Patio cleaning
Patios you want to sit on.
A patio spends the winter collecting algae and the summer being apologised for. A clean one gets used, which is the whole point of having it.
Estimate online, firm price once we have seen it.
What's included
- Stone identified and a test area cleaned before the rest
- Full clean at the pressure that surface takes
- Steps, edges and thresholds done by lance
- Jointing checked, and re-pointing flagged to you if it has failed
- Planting and borders rinsed down, run-off directed away from beds
- Before and after photos sent to you
What is involved
Know the stone before you clean it.
Patio materials on the Wirral range from riven sandstone to modern porcelain, and they do not all want the same treatment.
We cover the whole of the Wirral for this, including Caldy, Greasby and Moreton. Tell us your postcode and we will confirm the detail for your street.
01
Sandstone and limestone
Natural stone is porous and holds organic growth in its texture. It cleans well, but it wants a controlled approach rather than the highest pressure available.
02
Porcelain and vitrified
Dense and low absorption, so dirt sits on the surface rather than in it. The joints and the grout are usually what need the attention.
03
Concrete slabs and decking
Concrete slabs take a firmer clean. Timber decking is the opposite and is easily furred or gouged, so it is treated gently or not at all.
Surface by surface
What each patio surface takes, and what it does not.
Patio materials on the Wirral run from riven sandstone to modern porcelain, and jet washing them all the same way is how slabs get ruined.
| Surface | Method | Pressure | Joints | Seal | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian sandstone | Controlled fan, tested first | Light to medium | Re-pointed if failed | Optional | from £120 |
| Limestone | Lower pressure, alkaline safe | Light | Checked | Recommended | from £120 |
| Porcelain | Surface wash, grout detailed | Medium | Grout only | Not needed | from £120 |
| Concrete flags | Surface cleaner, flat pass | Firm | Sand or mortar | Optional | from £120 |
| Block paving | Surface cleaner, then joints | Medium | Yes, nearly always | Optional | from £120 |
| Timber decking | Gentle wash along the grain | Very light | No | Oil, not seal | from £120 |
Estimate only. Confirmed after we see photos or visit. No obligation.
On the day
How a patio clean actually runs.
-
Identify the stone
Sandstone, limestone, porcelain and concrete all behave differently. We work out which you have before anything is switched on.
-
Test a corner
A small area is cleaned first at the setting we intend to use, so you can see the result before the whole patio commits to it.
-
Protect the edges
Borders, beds and lawn edges are covered or rinsed as we go, and run-off is directed away from planting.
-
Clean the field
A rotary surface cleaner keeps the pass even across the slabs. Waving a lance about is what leaves stripes.
-
Detail by lance
Steps, thresholds, edges and the strip against the house are done by hand with the lance.
-
Joints and tidy
Joints are re-sanded or flagged for re-pointing, the slabs are rinsed of silt and the drains are cleared.
Why the joints matter
A clean patio with open joints does not stay clean.
Jet washing lifts growth out of the joints as well as off the face of the slab. On block paving and on sand-jointed flags that leaves the joint empty, and an empty joint is where the next crop of weed seed lands.
On mortar-pointed patios the risk is different. Pointing that has already cracked or hollowed will come away under pressure. We would rather find that with you at the start than hand you a surprise at the end, so failing pointing gets flagged before we begin.
So the last step is always the joints: kiln-dried sand brushed in where the patio is sand-jointed, or a clear note of what needs re-pointing where it is mortar. It is the difference between a patio that looks good today and one that still looks good next summer.
What it costs
Typical ranges for a straightforward job.
Worked out from the same rates the estimate below uses. Your actual figure depends on the surface, the condition and the access.
- Smallfrom £120
- Medium£120 to £135
- Large£150 to £225
Estimate only. Confirmed after we see photos or visit. No obligation.
What it costs
Patio cleaning prices
Pick your options, see a range, send it to us in one tap.
Get in touch
Get a price today.
Three ways to start, whichever suits you. All of them reach the same person.
- Send us photos on WhatsApp Two photos and your postcode is enough for a price. Open WhatsApp
- Work out an instant estimate Pick your surface and size, see a from price in ten seconds. Start the estimate
- Call 0151 453 8836 Monday to Friday 8 to 6, Saturday 8 to 2. Call now
What happens next
- You send photos or an estimate
- We reply within one working day with a price
- You pick a date
- We do the job and send you finished photos
Good questions
Patio questions.
Often booked with Driveway cleaning, Roof & render care, Gutters & fascias.
Can you jet wash Indian sandstone without damaging it?
Yes, at the right pressure. Indian sandstone is porous and riven, so it holds growth in its texture and cleans up well, but it will mark if the lance is held too close. We test a corner first and work at the setting that suits your stone.
Will cleaning damage the pointing?
Sound pointing normally comes through fine. Pointing that has already cracked, hollowed or blown often will not, and we tell you if we can see that before we start rather than after.
Do you clean porcelain patios?
Yes. Porcelain is dense and low absorption, so dirt sits on the surface rather than in it. The grout lines usually need more attention than the tiles do.
Can you clean timber decking?
Gently, and along the grain. Decking furs and gouges under the pressure that suits stone, and some boards are past the point where cleaning helps. Send a photo and we will give you an honest answer.
What is the black spotting on my patio?
Almost always lichen. It roots into the surface rather than sitting on it, so it takes a treatment and some patience rather than more pressure. It is the one thing that usually needs a second visit.
Should I have the patio sealed afterwards?
It depends on the stone and how much sun and traffic it gets. Sealing suits some surfaces and does nothing useful on others, and it has to go on a properly dry patio. Ask and we will tell you whether it is worth it on yours.
How long before I can use it again?
You can walk on it the same day. If it is being re-sanded or sealed we need it dry first, so that part sometimes waits for the weather.
Will the green come back?
Algae returns wherever there is shade and moisture, which on the Wirral is most gardens. How fast depends on the aspect and what is overhanging it. Clear joints and good drainage slow it more than anything else.
04 / Local to you
Patio cleaning, town by town.
Each one sets out what the housing there is like and what that means for this job.
Get in touch
Tell us what needs cleaning and we will price it.
Give us the surface, the rough size and a photo if you have one. We come back with a price or the questions we still need answered.