Pressure Washing in Cheltenham

Safe at high pressure: concrete, block paving, natural stone (with care), brick in good condition, metal fences and gutter exteriors. Needs low pressure or soft washing: painted surfaces, render, timber decking, vinyl or fibre-cement siding, roofs, and old or repointed brickwork. Never pressure wash: single-glazed windows at close range, electrical fittings, or asbestos-containing materials.

Look for local Cheltenham companies with recent photo evidence of before/after work on your surface type, public liability insurance, and itemised quotes. Compare at least two or three quotes on the same scope. Be wary of door-knockers offering same-day deals — legitimate operators are usually booked days ahead in peak season.

Fresh oil mostly comes out with a degreaser pre-treatment plus hot-water pressure washing. Old oil that has soaked deep into concrete may only fade, not disappear — an honest pro will tell you this before quoting rather than promising full removal. Ask specifically whether stain treatment is included or extra.

High-pressure washing damages most roof coverings — it strips granules from asphalt shingles, cracks and dislodges tiles, and can force water under the covering. Roof cleaning should be done by soft washing or manual moss removal plus a biocide treatment. If a company proposes blasting your roof at full pressure, choose someone else.

Common products are sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions for organic growth, degreasers for oil, and biocides for moss and algae. Used properly they are rinsed off and diluted, but they can harm plants, pets, and ponds during application. Ask the pro how they protect garden beds and where the runoff drains — dirty water should not go into surface-water drains in many jurisdictions.

Four things drive the spread: surface area and condition (heavy staining doubles the time), access (upper storeys, tight side passages), method (soft washing with chemicals costs more than a quick rinse), and what is bundled (resealing, weed treatment, gutter clear-out). A cheap quote is often just a rinse with no pre-treatment — clarify the scope before comparing numbers.

UK guides put driveway cleaning at roughly £8.50-£15.50 per m². A single-car drive (up to 20m²) can be £40-£100, a standard two-car drive £100-£250, and large drives £250-£500. Resealing after cleaning adds £100-£200 to a medium drive.

Yes, but the jointing sand gets blasted out along with the grime, so the job is only complete once the joints are re-sanded (kiln-dried sand) and ideally sealed. If a quote doesn't mention re-sanding, the paving will loosen and weeds will return faster.