Concrete Cleaning Melbourne Eastern Suburbs: Your 2026 Guide to Professional Maintenance

Q: How long does it take to pressure wash a commercial car park?

The duration depends primarily on the total surface area, the severity of contamination, and the number of access constraints on site. A standard single-level car park of around 500 to 1,000 square metres typically takes between three and six hours to complete thoroughly. Multi-level facilities or heavily contaminated surfaces with deep-set industrial staining will require additional time, as proper dwell time for degreasers can't be rushed without compromising the result. Scheduling flexibility matters here. We coordinate the clean around your trading hours to minimise disruption, so the duration of the job itself rarely translates directly into business downtime.

Q: Will the high-pressure water damage my car park's line markings?

Not when the equipment is calibrated correctly. Freshly applied or well-maintained line markings are resilient under professional pressure washing, provided the PSI is set appropriately for the surface. The risk comes from operators using excessive pressure on aged or poorly bonded paint, which is why a pre-clean surface assessment is essential. We adjust our settings based on the condition of both the concrete and the markings before any water is applied. If your line markings are already faded or showing signs of wear, a professional clean can actually reveal their true condition clearly, giving you accurate information about whether repainting is needed before the next scheduled maintenance cycle.

Q: Do you need access to a water source on-site for car park cleaning?

Yes, access to an on-site water supply is standard practice for commercial pressure washing jobs. Most commercial properties have a tap or standpipe connection that's suitable, and we confirm this during the initial site assessment. Professional high-pressure equipment uses water at a significantly lower volume than a standard garden hose for the same coverage area, so the draw on your supply is more efficient than it might seem. If your site has unusual access limitations, it's worth raising this during the quoting process so the right logistics can be arranged in advance rather than on the day.

Q: Can you remove old, baked-in oil stains from concrete floors?

In most cases, yes. Old, deeply penetrated oil stains are among the most challenging jobs in concrete cleaning Melbourne Eastern suburbs operators encounter, but they're not beyond restoration. Our hot water systems combined with extended degreaser dwell times can lift staining that has been embedded for years. The key variable is how deeply the oil has migrated into the slab and whether any previous cleaning attempts have sealed contaminants further into the substrate. Severely aged stains may lighten substantially without disappearing entirely, particularly on older, more porous concrete. We'll give you an honest assessment of the likely outcome during our site inspection rather than overpromising a result we can't guarantee.

Q: Do we need to close the car park while the cleaning is being done?

Partial or full closure is typically required for safety reasons during the active cleaning phase. Wet concrete surfaces present a slip hazard, and operating pressure washing equipment around moving vehicles creates genuine risks for both customers and our crew. The extent of closure depends on your car park's layout; larger facilities can often be cleaned in sections, keeping a portion operational while work progresses through the site. We work with you to plan the access strategy before the job begins, taking into account your peak trading periods and any tenant or strata requirements. The goal is always to minimise disruption without cutting corners on safety.

Q: Is the wash-water safe for the environment and local Melbourne drains?

Only when it's properly managed, and that management is our responsibility on every job. Raw wash-water from a commercial concrete clean carries oil, grease, chemical residue, and sediment that must not enter Melbourne's stormwater network. We implement bunding and water reclamation as standard practice on commercial sites, containing all runoff on-site and disposing of it through appropriate channels in line with EPA Victoria's requirements. We also use biodegradable, pH-neutral degreasers specifically because they reduce the environmental load in the wastewater stream and simplify compliant disposal. A contractor who doesn't raise containment during quoting is a contractor worth questioning before you sign anything.

Q: What is the difference between car park sweeping and pressure washing?

Sweeping removes loose surface debris such as leaves, grit, litter, and dust. It's a useful routine maintenance task, but it doesn't address anything that's bonded to the concrete surface. Oil stains, tyre rubber, biological growth, and embedded grime are completely unaffected by a mechanical sweep. Pressure washing, particularly with hot water and specialist degreasers, works at a different level entirely, extracting contaminants from within the pores of the concrete rather than simply clearing what's sitting on top. Think of sweeping as tidying a surface and pressure washing as genuinely restoring it. Both have a role in a well-managed maintenance programme, but they're not interchangeable, and sweeping alone won't address safety hazards or structural contamination.

