City of Sunderland · NE38
Get Your Patio Looking Its Best in Rickleton
Black spot lichen on your patio in Rickleton? We treat it properly, then clean - sandstone, limestone, porcelain, concrete and block paving all covered here.
07501060609The idea that a pressure washer alone will sort a lichen-covered patio is one of the most common misunderstandings we come across in Rickleton. 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.
We use a softwash biocide treatment first, low-pressure or steam cleaning second, and only bring higher pressure in where the surface can genuinely take it - never as the default. That order matters: pressure without treatment just scatters lichen spores across the rest of the patio.
The figure that actually matters is cost per year of clean patio, not the invoice total - a treated and sealed patio can stay looking good for two or three seasons, while a quick pressure-only wash can green up again within months.
1960s and 70s Estate Patios
Patios from this era in Rickleton are often concrete flags or early paving slabs, laid directly onto sand or hardcore with minimal drainage falls built in. Over fifty-plus years the surface has usually absorbed a lot of green algae and moss into a slightly rougher, more porous finish than newer materials.
These older concrete flags can be more prone to surface crazing, so we test pressure carefully rather than assuming they'll take the same clean as modern slabs.
Homeowners
Part of a Wider Garden Makeover
If a patio clean is one piece of a bigger garden project - new planting, a re-laid lawn, or a fresh fence - we're happy to fit around the rest of the work and time the clean so it's not undone by other trades traipsing across it afterwards.
We can also advise on sealing at this stage if the patio's being cleaned as part of a wider tidy-up, since it's the easiest point to protect a freshly cleaned surface before everything else gets finished.
Proof of the Work, Not Just Our Word
- Before-and-after evidence
- We can provide photo evidence of the condition before and after treatment, useful for landlords, letting agents or your own records.
- Fully insured
- Full insurance cover on every job, residential or commercial.
- Biocide trained (2024)
- Current training in the treatments we use for lichen, moss and algae.
- Clear, upfront pricing
- You get a fixed quote before we start, not an estimate that grows on the day.
A Typical Patio Clean, Visit by Visit
- 1
Initial assessment
We check the material, extent of black spot lichen or algae, and the condition of the pointing and any edging before quoting.
- 2
Biocide treatment
Affected areas get treated with a biocide to kill lichen, moss and algae at the root, not just on the surface.
- 3
Dwell time
We leave the treatment to work - this is what actually kills the growth rather than just loosening it.
- 4
Clean and rinse
Steam or low-pressure washing removes the dead growth and ingrained dirt, with attention paid to the joints as well as the flags.
- 5
Final check and advice
We walk the patio with you, point out anything worth knowing - loose pointing, a weak flag, whether sealing would help - and leave it tidy.
What Actually Moves the Price
Four things drive most of the variation in a quote: the total area, the material (porous stone generally needs more treatment time than porcelain), how established the lichen or algae is, and access - a patio reachable straight off a driveway costs less to work on than one down a narrow side passage with everything carried through by hand.
| Straightforward access, light growth | typically at the lower end of our range |
|---|---|
| Restricted access or heavy growth | typically £20-£80 more |
| Combined patio + block paving driveway | often quoted as one job, ask for a combined price |
Patio Cleaning in Rickleton — common questions
It's a bit slower than a straight pressure wash, but it's the difference between a patio that looks clean for a fortnight and one that stays that way.
Get in touch with Trevor on 07501 060609 for a straightforward quote.
A patio in Rickleton covered in black spot lichen or green algae doesn't need replacing - it needs treating properly before it's cleaned. We handle sandstone, limestone, porcelain, concrete flags and block paving, with honest advice on sealing and re-pointing where it's actually needed.
Do It Once, Do It Properly
We cover Rickleton as part of our regular working area from Washington, so booking a patio clean here fits straight into our normal schedule - no special trip, no premium.
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