Driveway and patio cleaning across Medway
We clean driveways, patios, paths and hard standing across the Medway towns, including Gillingham, Rainham, Rochester and Chatham. Medway sits close enough to the river and the estuary for damp, shaded surfaces to green over quickly, and busy driveways here pick up more than their share of oil, tyre rubber and road dirt.
Pressure washing lifts all of it. Done properly, it takes a tired drive back to the colour it was laid in, without stripping the surface to get there. We work on block paving, concrete, imprinted concrete, Indian sandstone, natural stone, tarmac, porcelain and resin-bound surfaces, and we set the pressure to the material rather than running everything flat out.
Kerb appeal, safety and a longer surface life
A driveway builds up dirt, oil stains, algae, lichen and moss over time, and none of it is only cosmetic. Moss and algae make wet paving genuinely slippery, which matters most on the sloping drives common around Rochester and Chatham. Growth in the joints lifts the jointing sand and lets water sit where it should not. Freeze and thaw over a Kent winter then does the damage that ends in cracked slabs and sunken blocks.
Clearing it back once a year keeps the surface sound and keeps repair costs down. It also makes the front of the house look looked-after, which is worth something whether or not you are thinking of selling.
How often to clean a driveway in Medway
Once a year is a sensible baseline. Drives that face north, sit under trees or take several vehicles a day usually want doing more often. High-pressure washing is what shifts the stubborn marks, such as oil spills and tyre scuffs, that build up fastest in heavily used areas. Waiting until the surface is visibly failing costs more, not less.
If your patio and paths need the same attention, we can do the lot in one visit. Many customers also book gutter cleaning at the same time, since the moss washing off a blocked gutter tends to land on the paving below.
What makes our Medway cleaning different
- Assessment first. We look at the surface, the joints, the drainage and the staining before choosing a method.
- The right machine for the job. Rotary surface cleaners give an even finish across a whole drive. A hand lance is used only where a rotary head would not suit.
- Trained and fully insured. Every job carries our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- Sealing offered, never pushed. We will tell you when it is worth it and when it is not.
- Safe cleaners. Products are chosen to suit the surface and to be sensible around planting, pets and drainage.
What our patio cleaning includes
Patio work covers the full clean plus the option of sealing afterwards, including sealers formulated for natural stone. Sealing protects against weeds pushing through the joints, oil and food staining, and moisture getting into the surface. It also makes the next clean far quicker, since the dirt sits on top rather than soaking in.
We clean the joints, the edges, the steps and the awkward corners as well as the open areas. Those shaded corners are usually where the algae starts, so skipping them just seeds the next lot of growth.
Stains on block paving
Block paving stains are stubborn but rarely permanent. Pressure washing gets down into the surface to loosen and lift oil, moss and general grime, and the colour that comes back often surprises people. For oil in particular we degrease first, let the product break the stain down, then lift the residue with pressure suited to the block.
Washing block paving inevitably takes some of the kiln-dried sand out of the joints, so we brush fresh sand back in once the surface has dried. That stabilises the blocks and slows the weeds coming back.
Other hard surfaces
We are not limited to driveways and patios. Indian sandstone, concrete, paths, steps, courtyards and hard standing all get the same surface-matched approach. Sandstone and porcelain want lower pressure and a gentler cleaner. Concrete takes a firmer wash. Imprinted concrete usually wants resealing afterwards to bring the colour back.
Is pressure washing safe on every surface?
No, and anyone who says otherwise has not seen enough damaged tarmac. Tarmac loses its binder under heavy pressure and starts shedding chippings. Soft sandstone pits. Old, loose block paving can be blown apart at the joints. Failed pointing lets water in behind the slab.
That is why we assess before we start and set the pressure to the material. Concrete and sound block paving take a firm wash comfortably. Softer surfaces get lower pressure and a longer dwell time on the cleaner instead. Getting that judgement right is most of the job.
How long it takes and how to prepare
Most standard driveways and patios take somewhere between one and three hours, depending on size, surface and how much growth there is to shift. We will give you a realistic estimate once we have your details.
To help the day run smoothly:
- Move vehicles off the driveway before we arrive.
- Clear furniture, pots, garden ornaments and toys from the area.
- Point out any specific stains or problem patches so we can focus on them.
- Let us know about outside taps, gates, alarms and pets.
Getting a price
Driveways and patios are priced on surface, size and condition, so we do not publish a fixed rate. Send your details through the driveway and patio quote form, including a photo where possible, and a colleague will call you back to confirm the price and arrange a suitable time. Bigger or more awkward jobs get a free site check first.
We cover the whole of Medway, and you can see the full picture of what we do on our driveway and patio cleaning page for Kent or read about our work in Maidstone.