Patio Cleaning in Haywards Heath

Cleaning patio slabs properly means working across the whole surface at a consistent pace, so you do not end up with the striping that comes from a hurried pass with a standard lance. We use a flat surface cleaner to keep the finish even, then detail the edges and awkward corners by hand. The colour that comes back is usually a surprise to people who have not seen their patio clean in a few years.

Indian sandstone, York stone and limestone are porous, which is what makes them attractive and also what makes them vulnerable. Too much pressure pits the surface and leaves it rougher than before, which means it holds dirt faster next time. We work at a lower pressure on natural stone and let the cleaning solution do more of the work.

Those stubborn black dots across natural stone are lichen, and pressure alone will not remove them. Lichen roots into the surface of the stone, so it needs a proper treatment applied and given time to work. This is the single most common thing people are disappointed about after hiring a jet washing service, and it is worth asking about before you book anyone.

The green film that makes a patio slippery in autumn is algae, and it comes back fastest on shaded, north facing and tree covered areas. We clear it from the surface and out of the joints between slabs, which is where it takes hold and spreads from. Removing it makes the patio safer to walk on as much as it improves how it looks.

Porcelain is hard-wearing and cleans up very well, though it shows streaking if the surface is not worked evenly. Concrete and reconstituted slabs are more forgiving on pressure, but often reveal older staining once the layer of algae is removed. We will tell you what to expect before we start rather than after.

Timber decking needs a gentler approach than stone. Too much pressure raises the grain and leaves the boards rough and splintery, so we clean along the grain at reduced pressure to lift the algae without damaging the timber. Decking cleans up well and is often ready for re-oiling once it has dried out.

Steps and paths tend to be the greenest part of a garden and the most likely place for someone to slip. We clean these alongside the patio so the finished area looks consistent, and can take on low garden walls and paved borders at the same time.

Getting the house ready as well? Chorda also provides driveway cleaning, professional rug cleaning, carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning, so several jobs can be booked with one local company. We also work with tenants, landlords and letting agents on end of tenancy cleaning. Ask us for a combined quote and we will put it together for you.