Pressure washing costs in Wilmington

A driveway in Wilmington can be built to soak up the rain instead of shedding it, and the city's own guide names pressure washing as part of its upkeep. The Citizen's Guide to Protecting Wilmington's Waterways describes pervious concrete as a mix with an open-cell structure, 15 to 25 percent void space, so water and air pass through. It lists driveways among the places it suits, along with low-flow roads and overflow parking, where heavy machinery rarely goes. The city's own pervious lot at Anne McCrary Park, the guide says, soaks up runoff at a rate equal to natural, undeveloped land.

The wrong kind of wash is something the city wants to hear about. Its stormwater pollution page lists washing equipment outdoors with chemicals as a reportable problem, and so is foam, bubbles or a milky look in a ditch or waterway. Reports go to 910.341.1020 with the date, place and a photo if you have one. Staff can only act inside city limits.

Back to that porous driveway. The guide warns that its void spaces clog with sand or debris, and a clogged slab filters less water. Clear debris off it often. When it does clog, the guide says pressure washing can restore 80 to 90 percent of its permeability, and vacuuming with a street sweeper or a high-vacuum truck helps too.