If you've been staring at a mouldy boundary wall, a stained driveway or a dusty roof and wondering what it will cost to fix, the short answer is this: most pressure washing jobs in Cape Town cost between R30 and R60 per square metre, depending on the surface and the job.
I've been doing high pressure washing in Cape Town for at least 8 years, and I run an owner-operated business. Below is what different jobs cost, why prices vary, and what real jobs have cost.
| Surface | Typical price per m2 |
|---|---|
| Roof (concrete tile or metal) | R30 – R50 |
| Exterior walls and boundary walls | R30 – R50 |
| Driveways and paving | R40 – R60 |
| Balconies (including paint removal before repainting) | R40 – R60 |
Roof cleaning excludes asbestos roofs. These are indicative rates. The final price depends on your property, so always get a quote.
Most of our work falls into four categories:
1. Mouldy exterior and boundary walls. Cape Town's damp winters leave walls green, black or streaked, and it only gets worse if it's left.
2. Rusty, dusty or mouldy roofs. We clean concrete tile and metal roofs (not asbestos). 3. Driveways and paving. This covers oil leaks from cars, mud, and mould on the paving. 4. Balconies. We strip old paint so your new coat of paint sticks properly.
This is the biggest thing customers don't expect. Small areas cost more per square metre than large ones.
Take a driveway. If you only want the parking area cleaned, the rate per m² will be higher than if you have the whole yard's paving done. The reason is the machine itself. A pressure washing machine has a fixed cost whether it runs for one hour or one day, and on a small job that cost is spread over very few square metres.
If you have a few areas that need cleaning, such as the driveway, the yard paving and the boundary wall, getting them done in one visit will almost always give you a better rate than booking them separately.
Here are three recent jobs, with what was involved and what they cost.
Size: 100 m²
Condition: Mould on the roof, no existing paint coat
Challenges: None
Total cost: R3,800 – R5,000
Size: 40 m²
Condition: Oil leaks and mould all over the paving
Challenges: None
Total cost: R2,000 – R4,000
This job shows the small-area effect. At 40 m² it works out to more per square metre than our larger jobs, and oil stains take more work than plain dirt.
Size: 300 m² (double-storey house)
Condition: Water bubbles and peeling paint, plaster falling off in places, and missing sealant on top of the boundary wall
Total cost: R7,000 – R9,000
A 300 m² job costs a lot less per square metre than the 40 m² driveway. That's the benefit of a bigger area. Jobs like this also often show up other problems, such as the missing sealant here, which is worth fixing before it causes more damage.
The most common problem I see is damage caused by the machine itself. Cleaning and paint removal need very different pressure. Using the same setting for both is how paint, plaster and roof tiles get damaged.
1. Cleaning (mould, dirt, dust, algae) needs low pressure, usually from an electric-powered machine.
2. Paint removal needs high pressure, usually from a petrol-powered machine.
If a machine is set to strip paint and then used to clean a wall, it can gouge the plaster. If it's used on roof tiles at the wrong pressure, it can damage them. Choosing the right machine and the right pressure for the surface is the difference between a clean result and an expensive repair.
I'll be honest: hire a professional. Lack of knowledge and experience is what leads to damaged paint, plaster and roof tiles. A machine rental might look cheaper, but a single mistake can cost far more than the price of the job done properly.
Getting a pressure washing quote from us is simple, and there's very little for you to do:
1. Agree on the quoted price before work starts.
2. We supply all the equipment. You don't need to hire or buy anything.
3. Make sure there is a water source nearby.
4. Have an extension cord available in case we use an electric-powered machine.
Every property is different, so the best way to find out exactly what your job will cost is to ask.
WhatsApp or call: 078 912 1881
Email: info@adaminvestments.co.za
Pressure washing in Cape Town typically costs between R30 and R60 per square metre, depending on the surface, size of the job and amount of cleaning required. Roofs and exterior walls generally cost around R30–R50 per m², while driveways, paving and balconies are usually around R40–R60 per m².The final price depends on the condition and size of your property, so it is best to get a quote before the work starts.
Roof pressure cleaning typically costs around R30 to R50 per square metre for concrete tile and metal roofs. The price can vary depending on the size and condition of the roof and how much mould, dirt or other build-up needs to be removed.
Driveway and paving pressure cleaning generally costs around R40 to R60 per square metre. Smaller jobs can have a higher price per square metre because the fixed cost of bringing the pressure washing equipment to the property is spread over a smaller area.Oil stains, heavy mould and other difficult marks can also increase the amount of work required.
Yes, but paint removal requires a different approach from normal cleaning.High pressure can be used where paint needs to be stripped, but it should not be used indiscriminately on surfaces such as plaster or roof tiles. The pressure and equipment need to be selected according to the surface and the job.
The price of a pressure washing job depends on the size, surface and condition. For example: 100 m² roof in Brackenfell costs approximately R3,800–R5,00040 m². Whereas a driveway paving in Gordon's Bay costs around R2,000–R4,000300 m². Lastly, exterior and boundary walls in Featherbrooke was priced between R7,000–R9,000. These examples are provided as a guide only. Every property is different and the final price is confirmed by quotation.
