Years of green algae, black grime and weed-filled joints can make a driveway look tired long before it's worn out. Pressure washing strips all of that away and restores block paving, concrete, slabs, Indian sandstone and tarmac to a like-new finish — often a transformation people don't believe is the same surface.
We clean driveways and patios right across Chelmsford and Essex, from the established estates in Great Baddow, Springfield and Writtle to the block-paved drives on the newer Beaulieu and Channels developments. Whether it's a small courtyard patio or a sweeping double driveway, we have the right kit and the experience to do it properly.
The secret to a good finish isn't more power — it's even power. We use a rotary surface cleaner rather than a hand-held lance for the main clean. It encloses two jets spinning at a set height, so the pressure lands uniformly across every block and slab. That's what gives you a consistent, edge-to-edge result without the tell-tale striping and "tiger stripes" you get when a lance is waved across the surface by hand.
Just as important is knowing where to ease off. Indian sandstone is a beautiful natural stone but it's softer and more porous than concrete, and the wrong pressure can pit the surface or strip the colour. Old, weathered concrete can spall and flake if it's over-blasted. An experienced operator reads each surface, adjusts the pressure and technique accordingly, and tests an out-of-the-way area first. It's the difference between a driveway that looks new and one that looks damaged.
Cleaning block paving thoroughly flushes the old kiln-dried sand out of the joints — and that sand is what holds the blocks together. Leave the joints empty and the blocks start to rock, shift at the edges and let weeds straight back in. So after cleaning, we brush fresh kiln-dried sand back into every joint to re-stabilise the surface and lock the pattern in place. It's a step a surprising number of pressure-washing outfits skip, and it's the main reason a "cheap" clean can look ragged again within a season.
For an extra layer of protection we also offer optional sealing. A quality block-paving sealer resists weed and moss regrowth, makes oil and tyre marks far easier to wipe away, deepens the colour and slows down the return of algae. It's not essential, but on a driveway you've just had restored it's a genuinely worthwhile add-on — and we'll always be straight with you about whether your surface will benefit.
Block paving and brick driveways, concrete (smooth, brushed and imprinted), natural stone and Indian sandstone, riven and porcelain slabs, tarmac, brick paths and steps. We also clean timber decking — though decking is softwashed rather than jetted, as high pressure tears up the soft grain and splinters the boards. If you're unsure what your surface is, send a photo and we'll tell you and price it.
As a guide, a small patio starts from £150, an average driveway is usually £180–£350, and a large driveway plus patio is typically £400 or more. Re-sanding and sealing are charged on top, as they use additional materials and time. The honest variables are the size of the area, the surface type and how heavily it's stained or weeded. Full breakdown on our pricing page — or send a photo and your postcode for an exact figure, usually the same day.
Not when it's done correctly. We use a rotary surface cleaner that spreads the pressure evenly across the slab, which avoids the striping and pitting you get from waving a lance about by hand. The only real risk is to softer surfaces like old concrete and some Indian sandstone, where an experienced operator dials the pressure down and adjusts the technique. Done properly, block paving comes up like new with no damage.
For block paving, yes — we strongly recommend it. The cleaning process flushes the old kiln-dried sand out of the joints, and without sand the blocks can rock, shift and let weeds back in. We brush fresh kiln-dried sand into every joint to re-stabilise the surface. Solid surfaces like concrete and natural stone slabs don't need re-sanding.
A small patio starts from £150. An average driveway is usually £180–£350, and a large driveway plus patio is typically £400 or more. Re-sanding and sealing are extra. Send a photo and your postcode for an exact price.
Yes. Before we clean we apply a weed and moss treatment so the growth is killed at the root rather than just blasted off, which keeps the surface clear for far longer. The rotary clean then lifts the dead growth, dirt and staining away.
Driveway, patio and block paving cleaning across Chelmsford & Essex. Free, no-obligation quotes.