Q: How much does car park cleaning cost in Melbourne?

Providing a meaningful price without assessing your specific site isn't something we're willing to do, because the variables that drive cost are significant. Surface area, contamination severity, site accessibility, the number of levels involved, and whether water reclamation infrastructure is required all affect the final scope. A small office car park with light soiling is a fundamentally different job to a high-turnover retail centre with years of accumulated industrial staining. The most useful step is a site assessment, which gives you a clear, itemised proposal based on actual conditions rather than a ballpark figure that rarely reflects the real job. Contact Platinum Power Washing to arrange an assessment for your Eastern suburbs property.

Your car park is the first handshake your business makes with every client who visits. Before they step through your door, before they read your signage, they've already walked across your concrete. And if that surface is slicked with oil, darkened by tyre marks, or harbouring a slippery film of grime, that first impression is already working against you. Concrete cleaning in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs isn't just a maintenance task; it's a strategic decision that protects your property value, your customers' safety, and your standing with local environmental regulators.

You already know the frustration. That stubborn oil stain that no amount of hosing will shift. The greasy patches near your loading bay that become a genuine slip hazard after rain. The quiet worry about wash-off water running into stormwater drains and attracting unwanted attention from EPA Victoria. These aren't minor inconveniences; they're real liabilities that compound over time.

This guide cuts straight to what matters. Drawing on over 12 years of local expertise, you'll learn how professional high-pressure concrete cleaning restores your surfaces, keeps you compliant, and turns your car park from a liability into a genuine asset. Here's everything you need to know heading into 2026.

Key Takeaways

Professional concrete cleaning Melbourne Eastern suburbs goes far beyond a surface rinse — it's a restorative process that protects your asset's long-term value and the safety of everyone who uses it.
Oil and grease penetrate porous concrete quickly, and the right cleaning method — hot water versus cold water pressure washing — makes a significant difference in whether stains are truly removed or simply pushed around.
Cleaning frequency isn't one-size-fits-all; factors like vehicle volume, weather exposure, and your site type all determine how often your car park needs professional attention.
EPA Victoria has clear requirements around wash-water management in commercial settings, and non-compliance carries real consequences — this guide explains what you need to know before your next clean.
With 12+ years serving businesses across Ringwood, Croydon, and Wantirna, Platinum Power Washing brings a meticulous, asset-focused approach that turns a neglected car park into a genuine business advantage.

First Impressions Count: Why Melbourne Businesses Prioritise Car Park Cleaning

Car park pressure cleaning isn't simply hosing down a surface. It's a restorative maintenance process that systematically strips away embedded contaminants from asphalt and concrete, returning the material to a condition that reflects the standards of the business operating above it. Think of it as the difference between wiping a counter and actually sanitising it. The result looks the same at a glance, but the depth of the work tells a completely different story.

Your car park is where client psychology begins. Long before a customer reads your signage or speaks with your team, they've already formed a subconscious judgement based on what they've walked across. A clean, well-maintained surface signals that your business is organised, attentive, and trustworthy. A grimy, stained one suggests the opposite, regardless of what's happening inside. Research in environmental psychology consistently supports this: the physical condition of a space directly shapes how people feel about the organisation responsible for it.

There's a secondary benefit that's easy to overlook. Consistently clean environments actively deter antisocial behaviour. Littering, loitering, and vandalism are statistically more common in neglected spaces. A well-maintained car park communicates that the premises are actively monitored and cared for, which changes behaviour before any formal intervention is needed.

The Hidden Costs of a Neglected Car Park

Oil and grease don't just sit on concrete; they penetrate it. Understanding concrete surface properties makes this clear: concrete is an inherently porous material, meaning hydrocarbons from vehicle leaks migrate deep into the substrate over time. Once embedded, these compounds accelerate surface degradation by weakening the binding matrix, leading to spalling, cracking, and premature surface failure. The longer contamination is left untreated, the more expensive the remediation becomes.

There's also a safety dimension that compounds the liability. Oil and grime obscure painted line markings, making bays, pedestrian zones, and directional arrows increasingly difficult to read. In wet conditions, that same film becomes a genuine slip hazard. Ignoring these issues doesn't defer the cost; it multiplies it.

