A Newcastle driveway takes a lot: cars parked on it every day, oil and tyre marks, leaves from street trees, and the moss and weeds that move into the joints in the damp months. Driveway cleaning is about getting the surface back to its own colour and getting the joints clean, without damaging the paving in the process.
This page is about driveways specifically. If you want a wider look at patios, paths and other outdoor surfaces in the city, our pressure washing page for Newcastle covers that.
Matching the pressure to the drive
The first decision is how hard to clean. Block paving, imprinted concrete, plain concrete, tarmac and natural stone all react differently. Too much pressure on block paving blasts the sand out of the joints and can scour the face of the blocks. Too much on tarmac strips the surface. So we set the pressure to suit the surface in front of us rather than using one setting for everything.
The open areas are worked evenly so the finish matches across the drive, and edges, steps and corners get their own attention.
Block paving: cleaned, then re-sanded
Block paving is the most common driveway we see in Newcastle's suburbs, and it has a weak point: the sand in the joints. That sand is what locks the blocks together. Cleaning takes out the moss and weeds growing in the gaps, but some of the old sand goes with them. Once the drive is dry, we brush fresh sand back into the joints so the blocks are held firmly again.
If you want the drive to stay cleaner for longer, a treatment or sealer is available after the clean. A sealer can help bind the joint sand and makes the surface less inviting to new growth. We will talk you through whether it suits your drive when we quote. See our main driveway cleaning page for more on the options.
Oil, tyre marks and stubborn stains
Most green and black dirt comes off in the main clean. Oil drips under where a car is parked and dark tyre marks at the turning point are a different matter. We treat those areas separately and will tell you honestly if a stain has soaked in too deeply to lift completely. It is better to know that before the job than to be disappointed after it.
Practical things for Newcastle drives
Many Newcastle driveways are tight, with a car on the drive, a wheelie bin in the corner and a neighbour's wall on one side. On the day we will need the drive empty, so if you can move the car off and the bins out of the way it saves time. We need an outside tap. Slurry from the clean is rinsed off at the end, and we take care around doors, low walls and planting.
Newcastle is around six miles from our Washington base, so the city is well within the area we cover. We work for homeowners and for businesses with car parks or forecourts. If the rest of the outside could do with attention, our Newcastle upon Tyne area page lists everything else we do in the city.
Getting a quote
Call 07501060609 or send the quote form. A rough idea of the drive's size, what it is made of and whether you are interested in re-sanding and sealing helps us price it. We are fully insured and open seven days.
Questions about driveway cleaning in Newcastle
Will cleaning my block paved drive in Newcastle wash the sand out of the joints?
Some old sand comes out with the moss and weeds, which is why we brush fresh sand back into the joints once the drive has dried.
Can you get engine oil off a driveway?
Oil patches are treated separately from the main clean. Many lighten a lot, but oil that has soaked deep into the surface may not lift completely, and we will tell you that upfront.
Do I need to move my car before you arrive?
Yes, please. The drive needs to be clear so the whole surface can be cleaned evenly, including the patch the car normally covers.
Is sealing worth it after a driveway clean?
It depends on the drive and how long you want it to stay clean. A treatment or sealer is available, and we will explain whether it suits your surface when we quote.
