What Are Tannin Stains?
Tannins are natural compounds in leaves, needles, bark and other plant material. When wet leaves sit on concrete or other masonry, the tannins leach out and soak into the surface, leaving brown or dark gray marks, often in the exact shape of the leaf. Piles of wet debris, fir needles and acorns can leave the same kind of stain.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, fall is tannin season. Leaves come down just as the rain starts, and they can sit on a driveway or patio for weeks. Shaded surfaces under maples, oaks and evergreens get hit the hardest.
Why Pressure Washing Alone Often Isn’t Enough
Concrete, pavers, brick and stone are porous. Tannin stains aren’t sitting on top like dirt or moss; they’ve soaked into the pores. Pressure washing cleans the surface well, but it can leave the leaf shapes behind, and blasting one spot harder can etch or stripe the surface without fixing the stain.
Tannin stains usually need a treatment made for organic stains, applied and given time to work before the surface is rinsed. We clean the whole area as well, so the treated spots blend in with the rest instead of looking patchy.
Most tannin stains come out or lighten a lot. Older, deeper stains may take more than one treatment and may not disappear completely. We’ll look at the surface and tell you what to expect before we start.
Where We Remove Tannin Stains
- Concrete driveways, sidewalks and walkways
- Patios and steps
- Pavers
- Brick and stone
Tannin stain removal can be done along with a driveway cleaning or patio and concrete cleaning, so the moss, grime and leaf stains are taken care of in one visit.
Need graffiti removed from a concrete wall? See graffiti removal.
Tannin Stain Removal: Service Areas
We’re based in Vancouver, WA and serve these Clark County communities: Vancouver, Battle Ground, Brush Prairie, Camas, Felida, Hazel Dell, La Center, Lake Shore, Orchards, Ridgefield, Salmon Creek and Washougal. See pressure washing and soft washing near me for every service by town, or all of our service locations.
Got leaf stains on your driveway or patio? Call or text (360) 852-5589 or request a free estimate. Mountain View Pressure Washing And Softwash serves Vancouver and nearby Clark County communities.
