Driveway Cleaning Cost

Want to find out how much it costs to clean a driveway?

Cleaning a driveway typically costs between £100 to £350. However, your driveway cleaning quote will vary depending on the size and type of driveway you own. If you choose to have your driveway resealed after cleaning, costs will range from around £250 to £650.

So, how can this guide help you?

Cleaning your driveway can make all the difference to the exterior of your home and can even increase your property's kerb appeal.

This guide offers a detailed look at the cost to clean a drive in the UK, and everything you need to know about how driveway cleaning prices are calculated, what can increase or reduce the final price, and what to expect when hiring a contractor.

MyJobQuote can also help you get quotes from a local driveway cleaners. It's fast, free, and there's no obligation to go ahead.

Read on to find out more...

How Much Does It Cost to Power Wash a Driveway?

A commercial pressure wash is the best and most effective type of driveway clean.

The cost to have your driveway professionally power washed can vary depending on the size of your driveway and how dirty it is. On average, a professional driveway power wash will cost you around £150 to £250 for a medium-sized driveway (60m²). If you add resealing, costs will range from £300 to £450 for the same size driveway.

The amount of moss and weeds can also affect the cost, and this will require more work from the contractor, ultimately taking longer for the job to be completed.

Power Wash Driveway Cleaning Prices

Below is a table indicating the prices you should expect to pay for a professional driveway power wash:

These prices assume a standard driveway in average condition. Heavily stained surfaces, weed growth, block paving re-sanding, or specialist treatments may increase the total cost.

Driveway Cleaning Cost Calculator

Labour Costs and Timescales for Professional Driveway Cleaning

Most driveway cleaning jobs are quoted as a fixed price for the full job, rather than splitting labour and material costs. This total usually includes labour, equipment, and any cleaning products required.

You may be able to save on the cost of pressure washing by having other areas washed by the same contractor before or after the driveway cleaning. For example, bundling in a patio or decking pressure wash could reduce the overall cost.

How Much Does Professional Driveway Cleaning Cost in Labour?

Labour makes up the majority of the cost of professional driveway cleaning, especially for larger or heavily soiled driveways. Jobs that require additional preparation, such as weed removal, stain treatment, or re-sanding, will take longer and cost more overall.

The labour cost to professionally clean a driveway will usually depend on the size, condition, and surface type of the driveway. Here is a breakdown of typical total costs for different types of driveways, based on typical 30–60m² driveways in average condition:

If the driveway is heavily stained or has a large build-up of moss, weeds, algae, or oil marks, the cost may increase by around £50 - £100 due to the extra preparation and cleaning time involved.

Pre-treatment such as weed or algae removal is often included in the overall quote, but where charged separately, it typically adds around £2 - £5 per m² depending on the severity of the growth.

Sealing is most commonly used on block paving, concrete, and some resin driveways. It is not typically required for all surfaces, and some materials (such as certain types of tarmac or decorative stone) may not benefit from sealing in the same way.

How Long Does Driveway Power Washing Take?

Labour times rise when a driveway needs more preparation or aftercare. A simple wash is quicker and cheaper, while full cleaning, sanding and sealing takes longer and costs more.

Most driveway cleaning jobs take around 1 - 3 hours, although larger or heavily soiled surfaces may take longer.

For cleaning and sealing, the work usually takes around 5 - 8 hours in total, although this is often split across more than one visit to allow the surface to dry between stages.

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Factors That Impact the Cost of Power Washing a Driveway

There are several factors affecting the cost of power washing a driveway. Below is a list of each element that may affect the cost of cleaning a driveway.

Size of Driveway

The size of your driveway can affect the overall cost of pressure washing. The larger your driveway, the longer the job is going to take and, therefore, the more it costs to complete the job.

Condition of Driveway

The condition of the driveway can affect the cost of your driveway clean. If your driveway is particularly dirty or if it has a lot of moss and weeds, it is going to cost more.

Location

Your location can affect the cost of pressure washing your driveway. If you live in London, you can expect to pay around £50 - £100 more for the overall job than if you were to live in the North of the UK.

Hiring a Tradesman Vs DIY

Whether you choose to have your driveway cleaned by a professional contractor or whether you complete the job yourself can affect the overall price of your driveway clean. If you complete the job yourself, you can save on the cost of labour. However, you will need to factor in any additional costs that may arise, such as hiring the pressure wash equipment.

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What's Involved With Power Washing a Driveway?

A professional driveway clean is usually carried out in a few simple stages, although the exact method will depend on the driveway material and the level of staining.

