1. Surface type
- • Block paving — hardest-wearing under a pressure washer, but joints need re-sanding afterwards. That's a separate stage.
- • Tarmac — softer; needs careful technique and the right pressure or it pits. Often pairs with restoration paint to refresh colour.
- • Concrete / slabs — usually straightforward but can stain unevenly if previously sealed.
- • Gravel — doesn't pressure-wash; we lift, weed, refresh and top up instead.
- • Resin-bound — needs a specific low-pressure wash; high-pressure damages the binder.
2. How dirty is it really?
A driveway that gets a casual sweep each month is one job. A driveway that hasn't been touched in seven years and is uniformly black-green with algae and moss is a different job entirely. We can normally see the difference in the first thirty seconds of a quote visit.
Heavy biological growth (the green/black film you find on shaded north-facing drives) often needs a pre-treatment before pressure washing — otherwise the washer just cleans the top layer and the staining returns within months.
3. Size and shape
Square footage is obvious, but layout matters too. A long, narrow driveway with awkward edges and four planters is slower than the same square-meterage of open rectangle. Steps, paths, patios that flow off the drive — easy to add, but they add real time.
4. Water access
We bring our own kit, but we still need a tap. Properties without an outside tap, or with a long run from the kitchen, occasionally need extra setup time. Rare, but worth mentioning at quote stage.
5. Re-sanding (block paving)
After a thorough pressure wash, block paving usually loses some of the kiln-dried sand from the joints. Replacing it is essential — it's what holds the blocks in place and prevents weeds. We always re-sand block paving as part of the job, and sometimes recommend a polymeric jointing sand for high-use drives, which costs more but lasts much longer.
6. Sealing
Optional, often worthwhile. A good sealant on block paving slows weed regrowth, locks the sand in, lifts the colour, and makes future cleans easier. It typically lasts 3–5 years in Fife conditions. It does add cost — but it's often the difference between a drive that needs another full clean in two years vs. a quick rinse in five.
7. Tarmac restoration paint
For tarmac drives that have faded or greyed, restoration paint isn't a gimmick — it\'s a quality bituminous coating that bonds to the surface, restores deep black colour, and protects against UV. Typically lasts 2–4 years before refresh. We do it as a separate stage after washing, and only on a properly cleaned, dry surface.
8. Disposal & tidy
Pressure washing displaces a surprising amount of black slurry — the algae, dirt and biofilm that's been building up. Properly draining, hosing down adjacent walls, and leaving the property clean afterwards is part of the job. Cheaper quotes sometimes skip this and you find out two days later when the slurry has dried onto your render.
How we quote
Free site visit, transparent breakdown. We'll tell you the surface type, what stage of cleaning it actually needs, whether re-sanding or sealing makes sense, and a realistic hour-count. Same fair hourly rate as everything else we do — and if the job takes less time than estimated, you pay less.