Enhancing Commercial Property Value in Melbourne

Kerb appeal isn't a residential concept. In commercial real estate, the visible condition of a facility directly influences lease negotiations, tenant retention, and overall asset valuation. Owners Corporations across Melbourne's Eastern suburbs are increasingly treating regular concrete cleaning as a non-negotiable line item in their maintenance budgets, precisely because the return on investment is demonstrable. A clean, well-presented exterior supports the broader commercial pressure washing Melbourne strategy of treating your property's exterior as an asset worth protecting, not just a surface worth cleaning.

For businesses serious about concrete cleaning in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs, the case isn't just aesthetic. It's financial, structural, and reputational, all at once.

The Science of Clean: Removing Stubborn Oil, Grease, and Tyre Marks

Concrete looks solid. It isn't. At the microscopic level, it's a network of capillaries and voids that actively draw in liquids, and engine oil is particularly aggressive at exploiting this. Within minutes of a vehicle leak, hydrocarbons begin wicking downward through the substrate. The longer they sit, the deeper they migrate, bonding with the calcium silicate matrix and becoming structurally embedded rather than simply surface-level contamination. That's why a standard garden hose does nothing. You're not dealing with a surface stain; you're dealing with a subsurface infiltration.

Temperature is the critical variable that separates professional results from amateur attempts. Cold water pressure washing generates mechanical force, which is effective for loosening loose debris and surface grime. But grease is a lipid, and lipids don't respond to force alone. Hot water pressure washing, typically delivered at 80 to 95 degrees Celsius, breaks the molecular cohesion of grease deposits, converting them from a viscous, adhesive state into an emulsified liquid that can be extracted cleanly from the concrete's pores. The difference in outcome isn't marginal. It's the difference between stain displacement and genuine removal.

Tyre marks present a different chemistry entirely. They're carbon-based deposits, essentially rubber particles fused to the surface through heat and friction. Biodegradable degreasers formulated with alkaline surfactants are applied directly to these marks to break down the carbon bonds before any pressure is applied. This is where dwell time becomes decisive. Allowing the degreaser to sit on the surface for the appropriate period, typically between five and fifteen minutes depending on stain severity, gives the chemistry time to penetrate and dissolve the deposit. Rushing this step is the single most common reason DIY attempts fail. Professional concrete cleaning in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs accounts for dwell time as a non-negotiable part of the process, not an optional extra.

Tackling Industrial Stains and Spills

Heavy oil stains in high-traffic loading zones require a staged approach: pre-treatment with a concentrated alkaline degreaser, an extended dwell period, followed by hot water extraction at controlled pressure. Organic growth, food spills, and chewing gum in stairwells demand a different toolkit entirely, typically lower-pressure application with enzyme-based treatments that digest organic matter without damaging painted surfaces or surrounding seals. This level of specificity is what separates commercial car park cleaning from standard driveway cleaning Melbourne residential work, where stain profiles, surface loading, and contamination depth are considerably less complex.

Oil-saturated zones near loading bays also represent a genuine workplace slip and fall safety compliance obligation for business operators. Wet concrete contaminated with residual grease can reduce surface friction dramatically, creating conditions that carry real legal exposure for property owners who haven't maintained their surfaces.

Protecting Your Surfaces While Cleaning

PSI calibration isn't guesswork. Applying excessive pressure to standard commercial concrete, particularly anything above 3,000 PSI without proper technique, risks surface etching: fine scarring that roughens the substrate and actually accelerates future contamination by increasing porosity. Expansion joints and existing sealant lines require deliberate protection during the wash process, as direct high-pressure contact can dislodge or erode flexible joint compounds that are expensive to reinstate.

Older car parks demand even greater care, because aged concrete that's already showing micro-fractures has significantly less tolerance for aggressive treatment. The gentle-but-tough philosophy isn't a marketing phrase; it's a technical necessity that preserves the asset you're investing in cleaning. If you're assessing your car park's current condition, speaking with a professional concrete cleaning specialist before committing to a method is always the smarter starting point.

Strategic Maintenance: How Often Should You Schedule a Car Park Wash?

Frequency isn't a guess. It's a calculation based on your site's specific conditions, and getting it wrong in either direction costs you money. Under-clean, and you're compounding contamination that becomes progressively harder and more expensive to remove. Over-schedule, and you're spending unnecessarily on a surface that didn't need attention yet. The right answer sits somewhere specific to your business, and it's worth understanding what drives that number.

