Driveway Cleaning Cost

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

Cleaning a driveway typically costs between £200 to £400. However, prices you're quoted will vary depending on the size and type of driveway you own.

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 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?

Over time, dirt, grime, debris and oil stains build up, while weeds, moss and algae can take hold and quickly make the driveway look tired and unsightly.

Left unchecked, these problems don't just spoil the appeal of your property, they can also damage the surface and affect the longevity of your driveway.

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

There are many companies and tradespeople in the UK that offer driveway cleaning services, so you'll be able to find someone local when you post your job on MyJobQuote.

Can you clean a driveway yourself?

Although a driveway cleaning can be done as a DIY project, it's more effective to choose a professional cleaning service to ensure you get the best result possible.

How often should you clean your driveway?

It's a good idea to have your driveway cleaned once a year to remove surface dirt, and this allows water to run off your drive more easily, therefore, reducing the risk of any injuries from slipping on the driveway.

Let's have a look at specific costs...

The cost to have your driveway professionally power washed can vary depending on the size of your driveway. On average, a professional driveway power wash will cost you around £250 to £400.

What happens if you don't clean your driveway regularly?

All exterior surfaces, when exposed to the elements over time, will be subject to a build-up of dirt, grime, algae, moss, and weeds. Driveways are no different and require regular cleaning to keep them in top shape.

Leaving moss and weeds to grow in layers of accumulated dirt is not only incredibly unsightly, but it also greatly reduces the lifespan of your driveway.

This is why it is important to ensure that your driveway is cleaned regularly. A good professional jet wash is the perfect way to transform your driveway, making it look almost brand new.

Professional driveway cleaning contractors use high-powered commercial-grade equipment to clean concrete, natural stone, block paving, brick, tarmac, or paving slab driveways. Most oil stains can be removed with a professional clean, as well as moss and weed growth being eradicated, too.

Powerwash Driveway Cleaning Prices

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

Prices of a driveway power wash can depend greatly on the size of your driveway along with how dirty your driveway is.

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.

Labour Costs and Timescales

What will the cost of labour depend on?

The cost of labour to jet wash your driveway will vary depending on the size of your driveway and the condition of your driveway. For this type of job, you'll typically be quoted a fixed cost by a tradesperson.

If your driveway has a lot of stuck-on dirt or a particularly large amount of moss or weeds, this is going to take longer for your chosen contractor to complete the job. As a result, this will cost more.

If you're looking for cleaning alone, you should expect to pay around £75 - £120 for the labour.

Whereas, if you're looking to have your driveway cleaned and sealed, you should expect to pay around £170 - £250 for the labour.

How long will it take to clean a driveway?

For cleaning alone, your driveway cleaning job should only take somewhere between 1 - 3 hours depending on the size of your drive and how dirty it is. For cleaning and sealing together, it will take around 5 - 8 hours.

Driveway cleaning and sealing prices will also vary depending on how many visits the contractor makes. For example, cleaning for block paved driveways is often higher because the contractor will make multiple visits to treat, clean, sand and seal the driveway.

The first visit to apply weedkiller. The second to remove weed and moss remnants, usually a couple of days later. The third visit will be to jet wash the driveway. The fourth to re-sand the joints once dry. And the final visit is to seal the surface.

Labour costs 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.

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Additional Costs

There are a number of additional costs that you may need to consider when having your driveway pressure washed professionally.

Below is a list of these additional costs that you may want to think about during your driveway clean:

• Sealing a driveway: This can prevent water penetration and prolong the life of your driveway - £200 - £300.


• Installing a driveway gate: A driveway gate can add a beautiful aesthetic to the exterior of your home as well as add some security - £500 - £1000.


• Window cleaning: Cleaning windows can greatly improve the look of your home - £30 - £70.


• New security light: Add a new security light on the outside of your home to shine onto your freshly clean driveway - £10 - £200.


• New garden fence: Add a garden fence surrounding your driveway for a wonderful aesthetic and for added security - £500 - £1500.

The above costs are not absolutely essential but may be a good idea to go along with your driveway cleaning job.

Factors That Impact the Cost of Power Washing a Driveway

There are several factors that can affect 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. The cost to have a small driveway cleaned is an average of £93 - £115. Whereas the cost to have a large driveway cleaned is an average of £125 - £152.

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.

Labourers will often charge on an hourly rate. If your driveway is in quite a bad state, it is going to take longer to complete the job and will, therefore, end up costing you more.

Location

Your location can affect the cost of pressure washing your driveway. If you live in London, you can expect to pay around £30 - £50 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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How to Power Wash a Driveway

Power washing your driveway is a simple job that can be completed as a DIY project if you prefer if you have the right equipment. However, you shouldn't expect the same results as a tradesperson who does this all the time.

