Pillar guide
Outdoor surface cleaning: pressure, method and risk
Prices start at £95 for a front path with a £110 minimum visit charge. For local pricing and coverage, use your area page — jet washing across London.
Five methods
The surface decides the method
Rotary flat-surface cleaning
An enclosed twin-jet head runs at fixed height and speed, so every square metre takes the same energy and the water stays inside the housing instead of on your windows.
- Best for
- Block paving, concrete slabs, garage aprons and long runs of hard standing.
- Speed
- Around 20 m² an hour on a normal drive.
- What it cannot do
- It cannot save paving that has already sunk, and it will not lift oil that has soaked in.
Soft washing
A dilute biocide is applied top down under 40 bar, left to dwell, then rinsed with a controlled low-pressure pass. The chemistry does the work, not the water.
- Best for
- Render, painted masonry, roof tiles, fragile stone and anything with lime pointing.
- Speed
- Half a day for a two-storey elevation.
- What it cannot do
- It is not instant — growth keeps fading for two to three weeks after the visit.
Hot-water pressure washing
Water heated to around 90°C carries a degreaser into the surface, which breaks fats and oils that cold water simply pushes around.
- Best for
- Bin stores, commercial forecourts, chewing gum and food-waste staining.
- Speed
- Two to five hours per zone.
- What it cannot do
- Heat can damage composite decking and some sealants, so it is never a default.
Hand detailing
Edges, thresholds, step nosings, gully surrounds and manhole frames are worked by hand with a brush and a fine lance after the machine pass.
- Best for
- Every job. It is the difference between a clean drive and a clean drive with a dirty border.
- Speed
- Adds 30–60 minutes to a typical driveway.
- What it cannot do
- It cannot compensate for the wrong pressure having already been used.
Re-sanding and sealing
Kiln-dried sand is brushed and vibrated into block-paving joints, then topped up once dry. Sealing is a separate visit onto a fully dry surface.
- Best for
- Block paving, imprinted concrete and porous natural stone.
- Speed
- Re-sanding same day; sealing a second dry-day visit.
- What it cannot do
- Sealer applied over damp stone blooms white and has to be stripped.
Surface reference
Pressure, method and risk by material
| Surface | Verdict | Working pressure | Method | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block paving | Jet | 130–150 bar, rotary head | Enclosed rotary pass, then edges and manholes detailed by hand. | Sand blasted from joints, leaving blocks free to rock. |
| Sandstone, limestone, York stone | Reduced | 80–110 bar, wide fan | Biocide first, dwell, then a low-pressure lift that keeps the riven face. | Etching and zebra striping from a turbo nozzle. |
| Pattern-imprinted concrete | Reduced | 100–120 bar, no turbo | Wash off the failed seal, neutralise, dry, re-seal on a second visit. | Lifting colour hardener and exposing grey aggregate. |
| Porcelain and vitrified paving | Reduced | 100 bar, fan lance | Alkaline pre-spray, agitate, rinse, then squeegee dry. | Grout washout and permanent hard-water spotting. |
| Victorian tessellated path | Never pressure | 60–80 bar maximum | Hand work, pH-neutral chemistry, soft rotary at low pressure. | Losing tiles or blowing out lime pointing. |
| Timber and composite decking | Reduced | 60–80 bar with the grain | Percarbonate cleaner, dwell, wide fan drawn with the grain. | Furring soft-wood boards and lifting fixings. |
| Render, brick and walls | Soft wash | Under 40 bar | Dilute biocide top down, left to work, controlled rinse. | Water driven through render cracks and stripped mortar. |
| Communal bin stores and car parks | Jet | 150 bar, hot water | 90°C water with degreaser, rotary pass, drain guard on every gully. | Contaminated run-off entering a highway drain. |
Questions
Outdoor cleaning questions, answered
What pressure is safe for patio and driveway cleaning?
Block paving takes 130–150 bar through a rotary head, natural stone 80–110 bar on a wide fan, decking 60–80 bar with the grain, and render or brick under 40 bar as a soft wash. Test a hidden metre before any full pass.
How often should outdoor surfaces be cleaned?
Most London driveways and patios need a full clean every 18–24 months, with a residual weed and moss treatment in between. Shaded north-facing ground re-greens faster and often wants an annual visit.
Does jet washing remove black spot lichen?
Pressure alone does not. Black spot is killed at the root with a biocide and then fades over two to three weeks. Anyone promising same-day removal is either blasting the surface or overselling.
What our customers say across the UK
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I recently used Hello Services for a full carpet clean throughout my home, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. From the moment I contacted them, their communication was clear, friendly, and professional. They arrived on time, fully equipped, and explained the entire process before starting. The team worked efficiently and with great attention… Read in full →
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