Vehicle volume is the primary variable. A high-turnover retail centre in Ringwood with hundreds of daily movements generates contamination at a fundamentally different rate than a private office basement in Wantirna with a fixed pool of thirty vehicles. Exposure matters too: open-air car parks collect Melbourne's full seasonal range of organic debris, bird activity, and weather-driven grime, while covered structures accumulate a different profile of oil, tyre deposits, and exhaust residue in a more concentrated space.

Then there's Melbourne's winter. The cooler, wetter months between June and August accelerate organic growth in shaded zones, drive more oil to the surface as vehicles track in wet contaminants, and reduce natural evaporation that would otherwise limit moisture retention. A post-winter clean isn't optional for commercial operators; it's the reset that prevents months of accumulated contamination from bonding permanently into the substrate. Concrete cleaning in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs follows a rhythm that respects the local climate, not a generic national schedule.

Recommended Cleaning Intervals

Quarterly: High-turnover retail centres, supermarkets, and medical centres with heavy daily vehicle movement. Contamination accumulates fast, and the reputational stakes are highest.
Bi-annually: Standard commercial office blocks and business parks where traffic is consistent but moderate. A pre-summer and post-winter clean covers the two peak contamination periods.
Annually: Residential strata complexes across the Eastern suburbs, where vehicle numbers are fixed and contamination rates are lower, though post-winter timing remains the priority.

Scheduled maintenance contracts outperform reactive cleans on every measure. When a clean is booked in advance, it happens before contamination embeds deeply, which means shorter treatment times, lower chemical loading, and better outcomes for the surface. Emergency cleans, by contrast, typically address contamination that's already penetrated the substrate, requiring more intensive intervention and, in some cases, multiple treatment stages to achieve the same result.

Signs Your Car Park Needs Immediate Attention

Some indicators shouldn't wait for your next scheduled service. Act promptly if you're seeing any of the following:

Rainbow oil slicks during rain: The iridescent sheen on wet concrete signals active hydrocarbon contamination that's migrating toward stormwater infrastructure.
Darkened walking paths: Pedestrian routes that are visibly darker than surrounding bays have accumulated a compacted layer of grime and oil that's becoming a slip hazard.
Moss or algae in shaded corners and on ramps: Organic growth on concrete dramatically reduces surface friction. Ramp approaches are particularly dangerous, as the gradient amplifies the slip risk.
Heavy tyre mark accumulation: When rubber deposits are visible across multiple bays, the carbon build-up has reached a point where standard maintenance cleaning won't be sufficient without pre-treatment.

If two or more of these signs are present simultaneously, you're already in reactive territory. The smarter move is always the scheduled one.

Concrete cleaning Melbourne Eastern suburbs

Safety and Compliance: Navigating EPA Victoria and Council Requirements

Compliance isn't optional, and in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs, it's enforced. EPA Victoria's Environment Protection Act 2017 places a general environmental duty on all businesses to minimise pollution risks, and commercial car park washing sits squarely within that obligation. The core issue is wash-water. When contaminated runoff from a car park clean enters the stormwater system, it carries hydrocarbons, surfactants, and suspended solids directly into local waterways, including tributaries that feed the Yarra catchment. That pathway is illegal, and the consequences for business operators who allow it are serious.

In commercial settings, EPA Victoria expects operators to implement appropriate controls before any washing activity begins. In practice, this means bunding or temporary berms to contain wash-water on-site, combined with water reclamation equipment that captures contaminated liquid for proper disposal rather than allowing it to sheet-flow toward drainage infrastructure. Professional concrete cleaning in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs accounts for this as standard procedure, not an afterthought. A contractor who simply washes and walks away is leaving you exposed.

The choice of cleaning agents matters here too. Strongly acidic or caustic chemicals can alter the pH of wash-water to levels that are harmful to aquatic ecosystems. pH-neutral, biodegradable degreasers are the correct specification for commercial work, both because they perform effectively on oil and grease and because they significantly reduce the environmental load of any residual runoff. This is a meaningful distinction from operators who simply describe their products as "planet-friendly" without referencing the specific regulatory framework that governs their use.

