This is a real driveway cleaning job in Southport, and a good one to show what weeds can do to block paving. Ann rang me on a Monday afternoon around three o’clock. Her drive had gone properly wild after years of grime working into the joints. I asked her to send a few photos on WhatsApp so I could price it. By 11am the next morning the job was done.
In this post
What did Ann’s Southport driveway look like before the clean?
It was overrun. You could barely make out the herringbone pattern under the moss and weeds. Some drives just get a bit of moss creeping in round the edges. This one had weeds coming through the joints from front to back. Years of black grime were sat deep in the blocks too.
It wasn’t the worst I’ve seen by any stretch. It did need a proper job, though, not a quick blast over with a washer. Most of the driveway cleaning Southport homeowners ask me about looks a lot like this. Block paving, a few years of neglect and weeds winning the battle in the joints.
How do you clean a weed-covered block paving drive?
I start by killing everything off. On Ann’s drive that meant sodium hypochlorite first. It kills the moss, algae and weeds and lifts the grime out of the block. Once that had time to work through I followed up with a biocide.
I don’t always use biocide on block paving. Fresh sand in the joints usually does that job on its own. With weeds this well established I wanted the extra protection in place while Ann waits for the joints to be re-sanded. You can read more about how I approach a drive on my driveway cleaning service page.
How long does it take to clean a driveway like this?
A drive the size of Ann’s is only a couple of hours’ work once I’m set up. The phone call came in at 3pm on the Monday and it was finished by 11am on the Tuesday.
I’ll be honest, that’s not how every job goes. Some weeks are busier than others. When there’s space in the diary, though, a drive like Ann’s doesn’t hang about. If you’re wondering whether yours is due, I’ve written a guide on how often you should jet wash your driveway.
What did Ann think of the result?
She left five stars the same day. In her review she said the drive had been overrun with weeds before I turned up, and she called it a reasonable price. That’s the bit of feedback I always appreciate most. I replied to thank her and said I’d see her again once the sanding was booked in.
If you’re weighing up whether a clean is worth the money, my post on driveway cleaning cost goes through it honestly. There are more before and after shots like Ann’s on my Facebook page.
Why does block paving need re-sanding after a clean?
Because the sand is what stops the next lot of weeds. The clean sorts out what’s growing on the drive right now. The joints are left open afterwards, and open joints are exactly where new weed seed settles. That’s why Ann has kiln-dried sanding booked in as a follow-up.
Quick tip: kiln-dried sand only goes in once the drive is fully dry. If it’s brushed into damp joints it clumps and won’t settle down properly. That’s why sanding is often a second visit.
Once the sand is brushed through and settled, the drive should hold up a lot longer than if I’d cleaned it and left the joints empty. I cover the whole of Sefton, including Southport, so if you’re nearby in Formby or anywhere else on the coast, have a look at my Southport area page.
FAQs
Driveway and patio cleaning starts from £100. The final price for a drive in Southport depends on its size, how bad the growth is and whether you want re-sanding added afterwards. A drive like Ann’s with weeds through every joint takes a bit more work than one with a light film of green on it. The easiest way to get an exact figure is to send me a few photos or a short video on WhatsApp to 07469 539 068. Quoting that way saves me a drive up the coast just to have a look. That’s why you get 10% off for doing it. If you’d rather talk, ring me on 0151 272 3404.
Usually within about five minutes of sending photos on WhatsApp. That’s exactly what Ann did. She rang me first, I asked her to send a few pictures, and she had a price back almost straight away. Photos taken in daylight from a couple of angles work best. One from the road and one closer up showing the joints tells me most of what I need. I don’t need to come out and measure up for most drives. If something’s unclear from the photos I’ll just ask. A short video walking the length of the drive is even better if you’ve got a big or awkward one.
For a normal sized block paving drive, a couple of hours once I’m set up. Ann’s took about that. Bigger drives or ones with paths and steps leading off them take longer. So does a drive where the growth has been building for years. The clean itself is one visit. Re-sanding is usually a second short visit once everything has dried out properly. I’ll give you a rough idea of timings when I send your price, so you know whether to plan your morning around it. You don’t have to stand and watch. Most people just get on with their day and come out to see the finished drive.
It’ll look a lot closer to new than you’d expect, but I won’t promise brand new. On Ann’s drive the herringbone pattern came back properly once the moss, weeds and black grime were lifted out. The colour of the blocks shows through again and the joints are clean. What a clean can’t do is undo fading from years of sun or replace blocks that have cracked or sunk. If any of that’s going on with your drive I’ll tell you from the photos before I quote. I’d rather you knew what to expect than be disappointed on the day. Most people are surprised how much colour was hiding under the dirt.
Yes, used properly it’s safe on block paving and it’s what I use to kill the growth. It deals with moss, algae and weeds at the same time as lifting grime out of the surface. That’s why a professional clean lasts longer than just blasting the top off with water. I take care around flower beds, lawns and anything growing near the edges of the drive. Everything is rinsed off properly once it’s done its job. If you’ve got pets, a pond or plants you’re worried about, just mention it when you send your photos. I’ll work around them and let you know if anything needs moving or covering first.
Because her weeds were so well established. On most block paving drives I skip biocide, since the fresh sand in the joints does the job of keeping new growth out. Ann’s drive had weeds right through most of the joints from front to back. Her sanding was also booked as a follow-up rather than done the same day. That left a gap where the joints were open and clean with nothing protecting them. The biocide soaks in after the clean and slows regrowth down while she waits. It’s not something I’d add to every job. On a drive in that state it made sense, so I used it.
A good while, but not forever. Nothing outdoors stays perfect with Merseyside weather. How long it lasts depends on how much shade the drive gets, whether there are trees dropping leaves on it and how often it’s swept. Getting the joints re-sanded makes the biggest difference. Sand that’s packed down properly leaves weed seed nowhere to settle. A quick sweep now and then and clearing leaves before they rot down in the joints both help too. I’ll always be honest about whether yours needs doing again. If it can wait another year, I’ll tell you that rather than book you in for the sake of it.
No. Southport is a regular patch for me, but I cover Liverpool, the Wirral and Sefton, including Southport. That takes in places like Formby, Ainsdale, Crosby and Maghull too. I’m based in Fazakerley, so the coast is an easy run. If you’re not sure whether I cover your street, send your postcode with your photos and I’ll tell you straight away. I also clean patios, paths, gutters and roofs, so if the back garden needs doing at the same time it’s worth mentioning. Pricing a couple of jobs together from the same set of photos saves you a second message and saves me a second trip.
It’s best if the drive is clear, but I can usually work around a problem. A car parked on block paving leaves a patch I can’t get to, and it would end up a different colour from the rest. If you can park on the road for a couple of hours, that’s ideal. My hoses are 50 metres long, so the van can sit on the road too and I don’t need to take up space on your drive. If parking is tight on your street, tell me when you book. I can sometimes move the car halfway through and do the drive in two halves, though a clear drive is always quicker.
Yes, rain doesn’t stop the clean itself. The drive gets soaked during the job anyway, so a bit of drizzle makes very little difference. Re-sanding is different. Kiln-dried sand needs dry joints to settle properly, so that part waits for a dry spell. That’s often why sanding is booked as a separate visit, like it was for Ann. The only weather I really avoid is a hard frost. Water left on the blocks can freeze and make the drive slippery, which is the last thing you want. If the forecast looks bad for your day, I’ll message you and sort a better one.
Has your drive gone the same way as Ann’s?
Send me a few photos of your drive on WhatsApp and I’ll get you a price, usually within about five minutes. You’ll get 10% off for quoting that way instead of me coming out to look first.
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