How Long Does Driveway Cleaning Take?

What decides the time

Area. The bigger the drive or patio, the longer it takes. Steps, borders, edging and awkward corners slow things down more than open flat areas.

Surface. Block paving, flags, concrete and tarmac all clean differently. Block paving has hundreds of joints that trap moss and weeds; tarmac is cleaned and restored by a different process from jet washing paving.

How dirty it is. A drive with a light green film cleans quickly. Years of moss, black spot, oil marks and tyre tracks take longer, and stubborn stains may need extra passes.

The finishing work. This is where most of the extra time goes, and it is covered next.

Re-sanding, treatment and sealing

A pressure wash lifts dirt from the joints of block paving and takes some of the sand with it, so re-sanding is often needed. Kiln dried sand is brushed into the joints once they are dry, which can mean waiting for the surface to dry out before this stage starts.

A treatment afterwards helps slow down the return of algae and moss. Re-sealing locks the sand in place and gives the surface some protection from staining. Sealing needs a dry surface and a dry forecast, so on some jobs it is done on a separate day from the clean.

All of these are options you can choose. They are quoted separately rather than added without asking, so you decide how far to take the job.

How long to keep off the drive

After a plain clean you can walk on the surface as soon as it is dry, and drive on it shortly after. After re-sanding, give the sand a chance to settle before heavy use. After sealing, follow the curing time for the product used, which is usually longer before cars go back on than before people walk on it. You will be told on the day.

How to prepare

Move cars, bins, planters and garden furniture off the area. Close windows nearby and tell neighbours if their car is parked close by, because a jet wash throws spray and grit. Let us know about any outside tap you are happy for us to use, and any areas that drain poorly.

Doing a patio at the same time

Many customers have the driveway and the rear patio cleaned on the same visit. The equipment is already set up, so adding a patio adds far less time than a second booking. Delicate surfaces, such as some natural stone, may be soft washed instead of pressure washed, which takes a different amount of time.