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Patio Cleaning & Black Spot Lichen Removal in Barnard Castle

Patio cleaning and lichen removal across Barnard Castle and the surrounding area. Sealing, re-pointing advice and decking add-ons available on request always.

Patio Cleaning in Barnard Castle — the finished patio after a full clean, on a DL12 propertyPatio Cleaning in Barnard Castle — work in progress across the flagstones, in the Durham County Council areaPatio Cleaning in Barnard Castle — close detail on the cleaned stone, on a DL12 property
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The honest answer is that pressure washing on its own won't solve it long-term. Lichen has a root structure that grips into sandstone and limestone, so it needs a biocide treatment to kill it off before any cleaning happens, otherwise it's back within months.

The idea that a pressure washer alone will sort a lichen-covered patio is one of the most common misunderstandings we come across in Barnard Castle. Blasting black spot lichen off the surface just spreads live spores across the rest of the stone and into the joints - it looks clean for a few weeks, then comes back worse.

Pressure washing alone can blast the surface clean for a few weeks, but it leaves the spores in the pores of the stone ready to come back within a season. We treat first, then clean, so the lichen actually goes rather than just getting knocked back.

Typical Patio Cleaning Costs

Prices vary with size, material and how established the black spot lichen or algae is, but most standard residential patios in Barnard Castle fall into the ranges below. These are guide figures - we'll always confirm a fixed price after seeing the patio.

Small patio (up to 15m²)
typically £80-£150
Medium patio (15-30m²)
typically £150-£280
Large patio (30-50m²)
typically £280-£450
Heavy lichen/algae surcharge
often an extra £20-£60

Parking and Equipment on the Day

We bring everything needed in the van - pressure washers, steam equipment and biocide treatments - so there's usually no need for you to provide anything beyond reasonable parking access near the property.

If on-street parking is limited, a quick heads-up beforehand means we can plan around permit times or find suitable space rather than losing time on the day itself.

Patio Cleaning near Barnard Castle

    Tree-Lined and Shaded Gardens

    Gardens in Barnard Castle with mature trees or dense boundary hedging keep patios shaded for much of the day, which slows drying after rain and creates the damp, low-light conditions black spot lichen and moss thrive in. Falling leaves and sap can also stain the surface between cleans.

    These patios often need the joints cleared as much as the flags themselves, since moss and algae take hold in the gaps first and spread outward from there.

    Homeowners

    Getting a Patio Ready for Viewings or Sale

    A clean, even-coloured patio makes a real difference to how a garden photographs and how it feels to walk round on a viewing. Black spot lichen and green staining read as neglect even when the rest of the house is well kept, and it's one of the cheaper things to put right before putting a property on the market.

    We can usually turn a patio around in a day, and we'll work to a timeframe if you've got viewings or photos booked in.

    Fully Insured, Every Job

    Fully insured
    We carry full insurance for every job we take on, so you're covered throughout the visit.
    Biocide trained (2024)
    Our biocide treatment training is current, so lichen and algae are treated correctly rather than guessed at.
    Spill management trained
    Chemicals and run-off are controlled properly, protecting your garden, drains and neighbouring plants.
    Honest advice
    If sealing or re-pointing isn't needed, we'll tell you rather than upsell it.

    What We Do (and What We Deliberately Don't)

    We do treat black spot lichen and algae with a proper biocide before cleaning. We do adjust pressure and method to the actual material - sandstone and limestone get different handling to porcelain or concrete block paving. We do check pointing and flag stability before we start.

    We don't run a pressure washer straight over lichen without treating it first. We don't use one blanket pressure setting for every surface. And we don't seal a patio that hasn't fully dried out or that has failing pointing that needs sorting first - we'll flag that honestly rather than seal over a problem.

    Patio Cleaning in Barnard Castle — common questions

    Get in touch with Trevor on 07501 060609 for a straightforward quote.

    Treat first, clean second - that's how we get black spot lichen off patios in Barnard Castle for good rather than for a few weeks. Fully insured, biocide trained, and happy to advise on sealing and decking or fencing add-ons at the same visit.

    Call 07501 060609 to talk through your patio and get a straightforward quote.

    Patio, Decking and Fencing in One Visit

    Damp weather is exactly when black spot lichen spreads fastest - get it treated and cleaned now before it takes hold across the whole patio.

    Book Your CleanCall 07501060609

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