How much does pressure washing cost?
Pressure washing in Worcestershire is priced per square metre. The figures:
• Driveway pressure wash – specialist rotary clean, priced per area
• Patio & pathway pressure wash – priced per area
• Block paving re-sanding (essential after washing) – priced per area
• Driveway / patio sealing – protective upgrade, priced per area
• Decking clean (controlled pressure) – priced per area
• Render soft wash – specialist low-pressure clean, priced per area
• Roof soft wash with moss treatment – quoted per visit based on access and roof area
Every job is priced per area in a written and itemised quote, so you see exactly what the clean covers and where any upgrades (re-sanding, sealing) sit alongside the base wash.
What's included: pre-cleaning sweep, rotary surface cleaner with hot water for stubborn marks, controlled pressure to avoid damage, kiln-dried jointing sand brushed and vibrated in (for block paving), final tidy and waste water removal. What's quoted separately: very large patios, multi-storey render or roof work needing access equipment.
See full detail on the pressure washing services page.
How often should I pressure wash?
Depends on the surface and conditions:
Block paving driveways – every 1 to 2 years for the deep clean. Sweep weekly between cleans, treat weeds in joints, top up jointing sand annually. The deep clean restores the colour, lifts embedded grime and resets the surface.
Concrete driveways (plain or pattern imprinted) – every 1 to 2 years. PIC needs more attention to the seal coat which is the visual layer.
Resin bound driveways – rarely need pressure washing. A garden hose rinse once or twice a year handles most surface dust. Occasional gentle pressure wash (under 1200 psi, wide fan nozzle) for stubborn marks. Avoid turbo nozzles.
Tarmac driveways – less frequent. Pressure wash every 2 to 3 years. Seal every 3 to 5 years separately. Avoid hot water on aged tarmac – can soften the bitumen.
Indian sandstone patios – every 1 to 2 years gentle clean. Pressure too high can etch the stone.
Porcelain patios – rarely needed. Annual hose rinse. Pressure wash every 3+ years.
Decking – annually for timber decks (treat with deck cleaner first, then gentle pressure wash). Less often for composite which doesn't accumulate grime in the same way.
Render walls – soft wash every 3 to 5 years when algae becomes visible.
Roof tiles – soft wash with moss treatment every 5 to 10 years.
What accelerates cleaning frequency: heavy tree shade (algae), north-facing aspect, proximity to woodland or fields (organic deposits), heavy vehicle traffic (oil and tyre marks), low elevation with damp drainage.
Will pressure washing damage my driveway?
Not with the right technique. Damage comes from one of three mistakes:
1. Too high a pressure on softer materials. A 3000+ psi domestic pressure washer on aged concrete, old block paving or soft Indian sandstone can blast the surface off, washing the cement matrix away and exposing aggregate, etching the stone, or breaking blocks. The right approach is matched pressure: 1500–2200 psi for general work, more only on hard surfaces.
2. Wrong nozzle for the surface. Turbo nozzles (rotating zero-degree nozzles) concentrate the entire jet into a single rapidly-moving point – effective at lifting grime but easily damaging if held too close or used on the wrong surface. Wide fan nozzles (15° or 25°) are safer for most domestic surfaces.
3. Wand washing on block paving. A handheld wand leaves stripes (you can see the wand pattern in the surface) and washes jointing sand out aggressively from one direction. Rotary surface cleaners (the round shroud with two spinning nozzles inside) give an even, professional finish across the full surface.
Our standard approach:
• Block paving and concrete driveways – rotary surface cleaner with hot water, controlled pressure (typically 1800–2200 psi)
• Indian sandstone and natural stone patios – gentle pressure (1200–1500 psi), wide nozzle, no turbo
• Resin bound driveways – gentle pressure only when needed, otherwise hose rinse
• Decking – controlled pressure with the lance held 300mm+ off the surface and parallel to grain
• Render and roof tiles – soft wash only (under 500 psi + biocide treatment), never high pressure
Using the wrong technique is the most common source of pressure-wash damage we see when we're called out to repair other contractors' work. We always assess and use the right approach for the surface.
What is soft washing?
Soft washing is a cleaning technique using low pressure (typically under 500 psi – about the pressure of a strong garden hose) combined with a biocide cleaning solution that kills algae, moss, lichen and biological staining at the root rather than just blasting it off the surface.
How the process works:
1. Apply the biocide solution to the surface using a soft wash unit (low-pressure spray). The solution penetrates the surface and the underlying biological growth.
2. Dwell – the solution acts for 10 to 30 minutes. This is when the actual cleaning happens biologically – the biocide kills the algae and breaks down the staining.
3. Rinse – gentle pressure wash to remove the solution and any loose dead growth. The surface is left clean without any high-pressure damage.
4. Residual protection – the biocide has a residual effect that inhibits regrowth for 12–24 months. This is why soft-washed surfaces stay clean for longer than pressure-washed ones.
Where soft wash is the right choice:
• Render walls – high pressure can damage the render finish. Soft wash kills algae and lichen safely.
• Roof tiles – tiles and underfelt are easily damaged by high pressure. Soft wash with moss treatment lifts staining and treats biological growth.
• Soft sandstone – can be etched by high pressure. Soft wash cleans without damage.
• Painted surfaces – high pressure strips paint. Soft wash refreshes paintwork without damage.
• Conservatories & UPVC – gentle cleaning that won't damage seals or finishes.
Where pressure wash is still the right choice: driveways, patios in good condition, pathways, garden walls in masonry. The high-pressure mechanical action is needed to lift compressed grime and oil residue from hard surfaces.
