Before the crew arrives
Move vehicles off the driveway and away from surfaces being cleaned. Bring in or cover patio cushions, rugs and anything that should not get wet. Close all windows and doors properly, including any that do not seal well. Secure pets indoors — the equipment is loud and the noise carries.
Water and power access
A functioning outdoor spigot and an accessible outdoor outlet are usually needed. If either is broken or hard to reach, say so when booking rather than on the day. Professional crews carry their own water tanks for properties where supply is a problem, but that has to be planned.
What a good crew does on arrival
Walks the property with you, confirms the scope and the price, points out anything they can see that might not clean fully, and masks or protects anything vulnerable — light fixtures, outlets, delicate plantings, irrigation heads. This walkthrough is where a professional and an amateur look different.
During the work
Expect noise and expect runoff. Water will sheet across the property and should be directed away from planting and toward appropriate drainage. Staying out of the work area is safer — the equipment is genuinely capable of injury at close range.
Afterwards, before they leave
Walk the property again together, while the crew is still there. Wet concrete looks uniformly dark and hides imperfections, so look carefully at edges, transitions and thresholds. Anything missed should be corrected on the spot, not scheduled for a return visit.
What the result should look like
Even, with no stripe pattern or overlapping arcs. Edges finished properly against walls and planting beds. No visible line where the crew stopped. Give it a day to dry fully before making a final judgement, because damp concrete reads differently to dry.
Key points
Before the crew arrives
Move vehicles off the driveway and away from surfaces being cleaned. Bring in or cover patio cushions, rugs and anything that should not get wet. Close all windows and doors properly, including any that do not seal well. Secure pets indoors — the equipment is loud and the noise carries.
What the result should look like
Even, with no stripe pattern or overlapping arcs. Edges finished properly against walls and planting beds. No visible line where the crew stopped. Give it a day to dry fully before making a final judgement, because damp concrete reads differently to dry.