What affects the cost of patio cleaning

Area comes first

Paving is measured and priced clearly per square metre, so the size of the patio, plus any paths and steps you add, is the starting point. Steps and narrow paths take longer per metre than an open terrace because a rotary cleaner cannot run across them in long passes, so a small patio with lots of steps can take more time than a larger plain one.

This guide sits under our Patios & Driveways work, covering 20-mile radius of Plymouth.

The type of stone

Concrete flags and block paving take a standard rotary clean. Natural stone such as Indian sandstone is porous and softer, so it gets lower pressure and a softwash pre-treat, which is more careful work. Porcelain absorbs little water and resists growth well, so it is often quicker. Telling us the material, or sending a close-up, lets us price the right method rather than guess.

How much growth there is

Every patio is pre-treated with a biocide to kill moss and weeds before washing, not just to chop the tops off. A shaded, north-facing patio under trees with thick moss in every joint takes more treatment and more time than a sunny one with a light green film. Black spots on sandstone, which are lichen, are slower still and continue to fade after the visit.

Joints, sanding and sealing

Washing lifts loose joint material. Block paving is re-sanded with kiln-dried sand afterwards to lock the blocks and slow weeds, and that is part of the job. A breathable sealer is an option you choose, not a default, and it adds to the price because it is an extra stage with its own drying time. Mortared joints that are already cracked or missing may need repointing, which is a repair rather than a cleaning cost.

Access and run-off

A patio reached through a side gate with a nearby outside tap is straightforward. One reached only through the house, down steep steps, or with nowhere for rinse water to drain away, takes more planning. Drains are protected and plants covered before we start, and debris is swept up and taken away at the end.

Doing it with other work

If the walls or roof above the patio are due a clean, do them first. Run-off from a wall softwash or roof treatment lands on the paving, so cleaning the patio last saves paying to clean it twice. Combining work in one visit also avoids repeat set-up.

What to send for a price

A photo of the whole patio, a close-up of a typical slab and joint, a note of the stone type if you know it, rough measurements, and whether you want sealing. From that we can usually give a fixed written price without a visit; if not, the survey is free.

Why the cheapest quote can cost more

A patio cleaned with a pressure lance instead of a rotary head, with no biocide pre-treatment and no re-sanding, can look fine for a week and then stripe, green up and grow weeds in open joints. A pressure too high for sandstone leaves permanent marks that no later clean will remove. When comparing prices, check that each quote covers pre-treatment, the cleaning method, re-sanding and clear-up, so you are comparing the same job.