How to clean block paving with a pressure washer

Pressure washing your block paving is the best way to keep it looking fresh and new. It removes dirt, algae, and lichen and can leave your driveway looking like new again.

This guide will show you how to clean block paving with a pressure washer, prepare the surface, choose the right equipment, and avoid common mistakes.

How to clean block paving

• Remove any weeds from the area
• Remove any surface debris
• Use a jet wash to remove the dirt and grime
• Rinse thoroughly and remove any dirty surface water
• Apply a chemical cleaning solution if required
• Rinse away the chemical
• Leave the block paving to dry completely
• Brush in new kiln-dried sand to replace any sand that was lost during the pressure washing

How to Pressure wash block paving.

Preparation

Kill weeds before pressure washing the block paving.

To achieve the best results when you pressure wash your block paving, you should treat any weeds with a weed killer 1 week beforehand. 

This will allow the weedkiller to penetrate down into the root of the weeds and prevent re-growth.

Prepare the Area

Before Pressure washing, Pull up any large weeds, and remove any garden furniture from your driveway or patio area.

If your driveway features a drainage channel, clear any blockages before you start.

Clean the block paving with a pressure washer.

Pick the correct Nozzle

Pressure Washers often come with multiple attachments, The most suitable nozzle for block paving is the turbo nozzle, which has a small ball bearing which spins a direct jet of water in a circular motion.

Use the pressure washer lance at an angle.

The key to knowing How to clean block paving and minimising damage is holding the jet washer hose at an angle whilst working.  

We recommend aiming the lance at a 45-degree angle to lessen the force of the high-pressure water jet on the joints and blocks while cleaning. 

This will result in less sand loss and help maintain the stability of your block paving.

Don’t remove too much sand from the joints.

The kiln-dried sand provides the necessary friction that holds each block in place. If you lose too much of it, you risk damaging the structure of your driveway.  

Work towards the drainage point

To avoid cleaning the same area twice, start at the highest point and work towards the lowest point or drainage area.  

Once completed, rinse any doors and walls that may be dirty from overspray. Then rinse the standing water towards a drainage point.  

Apply a chemical Treatment

Some Lichen and Black spot can penetrate deep into the block pavers, too deep for the pressure washer to reach.

If the block paving still has traces of LIchen and block spot, this is the best time to apply a specific black spot treatment to ensure a deep clean and prevent the Black spot and LIchen from returning.

Follow the instructions on the bottle regarding rinsing away the chemical after use

Re-sand the Block Paved driveway

The main concern when pressure washing block paving is the loss of jointing sand between each block. make sure you replace any lost sand once the area is dry

Once the area has dried, brush new kiln-dried sand between the blocks to replace any sand that has been lost during the pressure washing.

Brush the sand at 45 degrees to the blocks, this prevents the brush from dragging the sand back out of the void.

The aim is to build up the sand to the lower part of the chamfer on the block pavers 

The Results from cleaning Block Paving

Frequently Asked Questions