Patios, paths, driveways and decking are jet washed at £4 a square metre, and a visit starts at £67. Measure the area before you call and say what the surface is made of.
The cleaner brings a pressure washer, hoses and lances, and runs the machine on water from your outside tap and power from a socket. Moss, algae, green film and the grey grime that settles on slabs over a few winters usually come off in one visit. The price follows the area, so the only sum you need is length times width.
Measuring the area for a jet washing price
Measure each surface in metres, multiply its length by its width and add the areas together. Rounding up to the next whole metre is fine.
| Example | Area |
|---|---|
| Back patio, 4 m by 5 m | 20 sq m |
| Front path, 1 m by 8 m | 8 sq m |
| Single driveway, 3 m by 6 m | 18 sq m |
| Deck, 3 m by 4 m | 12 sq m |
Multiply the total by £4. A visit starts at £67, which is why a short front path is often done on the same visit as the back patio. Steps and narrow side returns are measured the same way. If a tape measure is not to hand, count the slabs: most garden slabs are 60 cm square, so roughly three of them make a square metre. Every outdoor and indoor rate is on the price list.
Patios, paths, driveways and decking
Concrete slabs, porcelain, block paving, brick paths and most natural stone are cleaned with the same machine, changing the pressure, the nozzle and the distance for each. Porcelain is dense and takes a strong clean well. Block paving and brick need care around the joints. Tarmac gets low pressure, because a hard jet loosens the chippings on its surface. Timber and composite decking are cleaned along the length of the boards with a wide fan.
Some marks seldom come out with water alone: engine oil soaked into concrete, rust rings from garden furniture, tyre marks, old chewing gum and the small black dots of lichen that grow on patios. They may fade a little, though it is safer to expect them to stay. If one of these is your main reason for booking, say so on the call.
Joints, pointing and soft stone
A jet of water cleans between the paving as well as on top of it. On block paving the jointing sand washes out with the dirt, so plan to sweep kiln-dried sand into the gaps again once the surface is dry; builders’ merchants sell it by the bag. On a patio laid on mortar, sound pointing stays where it is, though pointing that is already cracked or crumbling will lose loose pieces. Tell us if yours looks tired and the cleaner will turn the pressure down along those joints.
Soft stone needs the most care. Sandstone, limestone and older York stone can be scored by a narrow jet held close, leaving lines that will not wash out. On these the cleaner uses a wide fan and keeps the lance further back. Softwood decking can go furry if the jet is too strong, and a light sanding with a fresh coat of oil or stain puts that right. Very old or flaking stone may be better left alone, and the cleaner will tell you before starting.
Questions about pressure washing
Does someone need to be in on the day of the jet wash?
Only if the outside tap or a socket can’t be reached from the garden. Leave the side gate open, move pots, garden furniture and the car, and the jet washing can go ahead while you are out. Send measurements and a note on the surface through the contact page if you want the area checked first.
How soon can the patio be used after jet washing?
You can walk on a jet-washed patio as soon as the cleaner leaves. Slabs dry within a few hours in summer and take longer in winter; leave any re-sanding or sealing until the surface is fully dry.
Will the windows get splashed when the patio is jet washed?
Some spray and grit reach the lower windows and the back door on most jobs. If you want clean glass as well, book window cleaning for after the jet wash.
Can indoor tiled floors be cleaned as well?
Indoor tiles, stone and vinyl are a separate service at £6 a square metre, cleaned without a pressure washer. The hard floor cleaning page explains how they are measured and priced.