Safer underfoot
Removing algae restores grip on paths, steps and drives that had become genuinely slippery in the wet.
Driveway Cleaning in ShetlandDrives, Paths and PatiosMade Safe and Even Again
Turn a slippery, green, weed-seamed drive back into a clean surface you can walk across in the rain without thinking about it, and one that lifts the look of the whole property from the road.
17 years' property experience · Lerwick-based team · Free, no-obligation estimate
17 years' experience
In Shetland property
Shetland & Orkney
Lerwick-based team
Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
Local office hours
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Overview
What driveway cleaning involves
Driveway cleaning covers drives, paths, patios, steps, yards and hard standing: removing algae, moss, lichen, weed growth and ingrained dirt to leave an even, clean, non-slippery surface.
The finish matters as much as the clean. Patchy, striped cleaning where a lance has been swung about looks worse than leaving it alone, so we work methodically across the whole surface for a consistent result.
Method depends on the surface. Concrete, flagstone and block paving take controlled pressure washing well; decorative, coated, painted or fragile surfaces are softwashed instead.
Why professional work matters here
Pressure is a tool, not a setting. Too much on the wrong surface scores concrete, blasts jointing sand out of block paving and pits soft stone permanently.
Surface water has to go somewhere. Without planning the runoff and protecting drainage, you move silt and debris straight into a gully or a neighbour's ground.
A professional finish is even across the whole area. Getting that requires method and equipment, which is why DIY attempts so often leave a striped surface that still looks dirty.
Who it is for
- Homeowners whose drive or path is green and slippery for much of the year
- Anyone with elderly or less steady family members using a slippery path or steps
- Landlords and property managers responsible for safe access at a property
- Owners preparing a property for sale, where kerb appeal starts at the gate
When it is needed
- The surface is green, dark or noticeably slippery underfoot when wet
- Weed and moss growth in the joints of block paving or flagstones
- Steps, paths or a yard that people use daily and that have become a slip risk
- Before re-sanding, sealing or repairing a paved area
- Ahead of putting a property on the market or into a new letting
What It Costs To Ignore
What happens if it is left
A slippery drive or path is the most immediate risk on this list. Wet algae on a smooth surface has very little grip, and on sloping island sites with frequent rain that is a genuine hazard to anyone using the property, including you, in the dark, carrying shopping.
Left long enough, growth in the joints does structural work as well. Moss and weed roots open up the joints of block paving, lift flags out of level and create the puddles and trip edges that lead to relaying sections rather than cleaning them.
There is also the standing water problem. Silted joints and a clogged surface stop water draining, so it sits, freezes, and slowly breaks the surface up from the inside. Each winter takes a little more.
Common mistakes we are called out to
- Using excessive pressure and scoring lines permanently into concrete or soft stone
- Blasting all the jointing sand out of block paving and never replacing it
- Cleaning only the middle of the drive, leaving an obvious dirty border
- Applying a sealer over a surface that was not properly cleaned or dried
- Ignoring the standing water that caused the growth in the first place
Our Process
How we carry out driveway cleaning
Step 01
Inspection
We identify the surface type and condition, check the falls and drainage, and note any loose, cracked or lifted areas before starting.
Step 02
Clear pricing
A firm price based on the area, the surface and the condition, given to you before the work is booked.
Step 03
Preparation and protection
The area is cleared, drainage and planting are protected and runoff is planned so silt goes where it should.
Step 04
Cleaning
Controlled pressure washing for hard, durable surfaces; softwashing for anything decorative, coated or fragile. Worked methodically for an even finish.
Step 05
Joints, rinse and check
Debris and silt are rinsed off, joints are cleared of displaced material and the whole area is checked for consistency.
Step 06
Completion
Site left clean and clear, with anything we found, a cracked flag, a failing edge restraint, a drainage issue, reported to you.
Benefits
What you actually get out of it
An even finish, not stripes
Methodical work across the full area, so it looks cleaned rather than attacked.
Surfaces that last longer
Clear joints and free-draining surfaces suffer far less frost damage and movement.
Immediate kerb appeal
The drive is the first thing anyone sees. Cleaning it changes the impression of the whole property.
Right method for the surface
Pressure where it is safe, softwashing where it is not: decided by what you have, not by what is quickest.
Controlled runoff
Drainage protected and silt managed, so the clean does not create a blockage somewhere else.
