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A strata property near Metrotown had a shared paver patio that hadn't been cleaned in years. Moss had colonized every joint, black algae stained the surface, and the pavers had turned from their original warm terracotta to a uniform grey-green. The strata council needed the space presentable for summer use — residents had stopped using the patio entirely because it was slippery and unsightly. They wanted a single-day turnaround with no disruption to the building's common areas.
Strata work adds constraints that residential jobs don't have. We couldn't block access to the building entrance, had to manage runoff so it didn't flow into the underground parkade drain, and needed to complete the job within a single business day to minimize resident complaints. The moss was deeply rooted in the polymeric sand joints — surface washing alone wouldn't cut it. Some pavers had efflorescence (white mineral deposits) that needed separate treatment.
We started at 7 AM with a pre-treatment of commercial-grade moss killer applied to the joints and left to dwell for 30 minutes. Then we used a surface cleaner attachment on a 4,000 PSI hot-water unit — the spinning bar gives even coverage without the striping you get from a fan tip. Problem areas with deep staining got a second pass at closer range. We treated efflorescence spots with a pH-neutral cleite solution. After drying, we re-applied polymeric sand to the joints and activated it with a fine mist. Runoff was directed to a landscaped area with a temporary berm.
Timeline: 1 day
The pavers came back to their original warm colour — the strata council posted before and after photos in the elevator lobby. Residents started using the patio again the following weekend. The job proved that sometimes the most dramatic transformations don't require building anything new — just restoring what's already there.
