Driveway Pressure Washing & Concrete Cleaning in Charlotte, NC
Your driveway is one of the first things people notice about your home, yet years of dirt, algae, mold, and surface stains can leave it looking worn long before its time. At CLT Property Detailing & Pressure Washing, we provide professional driveway pressure washing and concrete cleaning throughout Charlotte, restoring driveways, patios, and brick pavers with commercial-grade equipment and nearly two decades of exterior cleaning experience. Whether you're preparing to sell your home or simply want cleaner curb appeal, we're here to help you achieve long-lasting, professional results.
Driveway Pressure Washing, Done Right
A simple & transparent flat-rate for Charlotte, Homeowners
I believe homeowners deserve more than just a low price. I Feel homeowners deserve an experienced professional who consistently delivers high-quality results, stands behind their work, and provides honest, upfront pricing with no surprises. That's exactly how I've built my flat-rate concrete cleaning pricing scale..
See Why Charlotte Homeowners Trust CLT Property Detailing & Pressure Washing
Anyone can claim to deliver great results. I'd rather earn your trust by letting my Charlotte customers, real before-and-after transformations, and the reputable news organizations that documented my years of professional integrity and dedication to my craft speak for me.
Real Before & After Photos From My Charlotte Pressure Washing Projects
These are real before-and-after photos from pressure washing projects I've personally completed throughout the Charlotte area. No stock images, no staged examples, no lighting filters—just honest, documented results photographed on-site.
Meet Jerry Johnson
Hi, I'm Jerry Johnson, the owner and sole operator of CLT Property Detailing & Pressure Washing. I understand that hiring a new home service provider means trusting someone with one of your family's biggest investments—your home.
I'm a Certified Career Exterior Cleaning Technician with nearly 20 years of professional experience. As an owner-operated business, you'll deal directly with me from your very first phone call to the day I personally arrive at your home and perform the pressure washing service myself.
If you're trusting me with your home, I think it's only fair that you know a little about the person behind the business. These videos offer a glimpse into my long career, my values, and the professional standards I've worked to uphold for nearly two decades.
How I Deliver High-Quality Hard Surface Cleaning in Charlotte
As a Certified Exterior Cleaning Technician who has completed several hundred hard surface cleanings—including concrete, brick, stone pavers, lannon stone, and travertine—I can confidently say that no single cleaning method is suitable for every surface.
In fact, the same equipment, cleaning solutions, and techniques that produce outstanding results on concrete can permanently damage more delicate materials that require a completely different approach. Understanding the unique characteristics of each surface is what separates a true exterior cleaning professional from someone who simply owns a pressure washer.
Below, I'll walk you through the professional methods, equipment, and cleaning procedures I use for concrete, brick, natural stone, and other hard surfaces to ensure every material is cleaned safely while producing the highest quality results
Concrete Deep Surface Cleaning
Brick Pavers
Natural Stone
Natural StoneNatural stone requires a completely different cleaning approach than concrete or brick. Many types of natural stone can be permanently etched, discolored, or even begin to flake if cleaned with the wrong pressure or cleaning solutions. Before any cleaning begins, I carefully evaluate the type and condition of the stone to determine the safest and most effective cleaning procedure. This allows me to restore the surface while protecting its natural beauty and structural integrity.
Surfaces I Professionally Clean
No matter whether it's a driveway, patio, walkway, sidewalk, or terrace, I have the knowledge, experience, and professional equipment to clean it safely and effectively. I stand behind every service I provide with my 100% Satisfaction Guarantee—if you're not completely satisfied with the results, your cleaning is free of charge.
Let's Bring Your Property Back to Life
The Learning Center: Understanding Concrete Cleaning
Concrete is one of the most durable surfaces found around a home, but it's also one of the most misunderstood. From black staining and algae growth to rust, oil, red clay, and tire marks, many homeowners aren't sure what causes these stains, why some are easy to remove while others aren't, or how different cleaning methods affect the surface. The purpose of this Learning Center is to provide clear, unbiased information about concrete cleaning, helping you better understand the causes of common problems, the methods used to clean them, and what to expect whether you decide to clean your concrete yourself or hire someone else. Throughout this guide, you'll also find recommendations for tools, equipment, and products that can help you achieve the best possible results for different types of concrete cleaning projects
What Is Concrete Cleaning?
Concrete cleaning is the process of removing dirt, organic growth, stains, and other contaminants from the surface of concrete to restore its original appearance and help extend its service life. Depending on the type of staining and the condition of the concrete, cleaning may involve water, detergents, specialized cleaning solutions, mechanical agitation, or a combination of these methods.
Unlike many other exterior surfaces, concrete is highly porous. Tiny pores throughout the surface absorb moisture, dirt, organic matter, and other contaminants over time. As these materials become trapped within the pores, the concrete gradually loses its clean appearance and can develop discoloration that becomes more difficult to remove if left untreated.
