Flagstone & Travertine Cleaning in Dallas–Fort Worth

Why natural stone needs a specialist, not a pressure washer

Here's the hard truth most homeowners learn too late: the same high-pressure tip that blasts algae off a concrete driveway will permanently scar soft natural stone. Travertine, limestone, and honed flagstone are porous and comparatively soft. Hit them at 3,000+ PSI and you don't clean them — you erode them. The result is a hazy, pitted, roughed-up surface that catches dirt faster than ever and can't be undone without resurfacing.

Across DFW we get called out constantly to fix patios a neighbor or a general power-washing crew already cleaned. The etch marks, the wand stripes, the pale blown-out patches — that damage is why stone and patio cleaning is a specialty. We've spent 10+ years learning exactly how much pressure each material can take and, more importantly, when to put the wand down entirely and let the cleaning solution do the work.

That's the whole game: matching the method to the material. Get it right and your stone looks better than it has in years. Get it wrong and you're shopping for new pavers.

Our method: soft washing vs. surface cleaning

There is no single right way to clean a patio — it depends entirely on what it's made of. We use two core methods and choose deliberately.

• Soft washing — low pressure plus professional cleaning solutions that kill algae, mildew, lichen, and that black gunk at the root rather than just blasting the surface layer off. This is what delicate natural stone, honed travertine, limestone, and slate need. The solution does the cleaning; the pressure never gets high enough to touch the stone itself.
• Pressure washing with a surface cleaner — high pressure fed through a spinning disc that keeps the spray even and controlled. This is right for hard, durable flatwork like concrete pavers and tumbled-finish pavers, and it delivers a clean, even, no-stripe result with none of the zebra-striping you get from waving a wand back and forth.

Most patios are a mix. It's common for us to soft wash the natural stone coping around a pool, surface-clean the paver decking, and hand-detail the grout lines and stubborn spots. Below is how we generally match method to surface — your free quote confirms the plan for your specific patio.

Surface	Primary method	Why
Flagstone (Oklahoma / sandstone)	Soft wash, low pressure	Soft & porous; high pressure pits and roughens it
Travertine	Soft wash, low pressure	Naturally holey and soft; etches easily
Limestone	Soft wash, low pressure	Common in DFW, very soft, scars fast
Slate	Soft wash, low pressure	Layered stone that flakes under pressure
Concrete pavers	Surface cleaner, controlled pressure	Durable; even finish, no stripes
Brick pavers	Surface cleaner, moderate pressure	Holds up well; watch the mortar joints

Built for North Texas conditions

Your patio doesn't get dirty by accident — DFW works it over year-round. Our red clay soil and hard water leave mineral crust and rusty runoff on light-colored stone. The oak and pecan canopy that makes Highland Park, University Park, and old Plano so shady also drips tannins and feeds a slick film of mildew on anything under it. Spring pollen turns everything yellow-green, summer humidity keeps north-facing shade damp enough for algae and lichen, and pool splash-out plus sprinkler overspray keep the stone wet in exactly the spots that stay dirtiest.

The green and black growth isn't just ugly — on travertine and flagstone around a pool it gets genuinely slippery, which is a real hazard where kids and bare feet are involved. Soft washing matters here because it kills the algae and mildew at the root. Blasting it off with pressure just knocks back the visible layer, and it grows right back within weeks. Kill it, and the patio stays clean far longer.

What we clean

• Natural stone patios — flagstone, travertine, limestone, and slate
• Paver patios, walkways & driveways — concrete and brick pavers, including joint-line cleaning
• Pool decks & coping — with attention to keeping the finish non-slip
• Outdoor kitchens, fire-pit surrounds & seating walls
• Stone steps, landings & garden paths
• Retaining walls & stone veneer

If it's stone or pavers and it's outdoors, we handle it — from a courtyard in Richardson to a resort-style backyard in Frisco or Southlake.

Sealing: lock in the work

Once the stone is clean and fully dry, sealing is the single best add-on for natural stone and pavers. A quality penetrating sealer:

• Repels water, oil, wine, food, and hard-water staining
• Slows down algae and mildew regrowth in shady, damp areas
• Deepens and evens the stone's natural color (we offer both natural-look and enhanced finishes)
• Stabilizes paver joint sand so ants and weeds have a harder time
• Makes future cleanings faster, gentler, and cheaper

In our climate — brutal UV, hard water, freeze-thaw swings in January — sealer typically holds for 2 to 3 years on stone and pavers before it's worth refreshing. We only ever seal a surface that's been properly cleaned and dried first; sealing over dirt or moisture just traps the problem.

What to expect

We keep it straightforward and low-drama:

1. Free on-site assessment. We identify the exact stone or paver, test a small area, and confirm the right method. Guessing on material is how patios get ruined — we don't guess.
2. Prep & protect. We move light furniture, pre-wet nearby plants and lawn, and shield anything sensitive.
3. Clean. Soft wash or surface-clean per surface, hand-detailing grout lines, edges, and stubborn spots.
4. Rinse & inspect. We walk the whole patio with you before we pack up.
5. Seal (optional). Scheduled after the stone is fully dry, usually a separate return visit.

Most residential patios are a half-day job. Larger pool decks and combined projects can run a full day.

Pricing & what affects it

Every patio is different, so we don't hide behind vague ballparks or one-size-fits-all quotes. Instead, we look at your actual stone and give you a clear, firm price up front with a free, no-obligation on-site quote (or a photo quote if that's easier for you) — no surprises on the invoice, no upsell games.

Here's what actually moves the price, so you can plan around it:

• Size — the total square footage of stone or pavers we're cleaning is the biggest single factor.
• Surface type — delicate natural stone like flagstone, travertine, and limestone is slower, gentler, hands-on work than durable concrete or brick pavers, so it takes more time and care.
• Condition — how heavy the algae, lichen, mildew, and hard-water staining are; a patio that's gone years without attention takes more than one that's lightly soiled.
• Access & setup — a fenced-in courtyard or a hard-to-reach pool deck takes more setup than an open, easy-in patio.
• Add-ons like sealing — an optional penetrating sealer is priced separately based on the surface and the finish you choose.
• One-time vs. recurring — standalone cleanings and ongoing maintenance visits are quoted differently.

Because those factors vary so much from yard to yard, seeing the patio in person is the only honest way to quote it — and that assessment is always free. You'll know the full price before we ever pick up a wand.

Why Summit

Summit Surface Solutions is owner-operated, so the person quoting your travertine is the person cleaning it and standing behind it. After 10+ years across Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson, Carrollton, and the Park Cities, we've built our reputation on the surfaces other crews are afraid to touch. We know DFW stone, we respect what it costs to replace, and we treat a Highland Park travertine deck with the same care we'd give our own.

If your patio has gone green, gray, or streaky — or a previous "cleaning" left you nervous — we'd love to take a look. Call (512) 659-7674 or request a free quote today, and we'll tell you honestly what your stone needs.