Patio Cleaning in Epsom
Patio Cleaning in Epsom: dirt, algae and black spots lifted off paving and natural stone, with the method chosen to protect it. Epsom is reached from Horley, as are Banstead, Leatherhead and Ewell. The first step is a free, no-obligation quote.
- Paving, natural stone and slabbed patios
- Removal of built-up dirt, algae and black spots
- Method chosen to protect the surface
- Tidy finish, ready to use
Patio Cleaning for homes and businesses in Epsom
Patio cleaning on limestone is the one job where using the wrong product does immediate, permanent damage, so it is worth identifying what your Epsom patio is made of before anything at all goes onto it. Limestone is calcium carbonate, and acid dissolves it. That includes brick acid, patio cleaners sold as acid-based, and several off-the-shelf products people quite reasonably assume are safe because they are on a shelf.
Acid and limestone do not mix
Put an acid-based cleaner on limestone and it eats the surface. It fizzes, it lightens patchily, and the affected areas end up rougher and more absorbent than the rest of the patio. There is no fixing it afterwards, because the stone that has gone is gone.
The frustrating part is that acid cleaners work brilliantly on some other materials, so the advice gets passed on in good faith. If you have limestone, or you are not certain what you have, do not put anything acidic on it until somebody has identified the stone.
Telling limestone from sandstone
They look similar in a garden, particularly once weathered. Limestone tends to be more uniform in colour and finer grained, often grey, blue-grey or buff, with a smooth close surface. Sandstone is grainier and usually more variable in colour across a single patio, with visible bedding.
If it is not obvious we test rather than guess, in an inconspicuous corner, before anything gets applied to the main area. It takes a couple of minutes and it is the difference between a clean patio and a permanently marked one.
How we work
- 1Free quote and stone identification
The single most important step. Indian sandstone, limestone, porcelain, Yorkstone, concrete slab and clay pavers all behave differently under a washer, and getting this wrong is what causes the damage you see on badly cleaned patios.
- 2Protect the borders and check the pointing
Furniture and pots moved, nearby planting protected, and a look at the pointing. Slurry-pointed joints and loose mortar will lift under pressure, so we find that first and tell you instead of discovering it halfway through.
- 3Set the pressure to the softest thing on the patio
We work to whatever is most delicate, not whatever is toughest. Soft sandstone gets a gentler pass than the concrete edging next to it, even though both are getting cleaned in the same visit.
- 4Treat black spot and lichen with chemistry, not force
Black spot lichen roots into the stone. You cannot blast it off without taking the surface with it, so it needs a treatment and time to work. How much will shift, and how much may need a second visit, gets said before the job starts.
- 5Rinse down, sweep and walk it with you
Everything rinsed off, the silt cleared, furniture back, and a walk round so you can see the result and hear what we found while we were in there.
Black spot lichen roots into the stone, so it needs a treatment and time rather than more pressure. How much is likely to shift can be judged on the slabs themselves.
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Customer reviews
What our customers say
Dirty South Power Wash were absolutely fantastic from start to finish. They're extremely friendly, professional, and reliable, making the whole process completely stress free. I had my decking soft washed and the results were amazing, it genuinely looks like new and has been brought back to life. You can really tell they take pride in their work and pay attention to detail. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone and will definitely be using their services again in the future!
No fuss, just excellent - from start to finish. Friendly to deal with, clear communication all the way, came when they said they would, did an excellent job. Would use again without a doubt.
Great service, really pleased with our garage roof. All the moss has gone and left nice and tidy. Great guys too. Thanks!
Did a fantastic job on a garage roof clean/moss removal, looks good as new! friendly & professional highly recommend 👏🏼
Really pleased with our driveway😊
They done an amazing job and great price
Good to know
Patio Cleaning in Epsom: your questions answered
Is it safe to use acid-based patio cleaner on limestone?
No, and the damage is immediate and permanent. Limestone is calcium carbonate and acid dissolves it, so acid-based cleaners including brick acid will etch the surface, leaving it patchy, lighter and rougher than the surrounding stone. There is no way to repair it afterwards. If you are unsure what your patio is made of, do not apply anything acidic to it.
How do I know whether my patio is limestone or sandstone?
Limestone is usually finer grained and more uniform, often grey, blue-grey or buff, with a smooth close surface. Sandstone is grainier, more variable in colour across a patio and often shows visible bedding lines. They are genuinely easy to confuse once weathered, so we test in an inconspicuous corner instead of guessing before applying anything.
I have already used the wrong cleaner on my patio. Can it be fixed?
It depends entirely on what happened. Discolouration and residue from an unsuitable product can often be improved with a proper clean. Etching, where acid has actually dissolved the stone surface, cannot be reversed, because the material has gone. Which of the two you are looking at can be worked out on site, and it is worth knowing before you spend anything trying to put it right.
What products do you use on patios?
The product is chosen for the stone, which is why identifying it first matters so much. Broadly that means biocidal treatments for algae, moss and lichen, degreasers for oily and sooty marks, and low pressure with plain water on anything delicate. We avoid acids entirely on limestone and any stone we cannot positively identify.
Can a patio be damaged by cleaning it too often?
Porous stone can, yes. Every clean asks something of a soft sandstone or limestone surface, and an annual habit on stone that did not need it will wear the face over the years. Porcelain and concrete are far more tolerant. The sensible rule is to clean when the patio actually needs it and to spot-treat growth in between, instead of putting it on a calendar.
Will cleaning change the colour of my patio?
It reveals the real colour rather than changing it, which sometimes surprises people. Patios often look lighter and more varied afterwards because years of even grime were hiding the natural variation between slabs. Where a previous bad clean or an unsuitable product has damaged some areas, that variation shows more clearly once the dirt is off, and it is better said now than discovered afterwards.
Patio Cleaning in Epsom, done properly
Free, no-obligation quotes across Surrey, Sussex and Kent. Send a few photos and we will do the rest.