How often should you jet wash your driveway?

My driveway cleaning starts from £100. Where yours lands depends on the size, the surface and the state it’s in. A drive that’s cleaned regularly is quicker, so it tends to cost less each time. That’s one of the hidden benefits of not leaving it for five years. A drive buried under thick moss takes far longer to bring back. For an exact figure, send me a couple of photos on WhatsApp to 07469 539 068. I’ll come back with a proper price and you’ll get 10% off for quoting that way. If you’d rather talk it through first, ring me on 0151 272 3404 and I’ll happily help.

Usually, yes. Send me a shot of the whole drive and a close up of the worst bit, and I’ll tell you honestly whether it’s ready. I normally reply within about five minutes. If it looks like it can wait another few months, I’ll say so. There’s no point paying for a clean that won’t make much difference yet. If it does need doing, I’ll give you a price at the same time. Quoting from photos saves me a trip out, so you get 10% off. It also means you’re not stuck waiting in for someone to come and have a look.

That depends on the size of the drive and how long it’s been left. A drive that’s cleaned every year is a quicker job because there’s less built up. One that’s gone years without a clean has deeper moss and more weeds in the joints, so it takes longer. Access counts too. If I can park close and run the hose straight onto the drive, it’s simpler than working round gates and steps. I’ll give you a rough idea of timings when I quote. On block paving, the fresh sand goes in once everything’s dry. Sometimes that’s the same day and sometimes it’s a short visit back.

Yes, if the growth is properly killed rather than just rinsed off. Most DIY cleans only shift the surface layer. The roots of the moss and algae stay put and the green creeps back within weeks. I treat the growth during the clean so it’s dead, not just moved. Most surfaces then get a biocide that soaks in and slows new growth for months. On block paving, fresh sand in the joints does the same job by leaving no room for weeds to settle. Put together, that’s why a proper clean lasts far longer between visits than a quick blast with a hired washer.

Not when it’s done properly. The damage comes from heavy handed cleaning, not from how often it happens. A domestic washer held close to the joints blasts the sand out. Do that a few times and the blocks lose their support and start to move. I use a twin jet surface cleaner across the main area, which spreads the pressure evenly. For weeds in the joints I use a Turbo Nozzle so I can target them without wrecking the blocks. Then fresh kiln-dried sand goes back in once it’s dry. Cleaned that way, a yearly clean keeps block paving in good shape rather than wearing it out.

Sometimes. Sealing closes up the surface so dirt, oil and moss have less to cling to. On porous surfaces like natural stone and some block paving, it can stretch the time between cleans and make the next one easier. It’s not a magic shield though. You’ll still need to sweep and keep an eye on it, especially in a shady spot. If your drive is in full sun and stays fairly clean anyway, I’d honestly save your money. Sealing has to go on a clean, dry surface. So it’s always done after a clean, and in winter it can mean waiting for a dry spell.

Block paving usually needs it more often. The joints between the blocks are the problem. They hold damp and give moss and weeds somewhere to root. Most block paved drives I look after need a clean every year or so to stay on top of it. Plain concrete has no joints for weeds to hide in. It still goes green and grey in the shade, but many concrete drives can go 18 months or more. Tarmac sits somewhere in between and tends to collect dirt and fade more than it grows moss. In every case, shade and trees shorten the gap. Sun and good drainage stretch it.

Almost always. I run 50 metre hoses from the van, so I can usually park on the road and still reach the far end of a long drive. That also helps on terraced streets where there’s no space right outside. I don’t need to come through the house to get to a front drive either. If access is tight, like a narrow side path, a gate or a shared drive, mention it when you send your photos and I’ll plan around it. You don’t need to be home, as long as I can get onto the drive. Just move any cars off it beforehand so the whole surface gets cleaned in one go.

Any time apart from a hard frost. Plenty of people book in spring so the drive looks good for summer, and that works fine. Autumn and winter are just as good if the drive has gone slippery, because that’s when moss and algae grow fastest. The only weather I avoid is a freeze, because water left on the surface can turn to ice. Rain doesn’t stop the clean itself. It does matter for sanding and sealing, as both need a dry surface. Booking outside spring also tends to get you a date sooner. If you want the longer version, I’ve written about whether winter is a good time for exterior cleaning.

Yes. I’m based in Fazakerley and I clean driveways right across Liverpool, the Wirral and Sefton, including Southport. That takes in places like Crosby, Maghull, Kirkby, Huyton, West Derby, Woolton, Wallasey, Birkenhead and Heswall. I run H2o Restored with my son. There are two vans out across the area most days. If you’re not sure whether I reach your street, send your postcode on WhatsApp and I’ll tell you straight away. Send a couple of photos with it and you’ll get a price at the same time. You can see recent jobs on Facebook and read what customers think on my Google reviews.