These brick front steps had a thick coating of black algae that made them slippery and looked like they hadn't been touched in years. One visit from our crew and they looked brand new.
The homeowner called us about their front steps — they said they were getting slippery and were embarrassed by how dark they'd gotten. When we showed up, the brick was almost completely black from algae growth. The white railings had taken on a grey cast too.
The Problem: Black Algae on Brick
Black algae — technically a cyanobacteria — is one of the most stubborn things we deal with on exterior surfaces. It locks into porous surfaces like brick and concrete, forming a dark biofilm that doesn't come off with rain or regular cleaning. Left alone, it keeps spreading and makes surfaces dangerously slick when wet.
These steps had probably been building up for 2–3 years based on how thick the growth was. The brick underneath was still in good shape — it just needed the algae blasted off.
The Work
We used a surface cleaner attachment with hot water pressure washing to break up the algae layer uniformly across each step — no streaking, no missed edges. The white vinyl railings got a soft wash treatment to remove the grey discoloration without risking any damage.
Watch the full before & after — black algae coming off the brick in real time.
The Result
The original brick color came back completely — clean red-brown brick, white mortar joints visible again, railings bright white. The homeowner said it looked like the steps when they were first installed. Total job time: under an hour.
| Service | Pressure Washing |
| Surface | Brick steps + vinyl railings |
| Problem | Black algae (heavy growth) |
| Location | Cookeville, TN |
| Job Time | Under 1 hour |
Black algae on brick or concrete is a common call we get in the Upper Cumberland. If your steps, driveway, or walkways have gone dark and slippery, we can get them clean — usually in one visit.