Mitigating Public Liability Risks

Car park operators in Victoria carry a legal duty of care to everyone who uses their premises. Grease-contaminated concrete that reduces surface friction is a foreseeable hazard, and courts have consistently found that foreseeable hazards which weren't addressed constitute negligence. Removing that contamination removes the hazard. Professional cleaning also generates documentation, including service records, chemical data sheets, and site notes, that demonstrates proactive maintenance. In the event of an insurance audit or a public liability claim, that paper trail is your defence.

Water Usage and Restrictions

Melbourne operates under Smart Water principles that encourage efficient use across all sectors. Professional pressure washing equipment delivers water at controlled flow rates calibrated to the task, which consistently uses less water than an unregulated garden hose running across the same area without achieving comparable results. All commercial washing work must also comply with local council by-laws across Eastern suburbs municipalities, which may impose specific conditions on water use, drainage management, and operating hours. Contact Platinum Power Washing to confirm how your site will be managed in full compliance with current requirements.

Professional Car Park Cleaning in Eastern Melbourne with Platinum Power Washing

Twelve years of working across Melbourne's Eastern suburbs teaches you things that no manual can. You learn which concrete mixes are common in older Ringwood retail precincts versus the newer poured slabs in Wantirna's business parks. You learn how Croydon's shaded car parks accumulate organic growth faster than open-air sites just a few kilometres away. That accumulated, site-specific knowledge is what separates a genuine local specialist from a pressure washing operator who simply covers the region on a map.

Platinum Power Washing brings a Master Specialist approach to every commercial engagement. That means arriving with the right equipment calibrated to your surface, not a generic setup applied indiscriminately. It means understanding that your car park is a business asset with a replacement cost, not just a dirty surface that needs water thrown at it. Every clean is planned around surface integrity first, with contamination removal as the outcome, not the only consideration.

Disruption is a real concern for operating businesses, and it's taken seriously. Scheduling is built around your operational hours, whether that means an early morning start before your retail centre opens or a staged clean across a multi-level car park that keeps sections accessible throughout. The goal is always a surface that's restored and ready without costing you a day of trade.

Our Eastern Suburbs Service Excellence

Local expertise extends beyond the well-known centres. Chirnside Park and the surrounding growth corridors present their own challenges: high vehicle throughput, exposed surfaces subject to full seasonal weather, and concrete poured across a wide range of eras and specifications. Platinum Power Washing tailors its method to what's actually underfoot, not a one-size approach. The same meticulous care applied to concrete cleaning Melbourne Eastern suburbs clients rely on is evident across every surface type we work with. You can see that commitment to detail reflected in our deck cleaning Melbourne work, where precision and surface protection are equally non-negotiable.

Get Your Car Park Ready for Business

The process is straightforward. A site visit allows us to assess contamination depth, surface condition, drainage layout, and any compliance considerations specific to your property. From that assessment, you receive a detailed proposal with a clear scope of work. No surprises, no vague inclusions.

After every clean, a post-service inspection confirms that safety standards are met: surface friction restored, line markings visible, drainage clear, and all wash-water managed correctly. That inspection isn't a formality. It's the standard.

Your car park deserves the same level of care your business puts into everything else. Contact Platinum Power Washing for a professional car park assessment today.

Your Car Park, Your Standard: Take the Next Step

A neglected car park doesn't just look bad; it costs you. Embedded oil degrades your concrete from within, contaminated runoff puts you offside with EPA Victoria, and a slippery surface creates genuine liability exposure. Every section of this guide has pointed to the same conclusion: proactive maintenance is always cheaper than reactive repair.

The businesses that get this right treat concrete cleaning Melbourne Eastern suburbs as a scheduled investment, not a reluctant response to visible damage. They understand that a restored surface signals professionalism before a single word is spoken inside.

Platinum Power Washing brings 12+ years of local expertise, specialist hot-water pressure washing technology, and full EPA compliance to every commercial engagement. You're not booking a basic hose-down; you're protecting an asset that represents your business to every client who parks there.

Don't wait until the stains are permanent or the liability is real. Request a free car park cleaning quote for your Melbourne business today and take the first step toward a surface that works as hard as you do.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Park Cleaning in Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs

How long does it take to pressure wash a commercial car park?