• Prepare the area – The driveway is cleared of leaves, loose dirt, weeds, vehicles, and any movable items. Nearby doors, walls, and fencing may also be protected from splashes and debris.
• Apply any pre-treatment – If needed, the surface may be treated with a degreaser, weed killer, or algae remover to help lift oil stains, moss, and built-up grime before washing begins.
• Pressure wash the surface – The contractor will use a high-powered jet wash, usually working from the top of the drive downward so water and dirt run away more effectively. Care is needed on more delicate surfaces to avoid damage.
• Check drainage and rinse away debris – During cleaning, runoff water, mud, and loosened dirt are washed away, and drains or grids may need to be kept clear to prevent pooling or flooding near the property.
• Re-sand block paving if required – If the driveway is block paved, kiln-dried sand is usually brushed back into the joints once the surface has dried.
• Seal the driveway (optional) – Some homeowners choose to apply a sealer after cleaning to help protect the surface from future staining, weed growth, and weather damage. If sealed, the driveway should usually be left for 24 hours before being driven on.

Can I Pressure Wash My Own Driveway?

Yes, you can pressure wash your own driveway if you have the right equipment. For the best results, you’ll usually need a machine with around 2500 PSI and a flow rate of 10 litres per minute. Less powerful models can still work, but the job will take longer and require more effort.

Before starting, always sweep away loose dirt, moss, leaves, and debris so the washer can clean the surface properly.

• DIY cost: Hiring a commercial pressure washer usually costs around £20 - £150 per day.
• Extra costs: You may also need to buy safety gear such as gloves, eye protection, and sturdy boots.
• Potential saving: Doing the work yourself could save around £50 - £150 in labour compared to hiring a pressure washing professional. If you don’t already have the equipment, the overall saving may be smaller once hire costs and supplies are included.

If you don’t have an outside tap, some pressure washers can draw water from a bucket, water butt, or barrel using a suction hose. If your model doesn’t include one, a compatible suction hose and filter usually costs around £20 - £35. Always check your pressure washer manual first to make sure this setup is supported.

Benefits of Power Washing a Driveway

There are several benefits of power washing your driveway. Below is a list of the main advantages that come with power washing a driveway:

• Improve the appearance of your property – Pressure washing removes tough stains so that your driveway regains a new, clean look. This will improve the overall appearance of your home.
• Protect the integrity of your driveway – Algae and acidic grime will, over time, erode your driveway. Pressure washing and sealing your driveway can prevent this from happening and will help to prevent cracks and pitting.
• Prevent potential accidents and injuries – Cracked and pitted driveway surfaces can lead to trips and falling hazards. Grime and mildew on your driveway can lead to slipping hazards. Regular driveway cleaning is a good safety precaution.
• Reduce the likelihood of weed and moss growth – Keeping on top of cleaning your driveway will reduce the likelihood of weed and moss from growing and taking over your driveway.

Do I Need to Jet Wash My Driveway?

As a good rule of thumb, you should jet wash and seal your driveway once per year to keep it protected and to avoid any dirt or hazards from evolving. There are also a number of signs that you can look out for to determine whether you need to power wash your driveway. The following are signs that your driveway needs a wash:

Driveway is Slippery

Have you noticed that your driveway is becoming slippery? This can be a result of water build-up and surface grease. If your driveway seems particularly slippery, a pressure wash will help to remove the slippery hazards and prevent any potential accidents from happening.

A Lot of Stains Are Present

If you have started to notice that there are a lot of stains present on your driveway, you may want to think about having it power washed. Pressure washing any stains away will not only help to preserve and protect the surface of your driveway, but it will also make it look a lot more appealing.

Over time, the driveway will lose its colour, taking on a black, grey tinge. You may also notice white spots popping up here and there which is a sign of algae growth.

A Lot of Moss is Present

Do you have a build-up of moss or weeds on your driveway? This indicates that a wash is needed. In order to protect your driveway and keep it looking at its best, you should wash away any present moss and remove any weeds.

Is My Driveway Suitable For Power Washing?

If you have a concrete or brick driveway, you can definitely pressure wash your driveway. These surfaces are strong and durable. Providing there are no large cracks or loose brick; it is perfectly safe and possible to pressure wash these types of driveways.

You should not attempt to pressure wash any type of driveway that has loose features such as gravel or crushed stone driveway. The pressure from the washer will cause the gravel and stones to fly around, and this is a huge safety hazard.

Not only can flying gravel and stones harm you, but they could also cause damage to things surrounding your driveway such as walls, doors, fencing, and even vehicles.

You should use common sense when it comes to determining if your driveway can be pressure washed or not. If you have a strong, durable, solid surface of driveway, chances are you can pressure wash this with no issues.

However, if you have a driveway with loose articles or with certain features with it, you should not pressure wash your driveway. Think about whether pressure washing is going to cause any hazards or damage before you go ahead with the job.

If you are unsure whether your driveway can be pressure washed, you can always seek advice from a local tradesperson who will be able to inspect your driveway and tell you if your specific driveway is suitable for a pressure wash.

