THE SHORT ANSWER
Write a pressure washing estimate by identifying surface types, measured areas, access and the cleaning result included. Separate stain treatment and sealing from standard cleaning, and avoid promising complete removal of every mark.
This Australian walkthrough uses a fictional driveway and walkway cleaning in Melbourne, Victoria. The matching pressure washing estimate example shows the same item quantities and amounts in an app-exported PDF. Measure your own site and replace the example rates before issuing a client quote.
Pressure washing pricing: quote the surface and condition separately
A pressure washing estimate should identify every surface and its existing condition before using an area rate. Measure concrete driveways, paths and other surfaces separately; they may need different methods and preparation. Record access, furniture or vehicle moves and any visible stains for the cleaning contractor's review. A building floor area or driveway outline does not describe all the surfaces the customer expects to be cleaned.
Separate setup, protection, standard cleaning, agreed spot treatment and cleanup. Ask whether water access and handling of the cleaning area are included, and describe any restrictions that affect the contractor's approach. A limited stain-treatment allowance should state its scope rather than imply complete removal. Small jobs can carry a fixed setup allowance that should not be multiplied again for each surface within the same visit.
Request AUD quotations for the same measured surfaces and condition assumptions. Compare fixed visit charges with area-based lines and check whether taxes are presented consistently. Keep sealing, repairs and specialist stain restoration separate from cleaning. The agreed handoff should describe the cleaned areas and limitations, particularly when an old surface may retain discolouration after the defined treatment.
A separate worked planning example
Illustrative takeoff: 50 m² of driveway plus 15 m² of path equals 65 m². Apply each surface's entered rate, then add one setup and the agreed spot-treatment allowance.
Cost and scope questions
Is a pressure washing area rate the complete price?
Check setup, protection, access, spot treatment and cleanup. A fixed visit charge can also affect small jobs, so compare the full written scope.
Does pressure washing include sealing or stain removal guarantees?
Only separately specified sealing belongs in that total. Ask the contractor to describe stain-treatment limitations rather than assume every mark will disappear.
1. Group surfaces by material and condition
A concrete driveway, painted surface and timber deck are not interchangeable scopes. This example includes concrete only. Record visible staining, damage and sensitive adjacent areas so the estimate reflects the actual property.
For this example, the agreed starting scope is: Clean a 74.32 m² concrete driveway and 18.58 m² of concrete walkways. Include setup, surface protection, standard cleaning, a limited spot-treatment allowance and cleanup. No sealing or guarantee of complete stain removal. A change to a listed surface, product or access assumption should trigger a revised line or allowance.
2. Measure the cleaning footprint
Break the job into rectangles or other measured areas and keep a clear takeoff. Separate driveways from walkways when their access or rates differ. State whether steps, curbs and edges are included rather than leaving them implied.
3. Explain treatment limits
Standard cleaning and specialized spot treatment should have distinct descriptions. Discuss realistic expectations for discoloration and pre-existing damage. The estimate is not a promise that every stain will disappear or that every surface is suitable for the same method.
4. Account for setup and site arrangements
Small jobs still require travel, setup and cleanup. Identify water-access assumptions and any site-specific runoff or protection requirements to resolve before work. Use an explicit setup line when it helps explain the quoted total.
Worked pressure washing calculation
Two checkable lines from the example are 74.32 m² × A$3.25 = A$241.54; 18.58 m² × A$4.00 = A$74.32. The full 5-line estimate totals A$532.86 with the demonstration tax input at 0%. The amount is a fictional scenario, not an Australian market rate or a recommended selling price.
Material purchasing and installed quantities may differ. For your own estimate, use the actual takeoff, supplier prices, labour plan, access and disposal requirements. Decide how overhead, profit and the applicable tax treatment affect your final quote; do not copy the example's zero tax setting.
Before you share the estimate
- Identify surfaces and existing damage.
- Measure driveway and walkway areas.
- Confirm access and site arrangements.
- Separate spot treatment and sealing.
Scope boundary in this example: No sealing, painted or timber surfaces, hazardous-substance removal, restoration of damaged concrete or guaranteed complete stain removal.
Confirm the client details and location, item descriptions, measured units, total and validity date. If opening up the work reveals a different condition, document the changed scope and price before proceeding.
Common questions about pressure washing
Should I include setup in a small cleaning estimate?
Account for it somewhere in the price. A separate, described setup line can make small-job pricing easier to understand.
Does pressure washing include sealing?
Only when explicitly scoped. Cleaning and applying a sealer are different services and should not be silently combined.
FROM SCOPE TO PDF
Make your own pressure washing estimate.
Describe the actual job in Estimates on iPhone or Android, then review every quantity, rate and scope note. Add your business and client details, check the document and share an itemised PDF. Example amounts are fictional, and some app features may require an in-app purchase.