In Detail
Driveway Cleaning, methods, materials and situations
Surfaces we clean
- Concrete drives, yards and hard standing
- Block paving and brick paviours
- Natural stone and flagstone paths, patios and steps
- Slabbed and pre-cast concrete paving
- Tarmac and asphalt, cleaned at appropriate pressure
- Decking and timber steps, softwashed rather than blasted
- Walls, edgings and steps bounding the paved area
Method by surface
Concrete, flagstone and block paving are durable and generally take controlled pressure washing well, often with a rotary surface cleaner for an even result without lance marks.
Tarmac needs a lighter touch: too much pressure lifts the aggregate and leaves permanent scars. Soft or historic stone is treated conservatively for the same reason.
Timber decking and any coated, painted or decorative finish is softwashed, because force removes the finish along with the growth.
Block paving and jointing sand
Pressure washing block paving inevitably removes some jointing sand from the joints. That sand is not decorative; it locks the blocks together and stops them moving under load.
Re-sanding after cleaning is what keeps a block drive stable, and we will tell you if yours needs it. A drive cleaned and left with empty joints will start to rock and spread, and weed seed drops straight into the gaps.
Drainage, falls and standing water
If water sits on a drive, it will go green again quickly however well it is cleaned. Blocked gullies, silted channel drains and areas that have settled out of level are the usual culprits.
We clear what we can as part of the work and tell you where the underlying problem is, so you can decide whether to address it. In many cases a single blocked gully is behind the whole issue.
Residential and commercial
Domestic drives, paths and patios are usually completed in a day, and the visual difference is immediate across the front of the property.
For commercial premises, car parks and shared access at let properties, the priority is safe pedestrian access and presentation to customers or tenants, and the work can be scheduled around opening hours or arranged as recurring maintenance.
Planning the work and the sequence
Where a property is having several things cleaned, the drive comes last. Roof and wall cleaning both send debris downwards, so finishing at ground level means the paving is not re-soiled the day after it was done.
We also plan around access and parking, because a drive needs to be clear to be cleaned properly. Tell us when the vehicles can be moved and we will work the schedule around it rather than cleaning around obstacles and leaving patches.
Where We Work
Driveway Cleaning across Shetland and Orkney
We are based on Commercial Street in Lerwick and travel across both island groups for cleaning and maintenance work.
Shetland
- Lerwick (base)
- Scalloway
- Brae
- Sandwick
- Whalsay
- Bressay
Orkney
- Kirkwall
- Stromness
- St Margaret's Hope
More detail on the areas we cover is on the homepage areas section.
Questions
Driveway Cleaning: the things people ask first
How much does driveway cleaning cost?
It depends on the area, the surface type, the condition and access to water and power. We measure it up and give you a clear price before starting: free, with no obligation.
How long does it take?
Most domestic drives, paths and patios are a one-day job. Large or heavily soiled areas can take longer, and we confirm the expected time when we price the work.
Will pressure washing damage my paving?
Not when the pressure and equipment are matched to the surface. Damage happens when too much pressure meets soft stone, tarmac or a decorative finish, which is why fragile surfaces get softwashed instead.
Do you re-sand block paving afterwards?
Cleaning displaces jointing sand, and replacing it is what keeps the blocks locked together. We will tell you whether your drive needs re-sanding and include it in the price if so.
How long will the drive stay clean?
In this climate growth eventually returns, particularly on shaded or poorly draining areas. Clearing the drainage and keeping the surface free of standing water makes the biggest difference to how long it lasts.
Will it fix a slippery path?
Removing the algae is what restores grip, and on most paths and steps the improvement is immediate and substantial.
Can you clean decking?
Yes, using low-pressure softwashing rather than a jet wash, which would raise the grain and damage the timber surface.
Do you cover Orkney?
Yes. We work throughout Shetland and Orkney from our Lerwick base, including Kirkwall, Stromness and St Margaret's Hope.
Can you seal the drive after cleaning?
Talk to us about what you want to achieve and we will tell you honestly whether sealing suits your surface and conditions, and what it involves.
Related Work
Other work the same team handles
Free Estimate
Make the drive safe and clean again
Tell us the surface and roughly the area, or let us come and look. You will get a clear price for an even, properly finished clean: free estimate, no obligation.
property@arthurandsimpson.com
68 Commercial Street, Lerwick, Shetland ZE2 9EZ
Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm · Closed Sat & Sun
17 years' property experience · Lerwick-based team · Free, no-obligation estimates