Concrete Stain Removal · Queenstown & Wanaka
The stains water blasting won't shift.
Oil. Rust. Tannin marks from leaves. Tyre rubber. Battery acid. Lichen pigment. Most concrete cleaners just blast harder — we use the right chemistry for the stain and the substrate, so the mark comes out without etching the concrete underneath.
What you get
The case for concrete stain removal.
Targets the stain, not the surface
Stain-specific chemistry that lifts the mark without etching, polishing or dulling the concrete around it.
Works where water blasting fails
Oil, rust, tannin and chemical stains penetrate concrete — they can't be blasted out. They need to be lifted out.
Residential, commercial, industrial
Driveways, garage floors, paving, car parks, loading bays — the same chemistry approach scales to any concrete surface.
Optional sealing afterwards
Once the concrete is clean, we can seal it so future stains stay on the surface where they can be wiped off.
Stained concrete is one of the most common jobs we get called on — and it's one of the most over-promised. Most cleaning operators bring a water blaster and turn the pressure up. We bring the right chemistry for the specific stain, applied to the specific concrete. Oil needs a different approach to rust; tannin needs a different approach to lichen pigment. NZ-formulated products, low-VOC, safe around plants and pets.
How we work
Our process.
- 01
On-site assessment — identify the stain type, the concrete age and condition, and the right chemistry to use
- 02
Containment and protection of surrounding plants, paving and finishes
- 03
Application of the targeted stain remover — different chemistry for oil, rust, organic and chemical stains
- 04
Mechanical agitation where needed, controlled rinse, and pH neutralisation
- 05
Optional sealing with breathable concrete protection to prevent the next stain from soaking in
Selected work
Before and after.
Before
After
Common questions
The things people ask.
What stains can you actually remove from concrete?
Oil and grease (from cars, machinery, kitchens), rust (from steel reinforcement, garden furniture, bore water), tannin (from leaves, bark, native vegetation), organic stains (moss, lichen, algae pigment), and chemical stains (battery acid, brake fluid, certain fertilisers). What works varies by stain type — that's why generic high-pressure cleaning often fails.
Won't a high-pressure water blaster get the same result?
For surface dirt, yes. For anything that's penetrated the concrete — and most stubborn stains have — no. Concrete is porous, so oil, rust and tannin soak in below the surface. Water blasting only cleans what's on top, and turning the pressure up enough to remove penetrated stains will etch and damage the concrete itself.
Will the stain come back?
Once a stain is properly removed, it won't return on its own. The bigger question is what caused it — if it's a leaking car, untreated steel, or a tree dropping tannin, the source needs to be dealt with. After cleaning we can seal the concrete so any future spills sit on top instead of soaking in.
How long does concrete stain removal take?
Most residential driveway jobs are a half-day to a full day. Larger commercial surfaces or jobs with multiple stain types can take longer. We'll quote with a clear timeline based on the site visit.
Do you work in Wanaka as well as Queenstown?
Yes — we travel to Wanaka, Hāwea, Albert Town, Cromwell and across Central Otago weekly. Travel is built into the quote, no surprise fees.
Can you remove stains from coloured or stamped concrete without changing the look?
Usually yes, but it depends on what's been used on the surface. Stamped, coloured and acid-stained concrete needs gentler chemistry to avoid disturbing the finish. We always test a small inconspicuous area first.
Ready to start?
Get the stains lifted properly
Free, no-obligation on-site quotes across Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago.