How much does patio cleaning cost?

How much does a patio clean cost by size?

A typical UK patio clean costs between £190 and £400, and the size of the patio is the best single guide to where yours will land. The table shows average prices for a clean that includes re-sanding block paving.

Typical prices including VAT and re-sanding block paving, checked October 2026.

These are averages, not quotes. Most companies also have a minimum charge, so a small patio costs more than its size suggests. At Washmates, a patio clean starts from £190.

Some companies quote per square metre instead, often without VAT or re-sanding, so check what a per-metre price includes before you compare.

What affects the price of a patio clean?

Size matters most, followed by the stone and how much there is to remove:

• Where you live. Prices tend to sit towards the top of these ranges in London and the South East, and towards the bottom in the North, the Midlands, Wales and Scotland.
• Size. More square metres take longer to clean, and block paving uses more sand.
• The surface. Concrete slabs are the most forgiving. Sandstone, including Indian sandstone, and limestone are soft and porous, so they need lower pressure and more care, because too much pressure can etch the stone for good. Porcelain is dense, so it’s mostly a surface film to remove. Block paving needs re-sanding afterwards.
• Moss, weeds and black spots. Light green growth cleans off quickly. Thick moss and weeds in the joints take longer, and black spots, which are usually lichen, need a treatment as well as a clean.
• Access. Steps, raised levels or a patio reached only through the house slow the work.
• Sealing. Sealing is optional and priced on top of the clean.

The quote form asks what your patio is made of and how much moss there is, so the price you get reflects both. You can add a driveway to the same quote. Tell us about your patio and we’ll send you a fixed price, usually without a site visit.

Why do black spots cost more to remove?

Black spots on a patio are usually lichen. It roots into the pores of the stone, so a jet wash takes off the surface but leaves the rest. Removing it takes a treatment that is left to work, sometimes more than one, as well as the clean.

Where it’s priced separately, a lichen treatment typically adds £2 to £4 per square metre. Check whether a quote includes it. Our guide on how to get rid of black spots on a patio explains what they are and what works.

Does a patio need re-sanding or re-pointing after cleaning?

Block paving is held in place by the sand in its joints, and a thorough clean washes some of it out. Dry kiln-dried sand brushed back into the joints locks the blocks together and makes it harder for weeds to grow back. Every Washmates patio clean includes re-sanding block paving with kiln-dried sand.

Slabs are usually laid with mortar between them instead. A clean doesn’t replace mortar, but it can show up pointing that was already cracked or loose. If yours is, mention it when you ask for a quote.

How much does it cost to seal a patio?

Sealing a patio typically costs £5 to £10 per square metre on top of the clean, or about £100 to £250 for a 30 square metre patio. The sealant goes on once the patio is clean and completely dry.

Sealing helps porous stone such as sandstone resist stains, moss and lichen for longer. It can change the colour and feel of the surface, though, and it wears off over time, so it needs reapplying every few years. Dense porcelain rarely needs sealing.

How often does a patio need cleaning?

Most patios need a clean every 12 to 18 months. A shaded or north-facing patio, under trees or next to a damp lawn, grows moss and algae faster and usually needs it about once a year. An open, sunny patio can often go two years. Sealing can add up to two or three years between cleans.

Sweeping regularly, cutting back overhanging plants and keeping the joints full of sand all help a clean patio stay clean for longer.

What’s included in a Washmates patio clean?

A Washmates patio clean brings the stone back to colour and leaves the garden tidy. Every patio clean includes:

• A full clean of the patio, back to its original colour.
• Re-sanding block paving with kiln-dried sand.
• A post-service clean-up, so the property is left tidy.
• Digital before and after photos of the work.

All our prices include VAT, and we’re insured for £2m public liability. A roof clean is booked with a £100 deposit, with the balance paid when the job’s finished. Any other job of £500 or more takes the same deposit; a smaller job is paid in full to book. You can read more about how we work and how we price.

Can you get one price for a patio and a driveway?

Yes. Tick Patio cleaning and Driveway cleaning on the quote form and we’ll price them together. A patio or driveway can also be cleaned on the same visit as the roof. See how much a driveway clean costs, or every job side by side in how much exterior house cleaning costs.