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Patio cleaning and black spot removal across the North West
Patios brought back to their original colour, with the jointing, planting and surrounding lawn protected throughout — and the pressure matched to the stone rather than the stain.
The problem
Black spot, lichen and why patios go grey
A patio spends its life damp and shaded for part of the day, which is exactly what algae, lichen and moss need. The grey film that builds up is organic growth sitting in the pores of the stone, and it is what makes a patio slippery after rain.
Black spot lichen is the harder problem. It bonds into the surface of sandstone and limestone rather than sitting on top of it, so scrubbing and domestic pressure washers tend to remove the stone around it and leave the spot behind.
The right answer is chemistry and dwell time rather than force: treat the growth so it is killed at the root, then clean at a pressure the stone can take. That is slower than blasting, and it is the reason a well-cleaned patio still looks even a year later.
What the service involves
Patio cleaning removes the green film, black spot lichen and ground-in soiling from paved garden areas, working the surface back towards its original colour while protecting the planting, lawns and jointing around it.
A patio is treated as a stone surface first. Sandstone, limestone and older flags are softer than they look, so pressure is kept to the minimum that will do the work and chemistry does more of the lifting.
Our method
How we approach patio cleaning
- 01
Assessment
We identify the stone or slab type, check pointing and levels, and note any lifting, cracking or previous repairs.
- 02
Protection
Borders, lawns, furniture, decking and painted woodwork are sheeted or moved, and run-off is directed away from planting.
- 03
Pre-treatment where needed
Black spot and lichen are treated and given time to work; these do not come off with pressure alone.
- 04
Controlled cleaning
The field is cleaned evenly and edges are hand-lanced, at the lowest effective pressure for that stone.
- 05
Rinse and clean-up
The area is rinsed down, debris removed and surrounding surfaces washed off.
- 06
Inspection and aftercare
We review the finish with you and re-sand or re-point on request once the surface has dried.
Real result
Before and after
What's included
Every patio cleaning visit
- Surface cleaned then hand-lanced to the edges
- Black spot and lichen treatment
- Planting and lawns protected
- Re-sanding or re-pointing available
- Restores the natural tone of the stone rather than leaving a grey film
- Reduces slip risk from algae in shaded and north-facing areas
- Treats black spot lichen at the root rather than skimming it
- Makes seating and dining areas usable again without replacing the paving
What affects your quotation
Why we price each property individually
- The stone type — sandstone, limestone, York stone, porcelain, slate or concrete flags all behave differently
- How much black spot and lichen is present, since that dictates treatment and dwell time rather than cleaning speed
- Area, levels, steps and how close planting, lawn or furniture sits to the work
- Whether joints need re-sanding or the pointing needs making good after cleaning
- Any adjoining paths, walls or decking you would like included in the same visit
Every quotation is prepared for the property in front of us. Tell us the surface, rough size and access and we will confirm the method and the price.
Surface care
Surface-care considerations
- Softer stone is cleaned at reduced pressure, which takes longer than blasting would but leaves the face of the flag intact.
- A test area in a discreet spot is sensible where the stone is unusual, old or of unknown origin.
- Treated black spot can keep fading for days after the visit, so the finished appearance is not always the appearance on the day.
- Failed pointing and loose flags are revealed by cleaning — we raise anything we find before continuing.
- Planting and lawns bordering the patio are protected and rinsed down as we go.
How we reduce the risk
- A walk-round inspection before anything is switched on, so existing defects are noted and shown to you
- Method, pressure and nozzle selected for the substrate rather than a single setting used everywhere
- A small test area in a discreet spot where the surface is unusual, delicate or of unknown age
- Adjacent surfaces, planting, air bricks, vents and paintwork protected or avoided as appropriate
- Anything we find part-way through — a loose slab, a failed joint, a cracked tile — raised with you before we continue
Being straight with you
What cleaning cannot put right
- Cracked, chipped or delaminating flags
- Rocking or badly bedded paving that needs relaying
- Rust and iron staining that has travelled through the stone
- Colour variation that is natural to the batch of stone
Keeping the result
- Allow the stone to dry fully before replacing furniture and pots
- Sealing is optional and best considered on porous stone once it is completely dry
- Clear leaf litter and standing debris through autumn — organic matter is what feeds regrowth
- Book a lighter maintenance visit before growth re-establishes rather than waiting for it to look bad again
Where a surface would genuinely benefit from protection once it is clean and dry, ask about exterior surface sealing.
Before we start
How we plan the job on the day
The right method for the surface, not simply more pressure. Before anything is switched on we look at what we are actually cleaning: the material, the contamination on it, the condition it is already in, and whether there is cracking or earlier repair work that needs treating carefully.
We also check the practical side. An outside tap is preferred so we do not have to run hoses through your home; where an indoor tap is needed, we agree a safe hose route, take the hose out carefully and keep the connection monitored and secure. The water flow affects how quickly our equipment or water tank refills. We look at where the water will travel, whether there is a suitable drain or gully, and whether anything is likely to pool. Access, nearby walls and render, planting and delicate areas are all noted so they can be protected or worked around.
