Selection of some of our recent professional patio and driveway cleaning services, patio repointing, driveway renovation and refurbishment and block paver cleaning, resanding and sealing in Kent and south London
Gleam Team Cleaning Services are based in Maidstone and provide our driveway renovation and pressure washing services throughout Kent and south London. We are able to clean and restore even the dirtiest pavers, paths, patios, driveways and hard surfaces and transform them into something you can be proud of and enjoy with friends and family.
Even patios that are heavily colonised by green and black algae and lichen. These are the dreaded black spots and some species of lichens are white or yellow, circular in shape and are very often all over stone, concrete and block pavers. We can deal with these and remove them completely from exterior hard surfaces. We are able to clean and restore :
- clay and concrete block paving
- Indian Sandstone
- natural stone
- concrete
- slabs
- pattern imprinted concrete
- resin bound surfaces and swimming pool surrounds
Our jet washing service is able to clean and remove :
- algae and lichen spots
- dirt
- moss, weeds and mould
- most types of staining including oil stains and paint spillages
Soft washing for paving
In addition to high pressure power washing we also use low pressure soft washing methods for some paving surfaces that may be at risk of being damaged by high pressure water. Soft wash can be the ideal solution for cleaning porous natural stone such as Indian Sandstone. Soft washing is also a safe and highly effective mrthod for cleaning pattern imprinted concrete (PIC), also known as stamped / decorative concrete. PIC must be sealed on a regular basis to maintain its appearance and a low pressure soft wash is the perfect way of preparing it to be re-sealed and without damaging the existing layer.
The photo to the left demonstrates the cleaning power and effectiveness of low pressure soft washing on an Indian Sandstone patio in Maidstone. Low pressure methods are safer for porous natural stone and are still able to remove all the algae and lichen staining and restore it to ts natural colours.
Stain removal from paving
It is not possible to give absolute guarantees but we are usually able to remove oil stains and other oil based staining like brake fluid and petrol leaks. At the very least we will be able to remove some of the stain and greatly improve the appearance of your paving, but will do our best to completely remove it and are usually able to do so. There are various factors that effect oi; stain removal such as how long has the stain been there? How ingrained into the paving is it? Was it fresh oil spilt from its container or old, dirty engine oil? But the combination of high powered pressure washers, the very best degreasing products and our know-how means if anyone get rid of stains on your drive or patio, Gleam Team can.
Driveway oil stain removal
An example of our professonal driveway cleaning service and oil stain removal in Kent and south London. This customer in Bexleyheath thought their drive was ruined but after we had finished it looked like new again.
The before and after photos on the left, taken in the spring / summer of 2021, are of a garden patio in a property from Kings Hill, near West Malling, Kent. It is a combination of stone slabs and block paving which has been colonised by white lichen spots.
As can be seen we changed it from a tired, dull grey looking area into a bright, highly attractive and gleaming patio that the owners will be able to sit out in and enjoy the summer, and continue doing so for several years more. It has been sealed with a clear / invisible finish sealer that does NOT affect appearance and contains an algecide to prevent lichen.
Indian Sandstone patio cleaning 2022
This is an example of a recent patio cleaning and restoration in Headcorn, near Maidstone. The owner of this stone patio wanted to extend it along the side of the house but had forgotten its natural colour. We were able to remove the years of ingrained dirt and build up of algae and lichen and restore the natural beauty of the sandstone.
Patio Repointing
We also offer a patio cleaning and repointing service in Kent and south London and are able to replace missing mortar or cracked and damaged mortar joints.
This Indian Sandstone patio in Rochester we cleaned, repointed and sealed in late April 2021. We were able to restore it back to its natural beautiful colouring. The customer delighted with the transformation. Sandstone is an extremely attractive looking stone and its natural colours deserve to be seen.
Driveway Renovation, Block and Brick Paving Cleaning, Resanding and Sealing
Driveway Renovation
Our block paving driveway renovation service is a comprehensive cleaning and restoration process that offers excellent value for money. The cost for block and brick pavers cleaning, joint resanding and sealing is only £7 per square metre and areas in excess of 50 sq metres get a further discount. Compare this to the national average price of between £8.50 to £12.50 per sq metre (Source: Checkatrade Blog – What is the cost to clean a driveway in 2022 ).
Gleam Team not only provide the best value for money driveway renovation in Kent because also the quality of our work is second to none. The photos below demonstrate how effective and professional our patio and driveway cleaning services really are and are a selection of some recent jobs during 2021.
We offer the best value for money driveway and block paving cleaning service in Kent and south London – only £7 per square metre*** – areas in excess of 50 sqm receive further discounted rate
(*** price includes clear / invisible finish sealer only)
Quotation Check is an independent website that gives consumers price estimates for home improvement projects. Their research concludes that the average price in 2022 in the south east and London to :
pressure wash and seal 60 sq metres of block paving = between £600 – £750
(source Quotation Check/driveway-sealing, updated 2021) This supports the Checkatrade information with average costs of £10 per sq m or higher.
Another respected website for home improvement costs is Price Your Job. They state average prices for driveway cleaning and sealing is between £8.50 to £12.50 per sq metre. Based on the average of £10.50 / sq m the cost for 60sqm = £630. (source : priceyourjob.co.uk/cleaning-and-sealing-driveway-cost ).
The Gleam Team price for driveway renovation to pressure wash, re-sand and seal 60 sq metres of block paving in 2021 would be a maximum of £400.
” with Maidstone Gleam Team you won’t get a better price or a better job done for driveway and patio cleaning and sealing”
Driveway renovation & refurbishment FAQ’s
What does block paving driveway renovation involve?
There are 3 main steps to refurbishing a block paved driveway. They are :
- pressure washing the drive to clean the surface, remove weeds, kill and remove black spots, lichen and algae and clean out the joints to remove the dirt and mud that accumulates in them
- after allowing the paving to dry re-sand the joints with kiln dried block paving sand. Jointing sand is an essential element that helps hold the blocks together and creates interlock between them giving the paving its strength
- apply a good quality block paving sealant to protect the blocks and bind the jointing sand. This hardening process keeps the sand in the joints and helps stop weeds from growing
Does jet washing damage block paving?
Excessive jet washing, using too mich pressure or having the jet washer nozzle too close to the blocks can damage their exterior surface. However, when jet washing is done properly on an occasional basis it is perfectly safe and will not damage blocks or brick paving.
Is it worth sealing block paving?
Yes it is because it helps to protect the blocks and maintain their appearance:
- It provides a protective barrier against oil leaks, petrol and brake fluid staining
- prevents staining caused by trees with overhanging fruits
- protects against food and drink spillages
- stops algae, lichen and moss from forming
- inhibits weed growth
- acts as a dustproofer and requires less future maintenance and cleaning
- binds jointing sand to stop it being washed away by heavy rain and sand in the joints helps maintain the effectiveness of block pavers
Does sealing block paving prevent weeds?
Sealer will inhibit weed growth and create an environment in which it is difficult for weeds to take root, but it can’t guarantee no weeds. Block pavers will always need some occasional ongoing maintenance. This can be as simple as washing down the pavers with a bowl or bucket of a soapy solution or fungicidal wash such as this product made by Sandtex. Whatever product you use should then be rinsed off with plenty of clean water and be careful not to let any run-off flow over lawns or other plants as it will damage or kill them.
Pro Tip : Before applying fungicide soak nearby plants and lawn with fresh clean water and do so again after using it. This will help protect important plants by ensuring the fungicide is too diluted to do any harm.
Sweeping your block paving with a wide yard broom is another simple but effective way of preventing weeds and removing dirt and debris from joints.
If dirt is allowed to accumulate on sealed paving joints it is only a matter of time before shallow rooted weeds start to grow. But occasional washing down or sweeping is enough to clear away dirt and stop this happening. Paving joints that are unsealed and full of dirt provide the perfect home for new weeds to grow.
What is the best way to stop weeds growing in block paving?
Most people (including some contractors) think that weeds grow up through block paving joints. It is also often claimed that sealing pavers will stop weeds from growing. It won’t. It should be noted that weeds grow into the joints and NOT up through them.
If dirt is allowed to accumulate on sealed surfaces then weeds will soon colonise the area and start growing again. Weeds on hard surfaces do not usually grow very big because of the poor conditions and their shallow roots e.g annual meadow grass and creeping buttercup. But they’re still unattractive and unwanted.
The best way to stop weeds from growing is to not give them a suitable environment in which they can grow. This means cleaning out paving joints filled with mud and replacing it with kiln dried block paving sand. After the joints have been resanded apply a suitable sealer to harden and bind the jointing sand to prevent weeds growing into them and some occasional maintenance with a wash down or sweeping with a broom.
It may also be worth treating your drive, path or patio with a good weedkiller. Choose either a systemic product in which the weedkiller works its way down to the roots or a residual weedkiller for a longer lasting effect that continues working for up to three months. This article by the Royal Horticultural Society published in May 2021 provides excellent exert advice on weedkillers for home gardeners.
How do I stop weeds growing in block paving?
If you are looking for cheap, effective homemade methods of controlling weeds then vinegar and salt are 2 common household items that are often used. They also provide an environmentally alternative to pesticides.
White vinegar and salt can both be used on their own and mixed with water and transfer the solution into a spray bottle to spray onto the weeds.
Pro Tip : add 1 teaspoon of washing up liquid to the solution to help it stick to the weeds. A longer contact time makes the weedkiller more effective.
For an even stronger weedkiller mix vinegar and salt together with water for a potent method of killing weeds
Boiling water poured over weeds is another DIY weedkiller.
It should be noted that this post is NOT recommending any of the above methods or the use of weedkiller, and they are referred to for information purposes only. How you choose to deal with weeds is your decision and we would always advise you to conduct your own research into the subject so you can make an informed choice.
How do you stop sand washing out of block paving?
Apply a block paving sealer to harden the sand and stop it being washed out. Sealer has the effect of acting like a glue binding the grains of sand together and stcking to the sides of the blocks.
Polymeric sand is another option but is considerably more expensive than kiln dried sand. Polymeric sand is a manmade compound of natural sand with assitives such as silica. It is wet after applying to set and harden it within the joints. Some brands claim to have special weed inhibiting chemicals added but their effectiveness is at times questionable.
Efflorescence
This is the white staining typically seen on brick walls but it is also found on block paving, concrete, masonry and sandstone patios. It has a powdery appearance and is caused by water soluble salts rising to the surface as it dries and water evaporates. It doesn’t cause any structural damage but is unsightly, although it should eventually weather away.
However, we are experienced in dealing with efflorescence on block pavers and brick walls and can usually remove it, or the vast majority of it to significantly improve the appearance of drives, patios and buildings.
Types of paving sealer
Do sealers affect the finshed appearance of pavers?
Paving sealants come in a range of finishes including :
- clear / invisible
- wet look
- gloss / shiny
- colour enhancer
So the choice is yours and it is the personal preference of individual customers. These terms can mean different things to different people, for example customers often describe a glossy finish as being wet look but they are completely different.
Gloss is expected to give a high shine finish
Wet look leaves blocks darker as they look after a rain shower so damp and darker and not at all glossy
Colour enhancer also darkens the blocks.
We are happy to use and apply any sealers our customers want but we do not recommend any products other than clear / invisible finishes. This is because in our experience the finished appearance rarely resembles the photos and examples used in marketing sealer products. We have applied a great many different paving sealants but don’t have enough confidence in any to guarantee how they will look after application. We are happy to discuss the subject and advise but the final decision is the customer’s.
Indian Sandstone Patio Cleaning & Sealing Specialsts
Some before and after examples of how we are able to restore and rejuvenate even the dirtiest patios with heavy algae infestation. Our patio cleaning service in Kent can totally transform the look of your garden so you can once again enjoy being outside.
Notice how we are able to restore the sandstone so that the natural beauty of the stone shines.
For further information please check out the posts in the driveway and patio cleaning hub.
Our patio and driveway, and block pavers cleaning and sealing is available throughout Kent and south London including :
- Chatham
- Gillingham
- Rochester
- Medway Towns
- Sittingbourne
- Sheppey
- Sheerness
- Faversham
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Tonbridge
- Sevenoaks
- Tunbridge Wells
- Kings Hill & Malling
- Wrotham
- Meopham
- Gravesend
- Swanley
- Bexley / Bexleyheath
- Welling
- Bromley
- Eltham
- Sidcup
- Chislehurst
Maidstone Gleam Team provide the premier block paving cleaning services in Kent and high quality, affordable patio and driveway renovation and refurbishment. Our low prices and quality of service makes us the best value for money block paving, driveway and patio cleaning company in Kent and south London.
References :
Checkatrade – What is the cost to clean a driveway in 2022
Quotation Check – A look at driveway sealing prices
Price Your Job – The cost of cleaning and sealing a driveway
RHS – Weedkillers for home gardeners