What does a block paving cleaning job involve?
Block paving cleaning removes moss, algae, weeds and ground-in dirt from the surface and the joints, usually with a rotary surface cleaner on a pressure washer, which cleans evenly without the stripes a hand lance leaves. A biocide treatment can be applied to slow regrowth.
Cleaning washes out some of the jointing sand, so a proper clean is followed by re-sanding with kiln-dried sand once the surface has dried. Many owners then seal the paving to lock the new sand in and keep it cleaner for longer.
What is included?
- Weeds and moss removed from the joints
- Pre-treatment where needed
- Rotary surface clean at a pressure that will not blow out the joints
- Rinse down of edges, steps and walls
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in once dry (re-sanding package)
- Optional biocide and sealer
Which options are there?
Clean only
Wash and rinse; joints topped up where needed.
Clean and re-sand
The usual package for a tired drive.
Clean, re-sand and seal
The full restoration, for longer-lasting results.
How much does a block paving cleaning job cost?
For a 50 m² drive in the Midlands, that typically comes to £125–£250. London and the South East cost more, the North East, Yorkshire and Wales a little less. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Region | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| London | £3–£6 per m² |
| South East | £2.50–£5.50 per m² |
| East of England | £2.50–£5.50 per m² |
| South West | £2.50–£5 per m² |
| West Midlands | £2.50–£5 per m² |
| East Midlands | £2.50–£5 per m² |
| North West | £2.50–£5 per m² |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £2.50–£4.50 per m² |
| North East | £2.50–£4.50 per m² |
| Wales | £2.50–£4.50 per m² |
| Scotland | £2.50–£5 per m² |
| Northern Ireland | £2.50–£5 per m² |
Guide figures checked 9 November 2026. Your written quote after the survey is the price you pay. See the full price list or try the guide price tool.
Is a block paving cleaning job right for you?
Good for
- Dark, slippery or green paving
- Weeds in the joints
- Before selling a house
Think twice if
- Sunken or broken paving (fix the levels first)
How does it work?
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
Questions about cleaning
Does pressure washing damage block paving?
It can, if the lance is held too close or too much pressure is used: it blows out the joint sand and can scar the block surface. A rotary cleaner at the right pressure, followed by re-sanding, avoids this.
How often should block paving be cleaned?
Most drives benefit from a deep clean every two to four years, with a sweep and spot weeding in between. Shady, north-facing drives need it more often.
Can oil stains be removed?
Fresh oil often lifts with a degreaser; old, soaked-in stains may only fade. Badly stained blocks can be swapped for clean ones.
Where do you offer block paving cleaning jobs?
We quote block paving cleaning jobs across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
- Clwyd
- Dyfed
- Gwent
- Gwynedd
- Mid Glamorgan
- Powys
- South Glamorgan
- West Glamorgan
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Dundee and Angus
- Argyll and Bute
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Fife
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow and Dunbartonshire
- Highlands
- Lanarkshire
- Moray
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Scottish Borders
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
Related services
Re-sanding and re-jointing
Empty joints refilled with dry jointing sand and vibrated in, so blocks lock again.
From £3 per m²Learn more →
Block paving sealing
Sealer applied to clean, dry paving to hold the joint sand in and resist stains.
From £5 per m²Learn more →
Block paving repairs
Broken, loose or stained blocks lifted out and replaced without disturbing the rest.
From £200 Learn more →