Is Pressure Washing Safe for My Pavers?

Not all pavers are the same. Concrete pavers can handle moderate PSI in the 1,200–2,000 range, but high pressure aimed directly at the joints will strip the polymeric sand that holds everything in place. A professional angles the wand along the surface, not down into the gaps.

Travertine is porous and soft. It should be soft-washed only — never blasted with high pressure. Done wrong, you'll etch the stone permanently.

Brick is durable, but the mortar between the bricks is not. Same rule as paver joints applies: angle the wand across the surface, don't drive pressure into the seams.

After cleaning, pavers should ideally be re-sealed. Sealing protects against future buildup and prevents grime from soaking back into the surface within weeks of the cleaning.

Red flag: if someone shows up with a surface cleaner attachment spinning at 3,500 PSI and walks straight at your travertine pool deck, walk them right back to their truck.

Knowing what your surface is — and asking the cleaning company specifically how they'll handle it — is the single best thing you can do before booking any pressure washing job.