The following steps explain how a driveway cleaning company would typically pressure wash a driveway.

Step One

The first thing is prepare the driveway and the surrounding area ready for pressure washing. Begin by cleaning up any debris using a large broom.

Some contractors will ask you to make sure the driveway is clear of leaves and debris before they begin.

If your driveway is close to any walls, doors, or fencing panels that may become damaged by flying debris, be sure to cover them up before the driveway clean begins.

Step Two

The next step involves degreasing the driveway. A degreaser will help to break up any stubborn stains that may have developed on your driveway. Certain pressure washers include a special attachment tool that can be used to degrease.

Not all companies will offer this service, so check what's included in the jet wash driveway cost. Also, ask whether the quote includes any pre-wash treatments such as weed or algae treatment.

Step Three

On the day of the driveway clean, the contractor will often use a high powered jet wash to remove stubborn stains, grime and build up. If your driveway slopes towards the house, make sure you check drains and grids in front of the house and remove any blockages.

The jet wash will produce a high volume of water during the clean, and you don't want your garage flooded with the run off if drains and grids are blocked.

Also remove any vehicles, ornaments and flowers from the driveway as the combination of dirt, sand (from block paving) and water can quickly stain other surfaces leading to a bigger clean up job.

The contractor will need access to an outside tap as the main water source for their jet wash. Before they begin, they may also check the water pressure in the tap to ensure it's strong enough for the jet wash.

Step Four

The contractor will wear suitable waterproof clothing. Gloves, eye protection and strong, waterproof boots is normal.

The process for cleaning will vary depending on the contractor's technique, but they'll usually start at the top of the driveway so the water flows downwards. Care should be taken with fragile surfaces as the pressure from the jet wash can cause damage if the technique is incorrect.

Step Five

If the driveway is block paved, the contractor will return once it's been given time to dry. This could be in a couple of hours, or the next day depending on the weather conditions. In this visit, they'll brush in kiln dried sand into the joints.

Step Six

Once your driveway has been cleaned and sanded if needed, it can be sealed. This will deter any future stains from soaking in. Use an extended paint roller and follow the directions as given on the packaging of your sealer.

Once the sealer has been applied, wait 24 hours before driving on it.

Once all of these steps have been completed, you are done with your driveway clean, and it should look wonderfully fresh, clean, and stain-free!

Can I Power Wash My Own Driveway?

It is entirely possible to pressure wash your own drive; however, you will need a high-pressure machine. You should use a machine that is 2500psi and 10 litres per minute of flow.

Using a less powerful pressure washer should work fine, but it will take a lot longer and will be a lot of extra work. Before you start, it is important to always brush off all of the extra debris and loose dirt.

You may want to consider hiring a commercial pressure washer to complete the job well. This will cost around £20 - £150 per day depending on the quality of the washer. You should also consider purchasing safety gear such as gloves, eye protection, and boots to protect yourself from any loose dirt and detergent.

By completing a driveway pressure wash as a DIY project, you could save yourself around £75 - £250 on the cost of labour for completing the job. However, if you don’t already have the tools and equipment needed, you may have to factor these costs into your DIY project.

How to Use a Pressure Washer Without an Outside Tap

If you don’t have an outside tap or a hose pipe, then you can use a bucket of water to draw water into your pressure washer.

Some models of pressure washer include a suction hose that allows you to suck water from a source such as a bucket or a barrel.

You will need to screw your suction hose onto your pressure washer and then place the end of the suction hose into your bucket of water, ensuring that it sinks to the bottom of the bucket for a continuous stream of water. The suction hose should include a filter which will prevent any dirt or stones from being sucked into the washer.

If your pressure washer doesn’t come with a suction hose, you can purchase a suction hose and filter which can be attached to most pressure washers. This will cost around £20 - £35. Be sure to check the user manual for your particular pressure washer to ensure that it is capable of having a suction hose attached to it.

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:

• It pulls stains and grime out to improve the appearance of your property – Pressure washing removes stubborn stains so that your driveway regains a new, clean look. This will improve the overall appearance of your home.
• It protects 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.
• It prevents 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. Cleaning your driveway regularly is a good safety precaution.
• Reduces 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, a professional driveway jet wash will cost you around £250 - £400. 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. 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.

• How much experience does the company or contractor have in power washing driveways?
• Does the company or contractor offer any guarantees with their work?
• Does the cost of driveway cleaning include cleaning, sanding and sealing, or are these separate costs?
• What sealant options does the company or contractor offer once the cleaning is complete?
• Does the company or contractor offer any additional services with their work?
• 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.
• 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