns a slow, patchy job into an even, fast one.

Electric or petrol

An electric pressure washer is quiet, light and plenty for paths, cars, outdoor furniture and general home use. A petrol unit delivers higher flow and pressure for big driveways, farm sheds and heavy jobs away from a power point, at the cost of weight, noise and servicing.

Manage the water and runoff

Pressure washing uses a surprising amount of water and the runoff carries detergent, so sweep first to reduce what you wash into the stormwater, and follow any local water restrictions. Catching and directing runoff away from garden beds protects plants from detergent.

Types of pressure washing and exterior cleaning

Quick compare

	Electric pressure washer	Petrol pressure washer	Surface cleaner attachment
Typical cost	$120 to $450	$400 to $1,200	$50 to $200
Best for	General home and suburban use	Large driveways, acreage and heavy jobs	Driveways, paths and large paved areas

Electric pressure washer

A light, quiet unit that plugs into a standard power point.

Typical cost: $120 to $450

Pros

• Quiet and low maintenance
• Plenty for paths, cars and furniture
• Light to move

Cons

• Tied to a power lead
• Lower flow than petrol

Best for: General home and suburban use

View a JET-USA electric washer· from $409Ad

Petrol pressure washer

A higher-output unit for big areas and off-grid jobs.

Typical cost: $400 to $1,200

Pros

• High pressure and flow
• No power lead
• Suits big driveways and sheds

Cons

• Heavy and loud
• Needs servicing and fuel

Best for: Large driveways, acreage and heavy jobs

View a JET-USA petrol washer· from $489Ad

Surface cleaner attachment

A spinning disc head for fast, even cleaning of flat areas.

Typical cost: $50 to $200

Pros

• Streak-free driveways and paving
• Much faster than a lance
• Contains spray

Cons

• Extra cost
• Only for flat surfaces

Best for: Driveways, paths and large paved areas

How much does it cost in Australia?

A capable electric pressure washer for a suburban home is $120 to $450, with the better units delivering around 1,800 to 2,200 PSI and a useful flow rate. A surface cleaner attachment adds $50 to $200 and pays for itself in time on the first driveway. Detergents and a snow-foam lance are $30 to $120. A petrol unit for large driveways, acreage or farm use is $400 to $1,200. If you would rather outsource the occasional deep clean, a professional exterior wash of a typical driveway and paths runs around $200 to $500, but owning a mid-range washer usually pays off within a year or two given how often paths, cars, outdoor furniture and the house exterior need freshening in Australian conditions.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using driveway-level pressure on timber decking or render and furring or stripping it
Pointing the washer up under cladding or eaves and forcing water behind the sheeting
Blasting painted surfaces, window seals or outdoor power points
Skipping detergent and dwell time, then blasting mould for twice as long
Disturbing older fibro sheeting that may contain asbestos

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Pressure Washing Guide

Pressure Washing and Exterior Cleaning

Things to consider before you choose

Match the pressure to the surface

Know what not to blast

Use detergent and dwell time, not just force

Pick the right attachment

Electric or petrol

Manage the water and runoff

Types of pressure washing and exterior cleaning

Electric pressure washer

Petrol pressure washer

Surface cleaner attachment

How much does it cost in Australia?

Common mistakes to avoid

More on outdoor & yard

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