Driveway & Patio Pressure Washing: Costs, Benefits and How Often to Do It

In the North West's wet climate, driveways and patios green over fast. Moss, algae and lichen aren't just ugly — they make surfaces dangerously slippery and slowly degrade pointing and jointing sand. Here's what professional cleaning costs locally and why it's worth doing properly.

Professional pressure washing prices in Cheshire (2026)

• Per square metre: £3 – £5
• Typical two-car driveway (approx. 40m²): £100 – £180
• Patio clean: from £80
• Decking clean: from £90
• Re-sand and seal (add-on): from £60

A driveway-plus-patio combination typically runs from £160, with a visible transformation in a single visit.

Why not just DIY it?

A domestic jet wash can clean paving — but used incorrectly it causes real damage:

• Blasting out jointing sand destabilises block paving; blocks then shift and sink
• Etching soft sandstone with a narrow lance leaves permanent stripe marks
• Forcing water into pointing cracks mortar joints on older patios

Professionals use rotary surface cleaners that clean evenly at a controlled pressure and distance, then re-sand the joints with kiln-dried sand afterwards — the step almost everyone skips, and the reason DIY-washed driveways deteriorate.

The case for sealing

After cleaning, an acrylic or polyurethane sealer:

• Slows moss and algae regrowth dramatically
• Locks jointing sand in place
• Makes oil and leaf stains far easier to remove
• Deepens the colour of block paving and natural stone

Sealed surfaces typically stay clean 2–3 times longer between washes.

How often should you clean?

• Driveways: every 18 – 24 months (sooner on shaded, north-facing plots)
• Patios: annually, ideally each spring before the garden comes back into use
• Decking: annually, with re-oiling for timber

Book a clean

MSJ Landscaping offers professional pressure washing across South Manchester and Cheshire — driveways, patios, decking and brickwork, with re-sanding and sealing available on every job. Book online or request a quote today.