Driveway & Sidewalk Cleaning in Summerville, SC
Surface-cleaned concrete that lifts years of algae, mold and grime off driveways and walkways for an even, stripe-free finish.
What driveway and sidewalk cleaning covers
Concrete is the first thing people walk up to, and in the Lowcountry it gets dirty fast. I clean driveways, sidewalks, front walkways, porches, carport pads, and pool decks. I clear the green algae, the black mold, the general road grime, and the dark traffic line down the middle where tires track. The goal is an even, stripe-free finish that makes the whole front of the house look maintained.
Cleaning the concrete and leaving the dingy siding above it never looks right, so a lot of folks pair this with a house soft wash and reset everything at once.
How I do it
The single biggest mistake with concrete is just blasting it with pressure and calling it done. The green and black growth is rooted down in the pores, so high pressure alone shears off the top and leaves the roots to bounce right back. I do it differently.
First I pre-treat the concrete with a cleaning solution and let it dwell so it kills the algae and mold at the root. Then I run a surface cleaner over it. That tool spins under a flat hood and gives an even, consistent clean with no wand stripes. I follow up with the wand along the edges, expansion joints, and any tight spots the surface cleaner cannot reach. Finally I rinse everything down, including pushing the dirty runoff off the slab so it does not dry back onto clean concrete.
Stains that need extra work
Not every mark is algae. Rust needs an acid treatment, not just pressure. Tannin stains, the brown blotches from leaves, acorns, and oak litter sitting on the slab, also need a targeted treatment. Old oil and grease I can usually improve but not always erase. I will look at the specific stains with you and tell you honestly what will come up and what might be permanent.
Why this matters in the Lowcountry
We get close to fifty inches of rain a year and stay humid and warm for most of it. That keeps concrete damp, and damp concrete in the shade is exactly where algae and mold thrive. If your driveway runs under live oaks or pines, you have probably noticed it greens up faster than a neighbor’s sunny slab. That is not your imagination. Shaded concrete here stays wet longer and regrows quicker, which is why pre-treating to kill the root matters so much. It buys you a longer-lasting clean.
There is a practical reason beyond looks, too. Leaving algae and leaf litter on concrete leads to tannin staining and a slick, slippery surface when it rains. Keeping it clean keeps it safer to walk on.
What affects the scope
I look at the square footage of concrete, how heavy the growth and staining are, how much shade the area gets, and whether there are special stains like rust, oil, or tannin that need separate treatment. A clean-ish sidewalk is quick. A wide, heavily shaded driveway that has not been touched in years is more involved. I will walk it with you and give you a straight number.
Get on my schedule
I am Kenny, the owner, and I clean every driveway myself. If your concrete is green, black, or just dingy, call or text me at 843-530-0702 and tell me what is going on. You can also reach me on the contact page. I will take a look, be honest about the stains, and get your concrete looking sharp again.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my concrete turn green and black in Summerville?
The green is algae and the black is usually mold and a tougher algae, and both root down into the pores of the concrete. Our humidity, heavy rain, and shade feed them constantly, especially on concrete that sits under oaks and pines. Because the growth is rooted in the surface and not just sitting on top, you cannot rinse it away with plain water. I pre-treat with a cleaning solution to kill it at the root, then surface-clean it off.
Can you remove oil stains from my driveway?
I can usually improve oil and grease stains a lot, but I want to be honest that older, deep stains do not always come out completely. Oil soaks into porous concrete over time, so a fresh spill cleans up far better than one that has been baking in for years. I treat the spot directly and pull out what the surface will give up. I will tell you up front what I think is realistic before I start.
What about rust and rusty leaf stains?
Rust stains and the brown tannin staining from leaves and oak debris need their own treatment, separate from the normal cleaning. Rust in particular calls for an acid treatment rather than just pressure. If you have rust from a planter, a grill, or well water, point it out so I can treat it correctly. Plain pressure washing alone will not lift true rust.
Why does a surface cleaner look better than a regular pressure washer wand?
A surface cleaner spins two nozzles under a flat hood, so it covers the concrete evenly and leaves no zebra stripes. A handheld wand cleans in narrow passes, and it is very easy to leave wand lines and an uneven, patchy look. For a wide-open driveway or sidewalk, the surface cleaner gives a consistent, professional finish. I still use the wand for edges and tight spots.
How soon will it turn green again?
Concrete in heavy shade, especially under live oaks and pines, regrows the fastest because it stays damp and never really dries out. Sunnier concrete stays clean a good while longer. Pre-treating with a cleaning solution slows the regrowth compared to just blasting it, because it actually kills the organism instead of only knocking off the top layer. A yearly cleaning keeps most driveways looking right.
Ready to make it look new?
Call or text Kenny for a fast, no-pressure quote. He does every job himself.