Both have a place, but they give very different results. Here's when each is the right call.
Created by jflgardens.co.uk
A dirty patio can be tackled with elbow grease or a pressure washer — but hand scrubbing and jet washing aren't really rivals for the same job. Understanding what each does well will get you the result you want without damaging the paving.
A pressure washer is superb at shifting years of ingrained grime, algae, moss and stubborn staining that a brush simply won't move. For a patio that hasn't been cleaned properly in years, it's usually the only realistic way to get it looking clean.
Softer, older or more delicate paving — and anything with a fragile texture — can be eroded by high-pressure water. For these, a brush and cleaner is the safer choice, even if it's more of an effort.
Jet washing done badly can scour the sand from joints, chip the edges of slabs and mark the surface. Getting the nozzle distance and angle right — and letting the water do the work rather than jamming it in — is what separates a clean patio from a damaged one.
After cleaning, reseed the sand joints and consider a sealant to help the patio stay cleaner for longer. A well-finished, pressure-cleaned patio looks transformed — and far more so than a quick once-over with a brush.
From jet washing services to a full jet washing-style overhaul, the JFL Gardens team works across Surrey and London.
