Patios · Lanais · Pool Decks · Wood Decks
Patio & Deck Cleaning
The part of a Florida house you actually use — and, being shaded and constantly damp, the part that grows algae fastest.
Why Patios Are Different
Shade, Damp, and Six Kinds of Surface
A driveway is one material in open sun. A patio is usually several materials in partial shade, ringed by irrigated beds and often under a screen cage that holds humidity in. Growth establishes faster there, and the surfaces underneath tolerate less force.
So patio work comes down to identifying what you have before deciding how hard to push:
- Concrete and stamped concrete. Handles a surface cleaner well. Stamped or coated concrete needs a lighter touch so the topcoat is not clouded.
- Brick pavers. Lower pressure — the joint sand holds the surface together.
- Travertine and natural stone. Mild, pH-appropriate cleaner. Acid etches it permanently.
- Wood decking. Low pressure along the grain, or chemistry instead of force. High pressure fuzzes the fibers.
- Composite decking. Gentler than people expect — manufacturers publish pressure limits, and exceeding them leaves permanent marks.
- Screen enclosures. Low pressure only. Force stretches screening and pops spline out of the track.
What Usually Comes Off
Most patio discoloration is a thin biological film rather than dirt sitting on top — green algae on the shaded side, black mildew across the slab, a slick layer near beds and downspouts. It lifts readily once treated and rinsed.
Also common: rust rings under furniture feet, tannin outlines from leaves, grill grease, and a grey splash-back band along the base of the house. Grease and rust get treated specifically rather than washed harder.
Pool decks and screened lanais surprise people most, precisely because they never fully dry out.
Our pool deck had years of green algae and he made it look spotless.Tracy L. — Windermere, FL
How It Goes
What a Patio Visit Looks Like
Identify the Surface
I confirm what the deck actually is and whether it is sealed or coated. Guessing at that is how patios get damaged.
Move & Protect
Furniture, grills and planters moved clear. Perimeter beds and plants soaked down first.
Treat, Then Clean
Growth pre-treated and given time to break down, so the result comes from chemistry rather than force the surface cannot take.
Rinse & Reset
Full rinse including the base of the house and screen frames, then furniture back once the surface is dry.
Common Questions
Questions I Get Asked
Can you clean a screened lanai or pool cage?
Yes, at low pressure. Force stretches screening, pops spline out of the track, and tears panels that are already sun-brittle.
The deck inside the cage is usually where the real work is — shaded and damp, it grows algae faster than an open patio.
Will pressure washing damage a wood deck?
It can, and this is one of the most common ways decks get ruined. High pressure tears the surface fibers loose, so boards dry fuzzy and take stain unevenly.
Wood gets low pressure worked along the grain, or a cleaning solution instead of force — closer to softwashing than to driveway work.
What about travertine, marble, and natural stone pool decks?
Both are calcium-based, so acidic cleaners etch them permanently and hard pressure opens the pores. Stone gets a mild, pH-appropriate cleaner.
Tell me what your deck actually is when you book — stamped concrete, pavers and travertine look alike in photos and want different handling.
Is the cleaning safe for my pool?
Yes, with normal precautions — work is directed away from the water. Worth checking your chemistry the next day, the same as you would after heavy rain.
Can you get the black spots off my patio?
If they are small, very dark, and a fingernail barely moves them, that is likely lichen or artillery fungus — much more stubborn than mildew, and it may not come off completely in one visit.
Ordinary black mildew film, which is what most patio discoloration actually is, comes off readily.
How soon can we use the patio again?
As soon as it is dry, which in Florida sun is usually an hour or two.
Keep Looking
Related Services
Patios rarely stand alone — the pool surround, the walkway out to it and the screen cage usually want attention too.
Ready to Get Clean?
Book Your
Appointment
Tell me what your patio or deck is made of when you book and I’ll come prepared for it. Free quote, no obligation.
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Or call/text (321) 754-0997 — email andrewcrockefeller@gmail.com — or reach out on Instagram or Facebook.