At Hot Stuff Pressure Washing, we often see aggregate driveways starting to fall apart — and it’s not just from pressure from pressure washing. Weather, age, and regular vehicle traffic all wear down the surface over time. As the concrete binder breaks down, the small rocks that give the driveway its texture and strength start coming loose. Using too much pressure on a surface like this only makes things worse.

The Problem with High Pressure

When pressure is too high, it can blow out the rocks, especially on a driveway that's already weakened. That leads to faster deterioration and costly repairs down the line. We've seen many driveways get damaged because someone used the same pressure on every job without checking the surface condition first.

Even Lower Pressure Can Still Cause Damage

Just because we lower the pressure doesn’t mean there’s no risk. Even at settings like 2,500 PSI, loose rocks can still be blown out of the surface if the cement underneath is weak or breaking down. That’s why we don’t just drop the PSI and call it safe — we also adjust our cleaning technique and take extra care in sensitive areas.

We treat every driveway differently to avoid causing more damage while still getting it clean.

Our Approach

We inspect every aggregate driveway before we start.

If the surface is in good shape, we’ll clean it using up to 3,000 PSI to remove built-up grime and stains.

If the surface is worn, loose, or damaged, we lower the pressure to around 2,400 PSI to avoid making things worse.

Adjusting pressure based on the condition of the driveway is the key to getting a good clean without causing damage.

The Bottom Line

Every driveway is different. If yours has been exposed to years of weather, traffic, or poor maintenance, blasting it with high pressure can do more harm than good. We take the time to assess it and clean it right.