Paving Cleaning — Alston Grove, Balaclava

Pressure alone is the wrong first move on heavily soiled paving. Grime on outdoor tile is mostly organic growth that has taken hold in the pores of the surface, not loose dirt sitting on top. Hit that with high pressure straight away and the growth is driven deeper while the surface itself starts to erode, which makes the paving soil faster from then on.

A cleaning solution went on first and was left to break down the organic layer, so the pressure stage had something loose to remove rather than something bonded to fight. Working in that order means the pressure does less work and the surface takes less punishment. The paving was then rinsed down in sections and the run-off kept away from garden beds.

• Cleaning solution applied and left to break down the soiling
• Surface pressure cleaned in sections
• Joints and edges worked separately
• Run-off directed away from garden beds
• Surrounding area rinsed on completion
• Before and after photographs supplied

• Original colour of the paving visible again
• Organic growth removed from the surface, not just darkened
• Surface left intact, no erosion from over-pressuring
• Slip risk reduced in a shaded area