Immediate visual change
The single cheapest job that changes how the front of a house looks.
Driveway & Patio Jet WashingPaving Brought Backto How It Was Laid
The cheapest way to transform the front of a house: algae, moss and ingrained dirt stripped off, joints re-sanded, and the surface left looking new, for a fraction of replacing it.
Fixed-price quotes · fully insured · same team that lays the paving
15 years
in the trade, trading as MB Construction since 2019
10-year guarantee
workmanship guarantee on completed work
Fully insured
public liability & employer's liability
Fixed-price quotes
free, in writing, never a day rate
24/7 emergencies
emergency roof repairs, day or night
Jet Washing, What's Involved
Jet washing is pressure cleaning for driveways, patios, paths, steps and paving. Done correctly it lifts years of algae, moss, lichen and ingrained grime without damaging the surface underneath.
It matters more than people expect. Green growth on paving is slippery, and it holds moisture in the joints, which is what starts weeds and moves blocks.
Because we lay block paving, resin and patios ourselves, we know how hard each surface can be pushed, and we re-sand block paving joints afterwards rather than leaving them washed out.
- Who it's for
- Anyone with a green, black-streaked or weedy driveway, patio or path, and homeowners preparing a property for sale or for sealing.
- When it's needed
- Typically every few years, or whenever paving turns slippery, weeds establish in the joints, or the colour has disappeared under a layer of grime.
- Why a professional job matters
- Too much pressure blows jointing sand out, scars soft paving and can strip the surface off a slab. Too little does nothing. Knowing the right approach for the material is the whole job.
What Happens If It's Left
Nothing outside a house gets cheaper to fix by waiting. Here is how this one escalates.
Wet algae is genuinely slippery
Green growth on a path or steps is a real slip risk, especially on a frosty morning.
Weeds in joints move paving
Roots widen joints and lift blocks. What starts as a weed problem becomes a levels problem.
Ingrained dirt becomes permanent
Left long enough, organic staining works into the surface and no longer washes out.
Careless washing damages the surface
Over-pressured cleaning strips sand from joints, leaving blocks loose and the field free to spread.
Common mistakes we're called in to undo
- Blasting block paving at full pressure and washing out every joint.
- Cleaning without re-sanding afterwards, so the paving loosens.
- Using the wrong lance or tip on soft natural stone.
- Pushing dirty water and silt straight into a drain and blocking it.
- Sealing a surface before it has fully dried out, which traps moisture in.
Our Process
The same five steps on every job, so you always know what happens next.
01
Look at the surface
We identify the material and its condition, and check for loose blocks, damaged slabs or failed pointing that need attention first.
02
Fixed price in writing
A free, no-obligation quote based on the area and the state of the surface.
03
Preparation
Loose debris cleared, weeds removed, plants and vulnerable areas protected, and drainage routes considered before water starts running.
04
Washing
Pressure and technique matched to the material, worked methodically across the surface so there are no banding marks or missed strips.
05
Re-sand, rinse and check
Block paving joints refilled with kiln-dried sand, the area rinsed down and silt cleared, and the finished surface walked with you.
What You Get
Safer underfoot
Removing algae and moss takes the slip risk off paths, steps and patios.
Slows weed regrowth
Clearing organic matter out of joints and re-sanding gives weeds much less to root into.
Protects your investment
Regular cleaning extends the life and appearance of paving you have already paid for.
Done without damage
Pressure matched to the surface by a team that lays these materials for a living.
Fixed price
One agreed figure before we start, and we are fully insured.
Jet Washing in Detail
Materials, methods and the variations we cover across Cardiff, Newport and the wider South Wales area.
Block paving
Cleaned at controlled pressure and always re-sanded with kiln-dried sand afterwards, because washing out the joints is what makes blocks work loose.
Natural stone and concrete slabs
Sandstone, limestone and riven concrete are softer and can scar. Lower pressure, a wider fan and more passes clean them without leaving lance marks across the slab.
Porcelain and resin
Dense porcelain and resin bound surfaces clean up easily and need less pressure than people assume. The risk here is damaging joints and edges rather than the surface itself.
Paths, steps and walls
The places where growth builds up worst and where slipperiness matters most, cleaned along with the main area rather than left as an obvious contrast.
Repairs while we are there
Loose or sunken blocks, cracked slabs and failed pointing can be put right as part of the same visit; we lay this work, so we can repair it.
Domestic and commercial
Driveways, patios and paths at home; forecourts, entrances, walkways and bin areas for commercial premises.
Where we carry out this work
We work from Crumlin Drive in St Mellons across Cardiff, Newport, St Mellons, Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly, Penarth and the surrounding South Wales area. See the areas we cover, browse all of our services or head back to the MB Construction homepage.
Jet Washing, Common Questions
How much does jet washing a driveway cost?
It depends on the area, the surface type and how heavily soiled it is. We look at the surface and give you a free fixed price in writing.
How long does it take?
Most domestic driveways and patios are completed within a day, including re-sanding.
Will jet washing damage my paving?
Not when the pressure is matched to the material. We adjust technique for block, natural stone, porcelain and resin rather than treating them the same.
Do you re-sand the joints afterwards?
Yes, on block paving that is part of the job. Cleaning without re-sanding leaves the blocks loose.
How often should paving be cleaned?
Every few years for most properties, sooner for shaded or north-facing areas where growth returns faster.
Can you seal it afterwards?
We can discuss sealing at quote stage. The surface has to be fully dry first, so it is usually a separate visit.
Will the weeds come back?
Clearing the joints and re-sanding slows regrowth considerably, but any outdoor surface will seed again over time. A wash down every few years keeps on top of it.
Are your quotes really free?
Yes. We come out, look at the job properly and put a fixed price in writing. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation to go ahead.
Do you charge a day rate?
No. Every job is quoted as a fixed price. The figure you agree is the figure you pay, whether the work runs quicker or slower than we expected.
Is the work guaranteed and are you insured?
All of our work carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee, and we hold both public liability and employer's liability insurance. Ask to see the documents before work starts and you will get them.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based on Crumlin Drive in St Mellons and work across Cardiff, Newport, the Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly, Penarth and the surrounding South Wales area.
Related Services
Block Paving
A driveway is 90% the ground you never see. We excavate to depth, compact a proper sub-base and lay blocks that stay flat and level years after a surface-dressed job has rutted and sunk.
View Block Paving →Resin Driveways
A smooth, seamless, weed-free surface that looks finished from the day it cures, laid on a base we have built ourselves, so it does not crack along the joints of whatever was there before.
View Resin Driveways →Patios
Turn an unused corner of garden into a space you actually sit in: full groundworks, correct falls, steps and edging finished neatly, priced as one fixed figure.
View Patios →Get a fixed price for jet washing
A quick look at the surface, a fixed price in writing, and paving that looks like it did the year it was laid.
- Free, no-obligation site visit and fixed price in writing
- 10-year workmanship guarantee on completed work
- Public liability & employer's liability insured