Not all concrete staining is the same. Black algae, rust, oil, red clay, tire marks, efflorescence, paint, and other stains each have different causes and often require different cleaning methods. Understanding what caused the stain is one of the most important steps in determining the safest and most effective way to remove it.
Whether you're maintaining a driveway, sidewalk, patio, pool deck, garage floor, or another concrete surface, understanding how concrete behaves and why it becomes stained can help you choose the right cleaning approach and avoid unnecessary damage or disappointing results.
Why Does Concrete Turn Black?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask is why concrete gradually changes from its original light gray color to a dark gray or black appearance. While many people assume the concrete itself is changing color with age, the darkening is usually caused by organic growth developing on and within the surface
Concrete contains thousands of tiny pores that readily absorb water and retain moisture. These damp conditions create an ideal environment for algae, mold, mildew, and other microorganisms to grow. As this organic growth spreads, it forms a dark layer that can eventually cover much of the surface
Shaded areas typically darken more quickly than areas exposed to direct sunlight because they remain damp for longer periods after rain, irrigation, or morning dew. Driveways beneath trees, north-facing walkways, and areas with poor drainage are especially susceptible to this type of staining.
As organic growth continues to develop, it penetrates deeper into the pores of the concrete. This is why older staining often becomes more difficult to remove than newer growth. What may begin as a few small dark spots can gradually spread across an entire driveway or patio if left untreated.
Although black staining is usually caused by organic growth, not every dark stain has the same origin. Tire marks, oil, grease, certain types of mold, and other contaminants can also discolor concrete. Correctly identifying the cause of the staining is the first step in choosing the most effective cleaning method.
Common Concrete Stains & How to Remove Them Yourself
Concrete can become stained by many different substances, and each type of stain requires a different approach for successful removal. Using the wrong cleaner can waste time, damage the surface, or even make certain stains more difficult to remove. In the following sections, you'll learn what causes the most common concrete stains, how to identify them, the best methods for removing them yourself, and the products that are commonly used to achieve the best results.
Black Algae Stains
Black algae stains are one of the most common reasons concrete gradually loses its bright, clean appearance. They typically develop in areas that remain damp for long periods, such as shaded driveways, sidewalks, patios, and pool decks. Because black algae are a living organism, simply spraying them with water often removes only the surface layer, allowing the staining to return more quickly
How to Remove Black Algae Stains Yourself
Black algae is an organic growth. The dark black or green staining you see on your driveway isn't actually the organism itself, but rather a protective layer it produces to shield itself from sunlight and other environmental conditions. The microscopic organism lives deep within the pores and tiny crevices of the concrete, where it continues to grow beneath the visible staining.
For that reason, your goal isn't simply to remove the black discoloration—it's to eliminate the organism itself. Doing so provides two major benefits:
It makes the cleaning process much easier by breaking down the algae at its source rather than trying to blast away the protective surface layer with pressure alone.
It helps keep your concrete cleaner for longer because you're killing the algae instead of only removing the visible staining.Once the algae has been killed, the remaining staining can usually be removed with significantly less effort.
You'll find plenty of concrete cleaners on the shelves of your local home improvement store, but I'm only recommending the professional-grade products I personally use every day. I know they work because they've consistently delivered reliable results throughout my career cleaning concrete professionally.
At the end of this section, you'll find links to professional pressure washing supply stores where you can purchase the exact same sodium hypochlorite I use in my own business. If you're in the Charlotte area, I'll also recommend local pressure washing suppliers where you can buy it in person instead of waiting for shipping.
How to Clean Black & Green Algae Off Concrete, Brick & Stone Yourself
Understanding Sodium Hypochlorite Dilution
Professional-grade sodium hypochlorite is much stronger than the household bleach most people are familiar with. The product commonly sold at pressure washing suppliers contains approximately 10% to 12.5% sodium hypochlorite, which is far too strong to apply directly to most surfaces.
To safely and effectively clean black and green algae, the sodium hypochlorite must first be diluted with water. Dilution simply means reducing the concentration by mixing it with clean water. The goal isn't to use the strongest solution possible—it's to use the weakest solution that completely eliminates the organic growth.
For most black and green algae staining found on concrete, brick, and natural stone, a 2% to 4% sodium hypochlorite solution is an excellent starting point. Lighter staining typically requires less strength, while heavier staining may require a stronger mixture or a second application.
Adding a small amount of Dawn or Gain dish soap helps the solution cling to the surface longer, giving the sodium hypochlorite more time to work. The dish soap isn't the cleaner—its purpose is simply to slow runoff and improve dwell time


















