Why I Needed Paver Cleaning

My backyard pavers looked awful after winter - covered in nasty green slime and muddy stains. I tried scrubbing them myself last week, but my pressure washer barely made a dent. Total waste of a Saturday morning. That's when I decided to call in the pros.

How I Picked the Companies

First, I Googled "paver cleaners near me" and checked nextdoor groups. Three names kept popping up:
ProClean Solutions - Tons of 5-star reviews but pricey
QuickBrite Services - Ads everywhere with "budget-friendly" claims
Elite Outdoor Care - Smaller company my neighbor recommended

I texted all three for quotes Tuesday morning. ProClean called back fastest - took 'em five minutes!

The On-Site Quotes Game

ProClean guy showed up wearing a crisp uniform. Pulled out a moisture meter thingy, measured my entire patio, then emailed a PDF quote before leaving. $850 for cleaning, sealing AND a 2-year warranty. Felt professional but kinda salesy.

QuickBrite dude rolled up in jeans twenty minutes late. Squinted at the pavers for thirty seconds, scribbled "$550 cash" on notebook paper. When I asked about sealing, he said "that's extra tomorrow maybe." Sketchy.

Elite Outdoor sent their actual owner. Spotted drainage issues contributing to the grime. Quoted $750 including sealing but warned stains near grill might not fully come out. Took photos "to set realistic expectations."

My Final Call

Went with ProClean because of their warranty promise. Their team showed up Thursday with industrial equipment:

• Pre-treated nasty spots with eco-cleaner foam
• Used rotating brush machine instead of pure power washing
• Applied sealant while patio was still damp (said it bonds better)

Finished in three hours flat. Left printed care instructions stuck to my fridge.

Was It Worth The Price?

The pavers look freaking amazing now - like brand new stones! QuickBrite quoted less but felt shady. Elite Outdoor was solid but that stain near my BBQ remains. ProClean's warranty seals the deal for me - they're coming back next week to re-treat one stubborn spot at no cost.

Moral of the story? Cheapest ain't always best for permanent outdoor stuff. Paying extra for guarantees and pro equipment saved me future headaches. Totally blogging this experience before monsoon season hits!