Walk down most streets in Port Macquarie and you will see it: driveways and paths that started out a nice sandstone or grey and slowly turned dark, patchy and green at the edges.
It is not dirt. It is alive.
That dark colour is mostly black mould, algae, moss and lichen. They love the conditions we have on the coast: warm weather, high humidity, shade from trees and houses, and surfaces that stay damp after rain.
Pavers and exposed aggregate are worst hit because the gaps and texture hold moisture. Shady side paths and pool surrounds go first.
Why it matters
Apart from looking tired, a mouldy surface gets slippery when it is wet. Side paths, steps and pool areas are where most slips happen. It also slowly breaks down the surface over time.
Keeping it clean for longer
- Trim back trees and hedges that keep the area shaded all day
- Sweep or blow leaves off regularly so they do not sit and rot
- Fix downpipes or sprinklers that keep one patch wet
- Get it professionally cleaned before the build-up gets thick
A word on DIY pressure washers
Hardware store pressure washers can do the job on small areas, but it is easy to leave stripes, etch soft pavers or blast the stones out of aggregate. The trick is matching the pressure and nozzle to the surface. That is the bit we do every day.