Pressure Cleaning
Block paving, concrete, tarmac and slabs taken back to the colour they were laid in.
Driveways and patios are where the coast shows itself first. Damp air and shade grow a film of algae that turns block paving green, then black. Sand washes out of the joints, weeds find the gaps, and a drive that was buff when it went down reads grey from the road.
We work the surface with a rotary flat cleaner rather than a bare lance. It holds an even distance from the paving, so the whole area lifts at one rate and you do not get the striping and lance scars that a hand-waved wand leaves behind.
When you need it
- Block paving that reads grey or green from the road
- Black spot — the stubborn dark flecks that will not brush off
- Sand washed out of the joints, weeds coming through
- A surface that is slippery underfoot after rain
How we do it
We look at what the surface actually is — concrete block, clay paver, imprinted concrete, tarmac or slab — because each takes a different pressure. Loose grit and leaf litter are swept off first so we are not firing debris around.
Heavy algae and black spot get a treatment before any water goes on. It softens the growth so the machine does less work, which means less pressure against your paving.
A rotary head runs at a fixed distance from the surface across the whole area. That is what stops the striping and lance scars you see on drives that were done with a bare wand waved by hand.
Kerbs, thresholds, manhole surrounds and the awkward corners a rotary head cannot reach get finished with a lance at a matched pressure.
Silt is rinsed off and cleared rather than swept into a pile by your gate. Once the surface has drained, kiln-dried sand is brushed back into block paving joints.
Pressure Cleaning questions
Will pressure washing damage my block paving?
Not when it is done properly. The damage people see comes from three things: working too close, holding the lance in one spot, and taking the jointing sand out without putting it back. A rotary head at a set distance solves the first two, and re-sanding is part of the job here rather than an extra.
Do you re-sand the joints afterwards?
Yes, with kiln-dried sand, as part of the price. Leaving joints open is what causes the next problem — the blocks lose their interlock and weed seed goes straight in.
Can you get rid of black spot?
Black spot is a lichen and it holds on hard. Pressure alone will not shift it; it needs a treatment and dwell time, and on badly affected paving it may take a second visit to clear fully. We will tell you honestly what we think it will come back to before we start.
What about oil stains?
Old oil that has soaked into porous block is often permanent. Fresh spills usually lift with a degreaser. We will say which we think yours is rather than promise it will all go.
Do you seal driveways?
Sealing is available as an add-on, but only once the surface is properly dry — usually a separate visit a few days later. Sealing damp paving traps the moisture and clouds the finish.
How long does a driveway take?
Most residential drives are a few hours. Bigger areas, heavy black spot or a drive that has never been done can run to a full day. You get the time along with the price.
Where we do it
Pressure Cleaning across 20 towns and villages, worked from Great Yarmouth.