Duration depends on the size of the area, the severity of contamination, and how many treatment stages are required. A standard single-level car park for a small retail business typically takes between two and four hours. Larger multi-level facilities, or sites with heavy oil saturation requiring extended dwell times for pre-treatment, can take a full day or require a staged approach across multiple visits.

Scheduling is always planned around your operational hours to minimise disruption. A site assessment before the clean allows us to give you an accurate time estimate specific to your property, not a generic guess.

Will the high-pressure water damage my car park's line markings?

Not when the equipment is correctly calibrated. PSI settings are adjusted deliberately around painted surfaces, and nozzle angles are controlled to avoid direct high-pressure contact with line markings. In practice, a professional clean often makes line markings more visible, not less, because the grime and oil film obscuring them is removed from the surrounding concrete.

Older, worn markings that are already fading may show more clearly once the surrounding surface is restored. If your markings are at the end of their service life, a clean is actually the right time to assess whether repainting is needed, as the restored surface provides the ideal substrate for fresh paint adhesion.

Do you need access to a water source on-site for car park cleaning?

Yes, access to an on-site water supply is required for commercial car park cleaning. Professional pressure washing equipment operates at flow rates that can't be practically supplied by a self-contained tank for large surface areas. A standard garden tap connection is usually sufficient, and we'll confirm the specific requirements during the site assessment so there are no surprises on the day.

Can you remove old, baked-in oil stains from concrete floors?

Yes, though the approach for deeply embedded stains is more intensive than routine maintenance cleaning. Hot water pressure washing at temperatures between 80 and 95 degrees Celsius, combined with a concentrated alkaline degreaser and an extended dwell period, breaks down hydrocarbon deposits that have bonded with the concrete's substrate over time. The result is genuine removal, not displacement to a less visible area.

Very old stains that have penetrated deeply may require multiple treatment stages to achieve the best outcome. A site inspection allows us to assess contamination depth and set realistic expectations before work begins, which is always the smarter starting point than a standard quote based on square metreage alone.

Do we need to close the car park while the cleaning is being done?

Not necessarily for the entire facility. For large car parks, a staged cleaning approach keeps sections accessible while others are being treated, which suits businesses that can't afford a full closure. Smaller car parks or areas with particularly heavy contamination may require temporary closure of specific zones for safety reasons, particularly where wash-water management equipment is deployed.

All scheduling is built around your operational requirements. Early morning starts before your business opens are a practical option for many Eastern suburbs clients, and we'll work through the logistics with you during the planning stage.

Is the wash-water safe for the environment and local Melbourne drains?

Wash-water from commercial concrete cleaning in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs must be contained and managed correctly, and that's a non-negotiable part of how professional work is conducted. Contaminated runoff carrying hydrocarbons and surfactants cannot legally enter the stormwater system under EPA Victoria's Environment Protection Act 2017. Bunding, temporary berms, and water reclamation equipment capture wash-water on-site for appropriate disposal.

The cleaning agents used are pH-neutral and biodegradable, which significantly reduces the environmental load of any residual moisture. Choosing a contractor who treats wash-water management as standard procedure, not an optional extra, is the difference between genuine compliance and leaving your business exposed.

What is the difference between car park sweeping and pressure washing?

Sweeping removes loose surface debris such as leaves, dust, and litter. It's a useful routine maintenance task, but it does nothing for embedded contamination. Oil, grease, tyre deposits, and organic growth bond to the concrete substrate and require the combination of heat, pressure, and chemistry that professional pressure washing delivers. Sweeping a contaminated car park simply tidies the surface while the underlying problem continues to degrade the concrete and create slip hazards.

Think of sweeping as the equivalent of dusting a surface and pressure washing as actually cleaning it. Both have a role in a maintenance programme, but they address entirely different problems and shouldn't be treated as interchangeable.

How much does car park cleaning cost in Melbourne?

Pricing for commercial car park cleaning varies based on the total surface area, the type and severity of contamination, the number of treatment stages required, and any specific compliance measures such as wash-water reclamation equipment. A single-level car park with moderate contamination will be priced differently from a multi-level facility with heavy oil saturation near loading bays.

Rather than quoting a range that won't reflect your actual site, the right approach is a direct assessment. Contact Platinum Power Washing for a tailored quote based on your specific property, so you know exactly what the work involves and what it will cost before committing.