01
Find the gum
Entrances, benches, stops and the busiest stretch of sidewalk.
Gum removal
Gum removal for sidewalks, entries and plazas.
Gum removal for sidewalks, entries, plazas and transit stops, lifting the flattened gum that turns light concrete into a field of dark dots.
Gum removal from Raincrest.
Gum is one of the most stubborn things on commercial concrete. Once it is stepped flat, it bonds to the surface, turns black and stays for years. A busy entrance can collect hundreds of spots, and sweeping or a standard rinse won’t move them.
Raincrest lifts gum from sidewalks, entries, plazas, steps and the seating areas where people linger. Each spot is worked off individually, then the whole area is washed so the concrete looks even instead of dotted with clean circles.
Gum removal pairs naturally with concrete and storefront washing. Add it to every sidewalk visit near the entrances that see the most foot traffic.
Step by step
How it works.
02
Work each spot
Gum is lifted from the concrete one spot at a time.
03
Wash the area
The whole area is washed so it reads even.
04
Stay ahead of it
Regular visits keep new gum from piling up.
Why gum stays put.
Once gum is stepped on, it flattens into the surface of the concrete and grips it. Dirt sticks to the top, and within weeks a pink spot turns gray and then black. Sweeping passes right over it and a light rinse does nothing, so entrances with heavy foot traffic slowly fill with dark dots that make clean concrete look dirty.
Gum removal works spot by spot. Each piece is lifted from the concrete, and when the spots are gone the whole area is washed so the walkway reads as one even surface instead of a pattern of clean circles.
Where gum builds up.
Gum gathers where people pause or throw things away: right outside store and office entrances, around benches and trash cans, at bus and transit stops, along the first stretch of sidewalk outside restaurants and cafes, and on the steps of plazas where people sit. Those are the areas we focus on first.
Shopping centers, office plazas and downtown frontages usually see the most. If your property has outdoor seating, the concrete under and around the tables is often the worst spot of all.
Making gum removal part of the routine.
Gum comes back as long as people keep walking by, so gum removal works best folded into regular storefront washing or sidewalk and plaza cleaning. A first visit clears the buildup, and later visits catch the new spots before they turn black.
How much does commercial gum removal cost?
Gum removal is billed per square foot of concrete treated, and the rate follows how thick the gum is rather than one flat figure. Scattered spots along a walkway sit around $0.25 a square foot, while a transit stop or busy entry with hundreds of flattened, blackened spots reaches about $1.00; those are 2026 figures from published market data. The cost guide shows how gum work compares with a regular sidewalk wash.
Here’s a sample. A plaza and building entry totaling 2,500 square feet, with heavy gum around the doors and benches, priced at $0.36 a foot, comes to $900 per visit. On a quarterly cycle that adds up to $3,600 a year, and pairing gum removal with a regular sidewalk wash keeps new spots from piling up between visits.
Density drives most of the price: a few spots per square yard lift quickly, while a carpet of old gum takes slow, spot-by-spot work. Gum ground in for years and baked by summer sun takes longer than fresh deposits. Rough, broom-finished concrete holds gum tighter than smooth slab, and steps, curbs and transit shelters slow the crew. Working only when foot traffic is light, early morning or after close, also shapes the plan. A walkthrough counts the problem areas, and you get a written quote.
A few useful answers
Common questions.
Can old, blackened gum be removed?
Yes. Old flattened gum is worked off spot by spot, then the area is washed.
Is gum removal part of sidewalk washing?
It can be added to any sidewalk or storefront visit, so the entrance is handled in one trip.
Where does gum build up most?
Entrances, benches, transit stops and the first stretch of sidewalk outside restaurants and shops.
Can gum be removed from pavers?
Yes. Gum on pavers and stamped concrete is lifted with care around the joints.
Should gum removal be recurring?
At busy entrances, yes. Adding it to regular sidewalk visits keeps new spots from building up.
Do you remove gum from steps and benches?
Yes. Steps, benches, ledges and seat walls are cleaned along with the concrete around them.
Can gum removal be done before our store opens?
Yes. Gum removal happens early in the morning, along with the rest of the entrance.
Is gum removal worth it for a single entrance?
Yes. A single busy entrance often has the heaviest gum on the property, and clearing it makes a visible difference.
Related services
Pair it with
Pick the surfaces that matter most and we’ll put them on one schedule.
01 / Concrete
Concrete, sidewalk and plaza cleaning
Sidewalks, walkways, plazas and courtyards brought back to an even, bright finish.
View details02 / Storefronts
Storefront and entryway washing
Entrances, walkways, awnings and the concrete in front of the door, clean before you open.
View details03 / Restaurants
Restaurant and drive-thru exterior cleaning
Drive-thru lanes, patios, entries and grease-stained concrete washed after close.
View detailsIndustries