If there is no outside tap, it helps to mention it when you enquire. It is easily worked around, but it is better known in advance than found on the morning.
Photographs and existing damage
A clear record of how we found it
We often photograph the area before we begin — cracked slabs, loose pointing, previous repairs and heavier staining. It gives an honest record of the property's condition, and it gives you a genuine before-and-after comparison once the work is finished.
If we find a defect, we would rather point it out than quietly clean over it. We will show you what we have found, adjust the method around the weaker area where that is sensible, and if continuing could do more harm than good we will stop and talk it through. Sometimes the right advice is to have another suitable tradesperson look at it first.
We would rather work carefully around a problem than knowingly make it worse.
What to expect
Realistic results from the surface you have
Cleaning can make a very large difference, but it cannot undo age. Weathering, worn surfaces, permanent staining, previous repairs and colour variation may still be visible afterwards. What we aim for is the best sensible improvement from the existing surface, and we will say so before we start if we think the result will be limited.
It is also worth not judging paving while it is still wet. Wet paving looks considerably darker than dry paving, and the same area can look noticeably lighter once it has dried out. This is where the before-and-after photographs help.
Natural stone is not treated like concrete, so if your patio is sandstone or Yorkstone the approach changes. See stone and paving cleaning.
Questions & answers
Common patio cleaning questions
Customer feedback
What customers say about our patio cleaning
“The team did an amazing job of cleaning my driveway and patio. Absolutely thrilled with the results. Friendly and professional, will definitely be using again. 100% recommend.”
Danny Jackson · Google
Patio cleaning
Why us
Why Refresh Revive?
White Glove Standard™
The same documented standard of workmanship and finish on every single visit.
Surface-Specific Cleaning Methods
Soft washing, pure water or controlled pressure — matched to the material, never guessed.
Before & After Photography
Every job recorded so you can see exactly what changed, including work at height.
Professional Equipment & Safe Chemistry
Commercial-grade equipment and correctly dosed products, applied by trained operatives.
Honest Advice with No Pressure Selling
If a treatment isn't right for your property, we tell you — and explain why.
10 Years of Industry Experience
A decade of hands-on industry experience brought to every assessment and clean.
Where we work
Patio cleaning from our Bolton, Greater Manchester base
We cover Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the wider North West for homes and commercial premises of every type, with much of our multi-service work in the premium Cheshire and south Manchester areas below. Check the towns we cover or ask if you are just outside them.
Related work
Often booked at the same visit
Driveway cleaning
Block paving, Indian sandstone, porcelain, concrete and tarmac restored with rotary surface cleaning and hand-lanced detail.
Read more →Roof cleaning & moss removal
Moss removed from tiles and slate by hand, then soft washed with an appropriate treatment or soft-wash treatment. No high pressure is used on your roof covering.
Read more →Render cleaning
Soft washing for K-Rend, silicone render, painted render and pebbledash — the method is chosen after we assess the finish, so the coating is not worked mechanically.
Read more →Soft washing
Low-pressure soft washing for rendered and painted elevations — algae, lichen and black streaking treated at the root. For render and walls, not roofs; roof moss removal is a separate service.
Read more →Gutter clearing
Gutters and downpipes cleared by high-reach vacuum, with camera evidence of every run before and after.
Read more →Gutter, fascia & soffit cleaning
UPVC gutter faces, fascias and soffits washed down using pure water and soft brush heads.
Read more →Pure Water Window Cleaning
Professional exterior window cleaning using a purified-water reach-and-wash system for a clear, streak-free finish across glass, frames and sills. Safe high-reach cleaning from ground level, with no harsh detergents and no ladders resting against the property.
Read more →Stone & paving cleaning
Natural stone, flagging, York stone, limestone and porcelain cleaned with the care each material needs.
Read more →Conservatory cleaning
Conservatory roofs, frames, finials and box gutters cleaned so the light comes back into the room.
Read more →Decking cleaning
Timber and composite decking cleaned at the right pressure to lift algae without furring the grain.
Read more →Wall & brick cleaning
Brickwork, stone walls and boundary walls cleaned of algae, staining and atmospheric grime.
Read more →Pressure washing
Controlled high-pressure cleaning for hard surfaces that can take it — paths, steps, yards, forecourts and walls.
Read more →Swimming Pool Surround Cleaning
Pool surrounds, coping and surrounding paving cleaned and de-slimed. This service covers the surround only — not pool water, liners, filtration or internal pool systems.
Read more →Quotation journey
How quotations work
- 01
Choose how to enquire
Use the Get a Free Quote journey or the Send Photos on WhatsApp option.
- 02
Share useful details
Describe the surface, condition, access and the work required. Photos can help show the area.
- 03
Confirm the scope
The suitable approach and your quotation are based on the information available and the work required.
The final quotation can depend on size, surface, condition, access, treatment required, complexity and additional services.
Next step
Get a free quote for patio cleaning
Send us a few clear photographs, your location, the surface or area you want cleaned and a short description of the problem. We normally respond within one working day with the method we would use and the price. Where a job needs a closer look, we say so rather than guess.
Prefer email? Send your photographs and details to info@refreshrevivecleaning.co.uk or call 07549 064190.