Driveways · Paths · Slabs
Acid washing in Burpengary & Moreton Bay
Acid washing is a deep clean for concrete that takes a thin film off the surface, along with the white bloom and cement residue a pressure clean leaves behind. It isn't right for every surface, so we look first. Based in Burpengary, working across Moreton Bay and into north Brisbane.
- We look before we quote
- Driveways, paths & slabs
- Burpengary based
Get a quote
Tell us about the driveway or floor. We'll get back to you with a price.
What's involved
Etched, rinsed, ready
Acid washing works differently from a pressure clean. Instead of blasting dirt off the top, the wash reacts with the cement at the surface and removes a very thin layer of it, taking stubborn deposits with it and leaving the concrete slightly roughened and open.
-
Step 1: We look at it first
Before anything is quoted we look at the surface and the marks on it: what the concrete is, whether it's coloured or sealed, and what the staining actually is. Plenty of marks come off with a pressure clean alone, and if that's the case we'll tell you.
-
Step 2: Pre-clean
Loose dirt, moss and grime are cleaned off first, so the wash works on the concrete itself rather than on the muck sitting on top of it.
-
Step 3: Wash and scrub
The surface is wetted down, then the acid wash is applied and worked across it evenly, so the result is consistent from one end to the other instead of patchy.
-
Step 4: Rinse it all off
The concrete is rinsed thoroughly afterwards, so no residue is left sitting on the surface.
-
Step 5: Seal, if that's next
An acid-washed surface is clean and open, which is what a sealer needs to grip. If the concrete is being sealed, that happens once it has dried out completely.
What it suits
When acid washing fits
Acid washing suits plain concrete with marks that sit in the surface rather than on it. The usual ones are efflorescence, the white, powdery bloom that comes up as moisture carries salts out through the concrete, and cement or mortar residue left behind after building work, landscaping or a new path going in. A smooth, dense surface that needs opening up before a sealer goes on is another good fit.
It isn't right for every surface, and that's why we look first. Coloured and stencilled concrete can lose colour or go patchy under an acid wash. Some pavers and natural stone can be marked by it. A sealer or coating on the concrete stops the wash reaching the surface at all, so it would have to come off first. And because each wash takes a thin layer off the top, it isn't something to repeat often.
Some marks are simply the wrong match. Oil and grease aren't what acid washing is for, and long-set stains may lighten without disappearing. Results depend on the concrete and on what the mark actually is, so we won't promise a stain will come out before we've seen it.
Often done with
Local pages
Where we work
Based in Burpengary, covering Moreton Bay and into north Brisbane. See every suburb we cover.
0438 708 830Common questions
Acid washing, straight answers
Anything not covered here, call 0438 708 830 and ask.
What is acid washing concrete?
It's a cleaning and etching treatment for concrete. The wash dissolves a very thin layer of cement at the surface, taking deposits like efflorescence and cement residue with it, and leaves the concrete slightly roughened and open. It's then rinsed off thoroughly.
Will acid washing remove every stain from my driveway?
Not necessarily, and we won't promise it will. It works best on mineral deposits such as efflorescence and cement or mortar residue. Oil, grease and long-set stains respond differently, and some only lighten. We look at the marks first and tell you what's realistic.
Is acid washing the same as pressure cleaning?
No. A pressure clean uses water to blast dirt, mould and grime off the surface; an acid wash reacts with the concrete itself and removes a thin film of it. For everyday dirt and mould, a pressure clean is usually enough. Acid washing is for marks a pressure clean can't shift, or for preparing a surface.
Can you acid wash coloured or stencilled concrete?
Usually it's not the right treatment. An acid wash can strip colour or leave coloured concrete blotchy, and a stencilled surface almost always has a coating on it that the wash can't get through. For faded coloured or stencilled concrete, a clean and re-colour is normally the better fit.
Should concrete be sealed after acid washing?
Often, yes. Acid washing leaves the surface clean and more open, so it soaks up water and stains more readily until it's sealed. That open surface is also what helps a sealer grip, which is why the two jobs often go together. We'll talk it through when we look at it.
Get it looked at first
Send a photo of the marks and roughly how big the area is. We'll tell you honestly whether acid washing suits it or something else will do a better job.