Pressure Washing in Kensington

With 71.4 per cent of occupied dwellings classed as flats or apartments in 2021, Kensington has a high proportion of common property on the ground. Driveways down the side of a block, the path to the front door and paved courtyards are walked over by every resident, and the grime and slip risk that build up on them are shared problems.

The ground underneath matters too. Kensington sits in the Botany Lowlands on sandy soil that holds a large reservoir of water, and the area was once extensive swamp. Parts of the suburb still flood after long periods of heavy rain. Paving in low or shaded spots can stay wet long enough for moss and algae to form a slippery green film.

Big trees add their own mess in certain pockets. Large figs stand beside the playground at Kensington Oval, and homes near Fitzpatrick Park, Centennial Park or the Australian Golf Club are close to mature planting. Leaf dropped onto paving can leave stains as it breaks down.

Older homes need a lighter touch in places. Carthona on Todman Avenue, for example, sits on a sandstone base, and sandstone is softer than concrete. The pressure is set for each surface, so a sandstone step is not cleaned the same way as a concrete driveway.

The most practical benefit is grip. A path or courtyard coated in algae is slippery when wet, and on a strata property that risk sits with everyone who uses it. Cleaning the green film off restores the surface underfoot.

Appearance comes a close second. Oil stains and tyre marks on a shared driveway, or dark staining across pavers, make a building look neglected even when the rest is well kept. With more than half of Kensington's homes rented, presentation affects how a unit or house shows to the next tenant.

Pressure cleaning also gets surfaces ready for sealing if you plan to have that done. Ultimate Exterior Clean does not seal, but a properly cleaned surface gives a sealer something sound to bond to.

For older homes, the value is in uncovering stone and brick without wearing them away. Matching pressure to the surface means sandstone and old brick are cleaned with care rather than eroded.

Each job is quoted on the area, the surface and how much build-up there is, and you get before-and-after photos when it is done.