Short answer
Most patio cleans in Chester cost from around £95 for a small patio or path, from £150 for a typical rear patio, and from £225 for a large patio or wraparound terrace. The final price depends on the size, the type of slab, and how much moss, green algae and black spotting has built up over the years.
What actually changes the price
Patio cleaning is priced on the area, the surface and the condition — not just the hours on the job. A small flagged path is quick. A large patio that has not been touched in years, with black spots peppered across every slab and weeds growing through the joints, takes longer and often needs the pointing or jointing looked at afterwards.
Across Chester, Hoole, Handbridge and out through Cheshire and the Wirral, patios green over fast. Our climate sits damp for much of the year, north-facing and shaded patios barely see the sun, and gardens near the Dee or tucked under trees grow a film of algae within a season. The black spotting you see baked into Indian sandstone and concrete slabs is lichen — living growth that grips the surface — which is exactly why a patio comes back looking tired soon after a cheap, rushed clean.
The slab itself matters too. Indian sandstone, porcelain, limestone, concrete and natural stone all react differently to pressure and chemicals, so the right method protects the surface and brings back the colour rather than scarring or bleaching it.
Patio cleaning — guide prices in Chester & Cheshire
| Job | Guide price | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path — full clean | From £95 | Compact area, single surface, easy access |
| Typical rear patio | From £150 | Standard seating area, moss, algae and black spots removed |
| Large patio or wraparound terrace | From £225 | Bigger area, more edging and steps to work around |
| Black-spot and lichen treatment | From £45 | Where spotting is established and needs pre-treating to lift it |
| Re-pointing / re-jointing patio slabs | From £125 | Where the mortar between slabs has cracked or washed out |
These are typical Chester prices to work from. The job is confirmed after a few photos or a quick visit, because the slab type, area, level of growth and whether the pointing needs attention all change the scope.
What a professional patio clean involves
- 1
Check the slab and protect the area
We identify the slab type and condition, move pots and furniture where we can, and protect borders, drains, lawns and any soft pointing before any water touches the patio.
- 2
Pre-treat black spot, algae and weeds
Lichen and black spotting do not just blast off. Where growth is heavy we treat it first so it lifts properly, instead of leaving shadows and watching it return within weeks.
- 3
Clean at the right pressure for the slab
Indian sandstone, porcelain and concrete each need a different touch. We clean evenly so you do not end up with stripes, pitted slabs, blown joints or a patchy two-tone finish.
- 4
Rinse, re-joint and tidy
We rinse the residue away, top up or re-point the joints where the mortar has gone, and leave the patio, furniture and surrounding beds swept and tidy.
A pressure washer can wreck a patio if it is used wrong
Held too close, or on the wrong setting, a pressure washer can pit and scar slabs, blow the mortar out of the joints, bleach natural stone and force water under the slabs so they rock or lift. Indian sandstone and older pointing are especially easy to damage. If you are not sure how your patio will react — or the pointing is already crumbling — get it looked at before anyone turns a lance on it.
DIY pressure washer vs professional patio clean
| DIY with a hired washer | Professional clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Easy to leave stripes, lance marks and patchy two-tone slabs | Even, consistent colour brought back across the whole patio |
| Surface safety | Risk of pitting stone, blowing out joints or bleaching slabs | Right pressure and method for your slab type |
| Black spot and regrowth | Black spots often stay, and algae returns within weeks | Spotting pre-treated and joints re-sanded to slow it down |
| Effort and mess | Hours on your knees, soaked and covered in slurry | Done in one visit, with the area cleared and tidied |
| Typical cost | £40–£70 washer hire, plus your day and the risk | From £95, insured, with a finished result |
Photos that get you an accurate price fast
- A wide photo of the whole patio so the area and shape are clear
- A close-up of the worst patches — black spots, thick green algae, lichen, or weeds growing through the joints
- A photo showing the slab type (sandstone, porcelain, concrete, natural stone) and the state of the pointing between the slabs
Frequently asked questions
How often should a patio be cleaned in Chester?
Most patios benefit from a clean every one to two years. Shaded, north-facing or tree-lined patios in our damp climate green over faster and often need doing yearly to stay on top of the algae and black spotting.
Will the black spots come off completely?
Black spotting is lichen rooted into the slab, so it needs pre-treating rather than just blasting. With the right treatment it lifts and the slab comes back close to its original colour — a quick jet wash alone usually leaves shadows behind.
Can you clean Indian sandstone and porcelain safely?
Yes. Softer, more delicate slabs like sandstone and limestone need a gentler approach than concrete, and porcelain shows up streaks if it is rushed, so we adjust the method to suit the material and avoid marking it.
Do you re-point the joints as well?
Where the mortar between slabs has cracked or washed out we can re-point or re-joint it, usually from £125 depending on the area. Sound joints keep weeds down and stop water getting under the slabs.
What makes the price go up?
A larger area, heavily established black spot and lichen, awkward access or lots of steps, delicate stone that needs extra care, and whether the pointing needs replacing.
Sources & further reading