28 June 2026
A deck or patio is where Austin summers actually happen — and it’s also the surface that takes the worst beating. Foot traffic, grill grease, relentless UV, and our long humid stretches turn cedar silver-gray and leave flagstone and pavers streaked with green algae and black mildew. Here’s the frustrating part: most of that “permanent” staining isn’t permanent at all. It’s organic growth sitting on the surface, and the right method lifts it without ever gouging the wood.
We’re a locally-owned exterior cleaning company serving Austin and the surrounding metro — Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Buda, and Kyle. Here’s what deck and patio cleaning costs in Austin in 2026, why pressure alone is the wrong tool for wood, and exactly what a proper restoration cleaning includes.
Pricing depends on the material, the size, and how much organic staining has built up. A small paver patio is quick; a large two-level cedar deck under a live-oak canopy takes more solution and more care. These are honest 2026 starting ranges — your written quote locks in the exact number with no surprises.
| Surface | Starting | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete or paver patio | $99 | $99–$199 |
| Flagstone / natural stone patio | $129 | $129–$249 |
| Wood deck (soft wash) | $149 | $149–$299 |
| Composite / Trex deck | $129 | $129–$249 |
| Deck + house wash combo | $299 | bundle pricing |
Get a free written quote — same-week scheduling available →
A pressure washer is built to blast. On a driveway, that’s exactly what you want. On softwood like cedar or pine, a 3,000+ PSI tip splinters the grain, carves “furry” tracks into the boards, and can blow the sand right out of paver joints or etch the face of flagstone. Once you’ve damaged the surface, no amount of staining hides it.
Soft washing does the opposite. We apply a biodegradable cleaning solution that kills algae, mildew, and mold at the root, let it dwell, then rinse at low pressure. The growth releases on its own — no gouging, no fuzzing, no stripped joints. It’s the same family of method we use for house washing and roof cleaning, scaled to wood and stone.
Central Texas is hard on decks and patios in a very specific way. Our humidity feeds algae and mildew anywhere that stays damp and shaded — the north side of the house, under the pergola, beneath the live-oak canopy. Those same oaks drip tannins that leave brown streaks on stone, and they drop catkins and leaves that mat down and hold moisture against the wood. Add summer UV that bleaches sealed boards to gray, and a deck that looked great two years ago can look a decade old.
The good news: because most of that discoloration is surface-level organic growth and oxidation, a proper cleaning brings the color back dramatically — often enough that homeowners decide they don’t need to replace boards after all.
For wood, yes — cleaning is step one, sealing is step two. A fresh clean strips away the gray oxidized layer and the organic growth, which is exactly the surface a stain or sealer needs to bond to. We recommend letting the wood dry for a few dry days, then sealing within a week or two while it’s still clean. Composite, stone, and pavers don’t need sealing to stay healthy, though a paver sealer can help lock in joint sand. Tell us your plan and we’ll prep accordingly — and if you want the whole exterior to match, we can pair it with a house wash on the same visit.
For a wood deck, once a year keeps the gray and algae from getting a foothold — ideally in spring after the oak debris finishes dropping. Composite decks, stone, and paver patios can usually go every one to two years. Anything shaded or sitting under a heavy live-oak canopy grows back faster and benefits from an annual cleaning. If you’re curious how this fits with the rest of your exterior, our 2026 Austin pricing guide breaks down the full picture.
We serve Austin and the surrounding metro — including Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander, Buda, and Kyle — from established neighborhoods with mature tree canopies to newer builds with composite decking. Not sure if you’re in range? Ask when you request your quote and we’ll tell you straight.
Patio cleaning starts at $99 and wood deck cleaning starts at $149. The final price depends on the material, square footage, height, and how much algae, mildew, or gray staining has built up. Your written quote gives you the exact number before any work begins.
Yes. We soft wash wood with low pressure and a biodegradable cleaning solution instead of blasting it with a high-PSI tip. That removes the algae and gray without splintering, furring, or carving tracks into cedar and pine.
Yes. Our solution kills algae, mildew, and mold at the root rather than just rinsing the surface, so the growth lifts off and stays gone far longer than it would after a plain pressure rinse.
Yes. Composite decking, concrete, natural flagstone, and pavers all clean up well with soft washing. For pavers we keep the pressure low enough to leave the joint sand in place.
We focus on cleaning and prep. Cleaning gives you the ideal surface for a sealer or stain, which should go on after the wood has dried for a few dry days. Let us know your plan and we’ll prep the deck accordingly.
Yes. Exterior cleaning services are taxable in Texas under Comptroller Rule 3.356. Your written quote includes applicable sales tax — no hidden fees.
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