# Flagstone driveway **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [October 25, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/flagstone-driveway/41233 "2026-10-25T23:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/dcbrock/32/38857_2.png) [@dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/dcbrock)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/flagstone-driveway/41233/1 "2026-10-25T23:28:04Z")
I was contacted to bid this driveway, he refers to it as ‘flagstone’, and before I make a major mistake i thought you guys might want to have a look. ![IMG_0681](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/uploads/default/original/3X/a/2/a215207f9a8d96f14705d26de6ef2ac504e9ac08.jpeg) ![IMG_0680](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/uploads/default/original/3X/d/c/dcc07bdee7e924d9fe2bda582c4bf70546c643e7.jpeg) I’ve read threads about flagstone, some say the usual surface cleaner under 2500psi, others talk about high percentage SH and rinse but I’m not trying to kill his grass. I did a smaller flagstone patio recently which came out pretty good but I did notice a little flaking and it washed the color out of the rocks ---
**Author:** ![Nickski](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/edb3f5/32.png) [@Nickski](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Nickski)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/flagstone-driveway/41233/2 "2026-10-26T00:11:43Z")
Just my opinion, as I’m not as experienced as some here, but here it goes. Percentage isn’t as important as dwell time. I’ve found that even a 1% mix, if left not drying will clean most stuff. If it were me, I’d do 1-2% and since it’s a big drive, it will have plenty of time to dwell while you treat it all and you keep wetting it. Surface clean at \<2500 psi, then just touch up any missed spots with 6% in a pump up. ---
**Author:** ![Kentucky1234](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/kentucky1234/32/27243_2.png) [@Kentucky1234](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Kentucky1234)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/flagstone-driveway/41233/3 "2026-10-26T01:54:09Z")
Basically what @Nickski said. I’ve done plenty of that stone, cleans up nice but will need to spot treat with 6% in areas…..I did some and the lady couldn’t believe the color of the rock after we were done, it was really bad. Good before and after pics….. ---
**Author:** ![Dirtyboy](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@Dirtyboy](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Dirtyboy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/flagstone-driveway/41233/4 "2026-10-26T15:51:28Z")
Depends on what kind of “flagstone” you washed previously. If it was a colored fake stone you could potentially wash the color out, depending on how it was colored. If it is real stone you can’t wash the color out, but you can potentially over bleach it making it white er ish. If the flagstone is a lower quality stone like a shale or even some looser sandstones, there is an inevitable washing away of the loose material. Shale will split on it surface, it is inevitable. I know, I made a walkway with it before and in a couple of winters I really regretted it. This is a driveway, so the added abuse of vehicular traffic would play into that, along with any freeze thaw cycle. I have quarried sandstone steps on my house I installed, there are some minor marks where I smashed the shovel into them from chipping ice. I also have sandstone rocks I installed as a retaining wall that are harder (what we call mountain stone). They were moved around and put into place with the front end loader on my tractor bucket and they hardly have any marks on them. Also, if the flagstone was smoothed out by a stone saw (wet sawn), they are artificially smooth and will wear over time no matter what. Not all stones are the same. If you want to be sure, maybe contact the contractor that installed them. That fake stone wears out and discolors over time, it is basically colored cement. One guys .02. sorry for the long reply. My rig is winterized, mostly wrapped up, and is being parked in the field today for winter. I am getting a little bored of grinding on my tractor equipment and repainting it. Procrastinating now as I don’t want to replace the rotting stringer on my deck stairs today. What a PITA that is.. Those pics make it hard to tell if it is real, but it is definitely dirty and the concrete is colored and dirty too. ---
**Author:** ![dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/dcbrock/32/38857_2.png) [@dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/dcbrock)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/flagstone-driveway/41233/5 "2026-10-27T02:03:27Z")
I did the estimate today, what a mess. He called a company to repair the mortar damage but they told him to get it cleaned first before they can repair it. It’s close to 4000 sq/ft including a bunch of stairs and a down the hill patio. I’ll be honest I’m not sure how to approach this one. Some of the patio and driveway can be surface cleaned but this stuff is just gonna wreck it ![IMG_0685](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/uploads/default/original/3X/1/4/1442125832473a7cc4d83af86a3945393274be26.jpeg) ![IMG_0686](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/uploads/default/original/3X/8/f/8f3ea6293acc3ac6a32efabf0713d74dee789b00.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Shine](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/shine/32/39951_2.png) [@Shine](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Shine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 5:12am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/flagstone-driveway/41233/6 "2026-10-27T05:12:34Z")
Interesting conundrum: can’t clean until it’s repaired, and won’t repair until it’s cleaned. I would suggest that perhaps he found a lazy contractor (the repair guy, not you), and maybe get a 2nd opinion. Then maybe offer to treat it and rinse it lightly to kill biological growth to prep for repair; then give him a quote to clean as you had planned after the repairs are done PROPERLY. Tell him he has a lovely home with a potentially wonderful drive, set expectations and let what happens happens. From what I see, doing more would be exposing you to a potential experience you won’t want to share on here or anywhere else. Just my take…