Block paving cleaning across the North East

Block paving is hundreds of small bricks held together by nothing more than the sand packed between them. That is what makes it look good and drain well, and it is also why it gets dirty differently from a concrete drive or a flagged patio. The joints fill with windblown soil, weed seeds root in them, moss spreads along the shaded edges and the surface of each block picks up a grey or green film.

Block paving cleaning deals with the joints as much as the faces. The surface is washed with a pressure and nozzle chosen for the blocks, the weeds and moss come out of the gaps along with the old, contaminated sand, and then the joints are refilled. Skip the refill and the blocks can start to shift.

This page covers cleaning the paving itself. If you want the whole driveway done, including edging, steps and other surfaces, see driveway cleaning. For a protective coat once the blocks are clean, see block paving and patio sealing. Paved patios are covered by patio cleaning, and the full range of hard-surface work sits under pressure washing.

Weeds and grass in the joints are the most common complaint. Washing removes the growth and the soil it was rooted in, and a treatment is applied to the joints to discourage regrowth. We are trained in biocide use, so treatments are chosen and applied with care around lawns, borders and drains.

Moss and green algae sit on the block faces in shaded or damp spots, often near walls, under trees or where a downpipe discharges. They make the surface slippery as well as dull. Oil and fuel drips from parked cars soak into the blocks; washing lightens them, and stubborn marks can be treated separately, though deep, old oil stains may not disappear completely and we will be honest about that before we start.

Once the joints are empty and the blocks have dried, kiln-dried sand is brushed back across the surface and worked down into every gap. Full joints lock the blocks against each other, stop them rocking and leave less room for weeds to take hold again.

Re-sanding is part of the clean rather than an optional extra, because washing paving without refilling the joints leaves it weaker than before. Sealing can follow if you want the sand held in place for longer, but it is your choice.

We do not publish a price list for block paving cleaning. What drives the cost is the area of paving, how much growth is in the joints, whether there are oil stains to treat, how much sand the joints will take and whether you want sealing afterwards. Access matters too: a front drive we can reach from the road is quicker than paving behind the house. Our block paving cleaning and sealing cost guide explains these factors in more depth, and the quote form on this page is the quickest way to get a figure for your paving.

Related reading: how to re-sand block paving and weeds growing between block paving.