Upkeep · Service 11 of 12
Pressure Washing
Years of algae, moss and black spot taken off in an afternoon. Most people are genuinely surprised what colour their patio is underneath.
What this is
About our pressure washing
Pressure washing is the most immediately satisfying job we do, and one of the cheapest ways to change how a property looks. A patio that has gone grey-green over five or six years is almost never worn out — it is coated. Underneath it is usually the buff, gold or terracotta it was when it was laid.
It is also a safety job as much as a cosmetic one. Algae on a north-facing path or a shaded set of steps is genuinely slippery, and it is a common cause of falls in winter. Taking it off is quick and lasts a couple of seasons.
Technique matters more than pressure. Too much pressure on soft sandstone will scar it, and blasting the sand out of block paving joints without replacing it destabilises the whole surface. So we match the approach to the material — a rotary surface cleaner for even coverage on large areas, softer settings and chemical treatment for delicate stone — and we re-sand block paving as part of the job.
What is included
- Patios, paths, steps and driveways
- Block paving, with kiln-dried sand replaced afterwards
- Decking cleaned at appropriate pressure for timber
- Walls, render, brickwork and fence panels
- Moss, algae, lichen and black spot removal
- Treatment for organic staining where washing alone will not shift it
- Drains, gullies and channels cleared of the run-off
- Surrounding planting and windows protected during work
- Site rinsed down and left clean
Every job is quoted as a fixed price, and every price includes removing the waste.
Do you need this?
You probably need this if…
No sales pitch — just the situations that usually mean it is time to make the call.
- The patio or drive has gone green, grey or black
- Paths and steps are slippery, especially in shade or after rain
- Block paving joints are full of moss and weed
- Decking is dark, slick and no longer safe underfoot
- You are selling, letting or having photographs taken
- You cannot actually remember what colour the paving is
How it runs
Our pressure washing process
Step by step, so you know exactly what happens and in what order.
- 01
Identify the surface
Porcelain, sandstone, concrete, block and timber all take different pressures. Getting this wrong is how paving gets permanently scarred, so it is the first thing we check.
- 02
Protect the surroundings
Planting, doors, windows and air bricks get covered or shielded. Pressure washing throws a great deal more dirty water about than people expect.
- 03
Treat, then wash
Heavy organic growth and black spot are treated first so they release, rather than being fought with raw pressure. Then we wash with a surface cleaner for even, stripe-free coverage.
- 04
Re-sand and rinse down
Block paving joints are refilled with kiln-dried sand to lock the blocks and slow weed return. Everything gets a final rinse, and run-off is cleared from drains and gullies.
What you get
Why it is worth doing properly
Dramatic change, small budget
Pound for pound this is the most visible improvement available on a garden, and it needs no materials and no disruption.
Much safer underfoot
Algae on shaded paving is properly slippery. Removing it is the cheapest safety improvement most gardens can have.
The surface is protected, not damaged
Matching pressure to material, and re-sanding block paving afterwards, is the difference between cleaning paving and slowly wrecking it.
It lasts a couple of seasons
With treatment as part of the job, regrowth is slower than a wash alone — usually a two-yearly rather than annual task.
Pricing
What affects the price
We quote per job rather than per hour, so the number cannot creep. These are the things that move it up or down.
The fastest route to a price: send two or three photos on WhatsApp. We can usually quote from photos the same day, with no site visit needed.
- 01Area in square metres
- 02How heavy the growth and staining is
- 03Surface type, and whether it needs gentler handling
- 04Whether block paving needs re-sanding
- 05Whether chemical treatment is required for black spot
- 06Access to water and power on site
Questions
Pressure Washing questions
The things people ask us most about this particular job.
For pricing, booking, waste and legal questions that apply to every job, see our full FAQ page.
Not if it is matched to the material. Soft natural stone and older concrete can be scarred by excessive pressure, and blasting sand out of block paving without replacing it leaves the surface unstable. We adjust technique to the surface and re-sand as standard.
An outside tap and a standard socket is ideal. Tell us in advance if you have neither and we will plan around it.
Typically two seasons or so, depending on shade and drainage. North-facing and tree-shaded areas green up faster. Including a treatment rather than a plain wash noticeably extends it.
Black spot lichen bonds into the stone and will not come off with pressure alone — in fact pressure tends to leave pale halos around it. It needs a specific chemical treatment and some patience. It is usually treatable, though very established growth may not clear completely.
On porous stone it can help resist staining and slow regrowth, and it is best done once the surface is thoroughly dry. It is optional — we will give you a straight view on whether it is worth it for your paving rather than adding it automatically.
Pressure Washing across West London
We cover Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Ickenham, Cowley and Ruislip, Hayes, West Drayton, Yiewsley, Northwood, Harefield, Denham, Iver, Hounslow, Heston, plus Northolt, Greenford, Southall, Ealing, Harrow, Slough, Isleworth, Chiswick and the surrounding areas. Check your area.
Often booked together
You might also need
These are the services customers most often combine with this one — usually because one naturally follows the other.
Pressure Washing
Get a fixed price for pressure washing
Tell us about your garden and we will come back within 24 hours with a fixed price for the pressure washing you need. Free, and no obligation.
Prefer to message? Send us photos on WhatsApp — it is the fastest way to an accurate price.