Driveway Cleaning: Block Paving, Concrete and Tarmac Done Properly

Block paving: the three-stage job

Block paving is cleaned with a rotary flat-surface cleaner rather than a hand-held lance. The rotary head distributes pressure evenly across the surface, which is what avoids the striping that hand-lancing always leaves. Weeds and moss in the joints are removed along with the dirt, and the surplus jointing sand inevitably washes out with it.

That is why re-sanding is essential rather than optional. Kiln-dried sand is brushed into the joints once the surface has dried, and it is what holds the blocks in interlock. A driveway cleaned and left unsanded will start to rock, spread and sink at the edges within a couple of seasons.

• Stage 1: rotary clean at controlled pressure
• Stage 2: re-sand joints with kiln-dried sand once dry
• Stage 3: apply biocide or a sealer to slow regrowth

Concrete, imprinted concrete and tarmac

Poured concrete is the most robust surface and takes pressure cleaning well. Pattern-imprinted concrete is different: it relies on a surface sealer coat, and aggressive pressure removes that coat, after which the concrete stains and the colour fades. Imprinted concrete should be cleaned at reduced pressure and then resealed — resealing is part of the job, not an upsell.

Tarmac must never be pressure washed at high setting. The bitumen binder holds the aggregate together, and high pressure strips it, leaving a loose, pitted surface that then deteriorates rapidly. Tarmac is cleaned with low pressure and a treatment, accepting a more modest visual improvement in exchange for not destroying the surface.

Oil, rust and stubborn stains

Organic growth comes off readily. Oil, rust from metal furniture or reinforcing, tyre scuffing and paint spills do not, and they need specific treatments applied before the main clean. Oil requires a degreasing agent with dwell time; rust needs an acidic rust remover used with care as it can lighten some stones.

Be realistic about outcomes. Deeply penetrated oil on porous concrete may lighten substantially without disappearing entirely. Any contractor promising complete removal of a decade-old oil patch is overselling.

What it costs

Most UK driveway cleaning is priced per square metre, typically £3 to £6 per m² for block paving including re-sanding, so a standard two-car driveway of around 40m² commonly runs £150 to £300. Sealing, where wanted, usually adds £5 to £12 per m² depending on the sealer specified.

Concrete and tarmac are usually at the lower end of the cleaning range; imprinted concrete is higher because resealing is effectively mandatory. Very stained or weed-infested surfaces take longer and are priced accordingly.

Keeping it clean afterwards

A biocide treatment after cleaning is the single most effective step for longevity. Cleaning opens the surface pores; if nothing is applied, algae recolonises quickly and the driveway greens up within a year on shaded ground.

Sealing is optional but worthwhile on block paving and essential on imprinted concrete. It stabilises the joint sand, resists oil penetration, and makes future cleaning easier. Sealers typically need renewing every three to five years. Beyond that, keeping the surface swept and ensuring drainage works — no standing water — does most of the remaining work.

The bottom line

Judge a driveway quote on the three stages, not the price per square metre. Cleaning without re-sanding leaves block paving unstable. Cleaning without a biocide means the green returns within a year. Cleaning imprinted concrete without resealing actively shortens the surface's life. If a quote covers only the first stage, it is not cheaper — it is incomplete.

Beyond that, a driveway rewards small habits: sweep it occasionally, keep the drainage clear so water does not stand, deal with oil drips before they soak in, and treat rather than blast when the green first appears. Do those and a full clean every three years is plenty, which is a far better outcome than an aggressive annual wash that slowly wears the surface away.

Frequently asked questions