Do I need to re-sand block paving after pressure washing?
Yes. Pressure washing removes much of the kiln-dried jointing sand between blocks – the high-pressure water jet washes it out. Without that sand back in the joints, three things go wrong:
1. The interlock weakens. Jointing sand is what holds adjacent blocks together as a connected surface. Without it, blocks can shift and creep under wheel load.
2. Weeds find their way in. Empty joints are perfect for weed germination. Within weeks of a no-resand pressure wash you'll see grass and weeds sprouting in every joint.
3. The surface looks unfinished. Joints that aren't filled give a patchy, unfinished appearance after the deep clean. The full restoration effect is lost.
Our standard process after pressure washing a block paved driveway:
1. Allow the driveway to dry for several hours after washing.
2. Spread kiln-dried jointing sand across the surface and brush into all joints. Multiple passes from different angles ensure full filling.
3. Vibrate with a plate compactor (rubber-faced or with a protective mat) to settle the sand into the joints and bed everything back together.
4. Top up where needed – vibration sometimes reveals joints that need more sand. Brush in fresh and re-vibrate.
5. Final brush off – remove excess sand from the block surfaces.
Re-sanding is included as standard on every block paving pressure wash we do. Priced per area in your itemised quote. Skipping it saves a small amount short-term but the driveway needs the next clean and weed treatment much sooner.
How long does a driveway clean take?
For a typical 40 m² double driveway, the times:
• Pressure wash only – 2 to 3 hours
• Pressure wash + re-sand (block paving) – 3 to 5 hours
• Pressure wash + re-sand + seal – 5 to 8 hours over 2 days (sealing requires the surface to be dry, so the seal goes on the day after washing)
The sequence:
Hour 1 – pre-clean sweep, treat localised stubborn areas (oil stains, organic build-up) with specific treatments, set up equipment.
Hours 1–3 – rotary surface clean. Work methodically across the driveway in overlapping passes to ensure even cleaning. Hot water option for stubborn marks.
Hours 3–4 – (block paving) allow the surface to dry for an hour or so, then spread kiln-dried sand and brush into joints. Vibrate with plate compactor. Top up and re-vibrate.
Hours 4–5 – final brush off, tidy waste water, final inspection.
If sealing is included:
Day 2 – ensure surface is fully dry (no recent rain). Apply two coats of acrylic seal with a roller, allowing each coat to dry (2–4 hours per coat). Avoid foot or vehicle traffic for 24 hours after the final coat.
Weather considerations: we don't pressure wash in heavy rain (water management is impossible). We don't seal damp surfaces (the seal won't bond). Cold dry weather is fine; sub-zero or saturated wet weather isn't.
For very large driveways (100 m²+) or full driveway + patio combo, scale proportionally – a full day or two of work.
Should I seal my driveway after washing?
Recommended for block paving and concrete driveways – sealing delivers four meaningful benefits and significantly extends the time before the next deep clean.
1. Sand retention (block paving) – locks the kiln-dried jointing sand into the joints. The sand stays where it should be even through pressure washing and heavy rain. The single biggest driver of block paving deterioration is sand loss.
2. Weed prevention – with sand locked in, weed seeds have nothing to root into.
3. Stain resistance – oil drips, tyre marks, fuel spills, leaf staining all sit on the seal layer rather than penetrating the porous surface. Spills wipe off rather than soaking in.
4. Colour intensification – the sealer slightly darkens and enriches the surface colour. Concrete blocks look more vibrant; pattern imprinted concrete colours look richer.
Seal finishes:
• Natural finish (matte) – invisible, just protective, recommended for most homes
• Satin finish – slight sheen, mid-ground
• Gloss finish (wet-look) – visible wet sheen, striking modern look but can appear artificial on traditional homes
When to seal: only on a fully clean, fully dry driveway with fresh jointing sand (for block paving). Sealing trapped moisture or sealing over old sand gives a patchy finish.
How long the seal lasts: 3 to 5 years before re-application. The seal slowly weathers under UV and traffic.
Resin bound driveways do NOT need sealing – the resin already seals the aggregate. Tarmac driveways have a separate dedicated tarmac sealer (not the same product as block paving seal).
What can you pressure wash?
Most outdoor hard surfaces – with the right technique for each:
Driveways – block paving, tarmac, concrete, pattern imprinted concrete (PIC), resin bound (gentle rinse only).
Patios – Indian sandstone, porcelain, concrete flag, natural stone, decorative aggregates.
Pathways – same surfaces as patios, often cleaned alongside.
Decking – timber and composite, with controlled pressure to avoid lifting fibres or damaging the boards.
Render walls – soft wash with biocide. High pressure damages render.
Roof tiles – soft wash plus moss treatment. Lifts the unsightly green/black staining and treats the biological cause.
Garden walls and brickwork – controlled pressure or soft wash depending on age and condition.
Patio furniture and umbrellas – gentle pressure refreshes plastic and aluminium furniture, removes algae and bird mess.
Wheelie bins and outdoor recycling bins – restore the colour and hygiene.
Concrete garden ornaments and statues – gentle pressure or soft wash depending on age and detail.
Conservatory roofs and frames – gentle pressure, taking care around seals and joints.
Boats and trailers – thorough clean of fibreglass, paintwork and trailers.
What we don't pressure wash (do soft wash instead): vintage stonework, lime mortar pointing (high pressure washes lime out of the joints), painted timber doors and windows, old slate roofs, fragile brickwork on heritage properties.
If you're not sure whether a surface is suitable, send us a photo or book the free site visit – we'll assess and recommend the right approach.
