Will patio cleaning make my patio look brand new?

No. Cleaning removes algae, moss, black spotting and ingrained dirt, which usually makes a substantial difference. It does not reverse wear, fading, weathering or staining that has soaked into porous stone, and an older patio will still look like an older patio afterwards.

Can you clean Indian sandstone without damaging it?

Yes, by dropping the pressure and letting a pre-treatment do more of the work. Sandstone is porous and soft enough that a jet held too close leaves permanent lance marks, so it is never cleaned at the setting used for sound concrete.

What happens to the pointing between my slabs?

Sound mortar or resin pointing is cleaned around at controlled pressure. Where the pointing is already cracked, hollow or shedding, it is worked by hand or left, and reported to you. Re-pointing is building work and is not offered as part of this service.

Do I need to move my patio furniture beforehand?

It helps if you can, but it is not essential. Furniture, pots and barbecues are moved where it is practical and put back afterwards. Anything heavy, fixed or fragile is worked around, and that area is flagged to you rather than forced.

Where does all the dirty water go?

Runoff is planned before the work starts and directed towards a suitable gully or outlet, away from door thresholds, borders and neighbouring property. Where the drainage around a patio is poor, that is raised with you at the quotation stage.

How long before the algae comes back?

It depends on shade, tree cover and drainage — a damp, north-facing patio greens up faster than an open, sunny one. Sweeping regularly, clearing leaf litter in autumn and cutting back overhanging growth all make the result last longer.

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Patio Cleaning in Reading

Paved patio in Reading after professional patio cleaning

Patios sit against the house, usually in the shadiest and dampest part of the garden, which is why algae and black spotting return there first. Each patio is assessed for its material, the state of its joints, the furniture and access around it, and where the wash water will run before any cleaning starts.

We proudly serve Reading and surrounding areas including Bracknell, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Crowthorne, Hook, Pangbourne, Tadley, and Basingstoke.

Many customers also book our Window Cleaning service. Commercial clients can view our Commercial Cleaning services.

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Patio materials set the method. Indian sandstone and limestone are porous and comparatively soft — held too close, a jet will etch the face and leave permanent lance marks. Riven and textured slabs hold dirt in the profile and need slower, more careful passes. Porcelain and vitrified paving are hard-wearing but the jointing compound between units is not, so pressure is kept off the joint lines. Older concrete slabs are checked for spalling before anything is aimed at them.

Joints and pointing are the weak point. Most patios are pointed with mortar or a resin jointing compound rather than sand. Where that pointing has already cracked, gone hollow or started shedding, high pressure will empty it and can drive water beneath the slabs. Those areas are cleaned at reduced pressure or worked by hand, and failing pointing is reported to you. Re-pointing is not part of this service.

Furniture, planting and access. Patios come with tables, benches, barbecues, pots, borders and often a set of doors straight into the house. Anything that can practically be moved is moved and put back; anything that cannot is worked around. Door seals, thresholds, render, cladding and adjacent planting are protected or kept out of the spray line, and glazing near the working area is considered before the lance is pointed anywhere.

Runoff has to be controlled. A patio usually falls away from the house towards a lawn, border or gully. Cleaning releases a lot of dirty water and biological residue, so the direction of work is planned to send it to a suitable outlet rather than into planting beds or a neighbour’s garden. Where drainage is poor, that is raised with you before the job rather than discovered halfway through.

Aftercare. A patio in a shaded, damp position will green up again — how quickly depends on tree cover, drainage and how much sun it gets. Keeping the surface swept, clearing leaf litter in autumn and cutting back overhanging growth all extend the result. Sealing is optional, only suitable for some materials, and only carried out on a fully dry surface when it has been agreed in advance.

Drives are assessed on their own terms and are covered on our driveway cleaning page. For paths and the wider range of hard surfaces, see our pressure washing services in Reading.

What's Included

Cleaning of the patio area agreed in the quotation
Hand-detailing of steps, edges and awkward corners
Removal of loose weeds and moss dislodged during cleaning
Moving and replacing furniture and pots where it is practical to do so
Rinsing down and clearing displaced residue from the working area

Our Process

Softer stone and older pointing are cleaned at reduced pressure, with the lance held back and a pre-treatment doing more of the work. Harder, sound paving can take a rotary flat-surface cleaner for an even finish. The aim is a consistent result across the whole patio rather than a bright patch next to an untouched area.

1Assess material, joints, pointing, drainage and surrounding property
2Clear or move furniture, pots and obstructions where practical
3Protect door seals, thresholds, render and planting near the work
4Pre-treat algae, moss and black spotting so it lifts at lower pressure
5Clean in controlled passes suited to the material and joint type
6Rinse, direct runoff to a suitable outlet, replace furniture and inspect

Safety & Standards

Reduced pressure on sandstone, limestone and other porous stone
Pressure kept off cracked, hollow or failing joint compound
Door seals, thresholds, glazing and planting protected or avoided
Runoff directed to a suitable outlet, not into borders or boundaries

Who It's For

Indian sandstone and natural stone patios
Concrete and riven slab patios
Porcelain and vitrified paving
Raised patios, steps and seating areas
Shaded patios with recurring algae and black spotting

Many of our customers also book Pressure Washing in Reading, Window Cleaning and Conservatory Cleaning alongside their patio cleaning in reading to keep their entire property exterior looking immaculate.