How Often Should I Power Wash My Driveway?

Similar to how you dust and clean the inside of your home to keep it looking great and in top condition, you should also regularly wash your driveway to keep it in top shape. Most professionals will recommend that you pressure wash your driveway at least once each year.

Although once per year is the recommendation, you should look out for factors that indicate that a pressure wash is needed. This can include things like moss build-up, staining, and slippery surfaces.

On average, pressure washing services will cost around £150 - £250 for cleaning only, or £300 - £450 if sealing is included. This is not much when you consider it only needs doing once per year. The cost for having this done could prevent further costs down the line.

If you left your driveway unwashed, then the build-up of dirt and grime could lead to cracking and pitting. This would then require repairing and may even result in you needing a whole new driveway if suitable repairs could not be made. Having your driveway cleaned once per year could prevent these potential costs down the line.

Alternative Ways to Clean a Driveway

Although a pressure washer is the best and most effective method for cleaning and protecting your driveway, there are some other options if you don’t have a pressure washer to hand.

Alternative cleaning methods are usually low-cost DIY options, typically costing between £5 and £30 depending on the materials used.

Below is a list of alternative ways in which you can clean your driveway when you don’t have access to a pressure washer.

Use Cat Litter

If you have any stubborn stains present on your driveway, you can use cat litter to soak up the stain. A typical 20L bag of cat litter will cost around £15 - £20. Simply sprinkle some cat litter onto the stained area and leave enough time for it to soak up the stain. Then you can simply sweep the cat litter up.

Pros

• ✔ Simple to complete
• ✔ Easily available
• ✔ Soaks stains up well

Cons

• ✖ Can leave debris

Pull Out Weeds

Clear your driveway by pulling out any weeds that have started to grow between the cracks and slabs. Use a broom to sweep away any loose weeds, leaves and dirt, once you have removed all of the weeds.

Pros

• ✔ Can easily be completed
• ✔ Improves the look of the driveway

Cons

• ✖ Can be a time-consuming job

Sweep Away Debris and Dirt

Use a broom to sweep away any loose dirt and debris from your driveway. This will help to improve the curb appeal of your driveway as well as make it less slippery – potentially preventing hazards.

Pros

• ✔ Improves the look of your driveway
• ✔ Easy to complete

Cons

• ✖ Doesn’t remove stains

Scrub Away Stains

You can scrub away stains using soap or laundry detergent. Simply mix these products with water and pour the soapy mixture directly onto the stain. Then you can use a scrub brush to scrub at the stains. Once you have scrubbed out all of the stains, you can then simply hose away the soapy mixture.

Pros

• ✔ Removes stains
• ✔ Readily available

Cons

• ✖ Hard work to complete
• ✖ Can be very time-consuming

Best Way to Clean Block Paving

You can clean block paving using a power washer. However, it should be put on a medium setting to avoid damaging the paving slabs.

You can easily clean your block paving driveway using a broom and a strong detergent. This doesn’t require the use of a pressure washer. You can simply use detergent to wash away stains and use a broom to remove any extra debris. A hose is useful to rinse away the detergent.

Block paving can be prone to developing weeds and moss between the slabs. You can pull out these weeds and treat it with weed killer. This should prevent weeds and moss from becoming a big problem.

If you do use a jet washer on your block paving driveway, you should make sure you put it on a medium setting and angle your pressure washer diagonally at 30 degrees. This will eliminate the possibility of any damage and will ensure a good strong clean.

Checklist: Hiring a Driveway Cleaning Contractor

There are a number of things to consider when looking for a contractor to complete your driveway pressure wash. Below is a list of things that you should look out for when choosing a company or contractor to power wash your driveway.

• Experience: How much experience does the company or contractor have in power washing driveways?
• Guarantees: Does the company or contractor offer any guarantees with their work?
• Pricing structure: Does the cost of driveway cleaning include cleaning, sanding and sealing, or are these separate costs?
• Sealant options: What sealant options does the company or contractor offer once the cleaning is complete?
• Additional services: Does the company or contractor offer any additional services with their work?
• Compare quotes: Be sure to get a minimum of three quotes so that you can ensure that you are getting a good price for the job that you are getting.
• Itemised quotes: Ask that the quote be split into sections so that you can determine if you are getting a good price for each different element of the job.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.farmandfleet.com/blog/pressure-wash-driveway
https://www.hss.com/hire/c/cleaning-and-floorcare/pressure-washers
https://pressurewasherreviewer.co.uk/use-karcher-pressure-washer-bucket
https://griffsservices.com/three-benefits-power-washing-driveway
https://www.marshalls.co.uk/gardens-and-driveways/blog/how-to-clean-block-paving