Deep Detail
Materials, methods and variations we handle.
Every surface behaves differently under pressure, water temperature and chemistry. Here's the technical detail behind the work, the reason we don't quote sight-unseen for most jobs.
Stone types we clean
Indian sandstone is the most common patio stone in Dorset gardens, porous, warm-toned, prone to black spot fungus in shade. Yorkstone and reclaimed sandstone are similar in behaviour but often more valuable, so care matters more. Limestone (grey and buff) is softer and reacts to acid cleaners, so chemistry choice is critical. Porcelain is a completely different animal, dense, non-porous, shows streaks. Concrete slabs and imprinted concrete take a firmer clean. Travertine and quartzite less common but we handle both.
- Indian sandstone (Kandla, Raj, Mint)
- Yorkstone and reclaimed sandstone
- Limestone (grey, buff, Egyptian)
- Porcelain paving
- Concrete slab and imprinted concrete
- Travertine, quartzite, granite setts
Black spot fungus, the honest treatment
Black spot on sandstone is one of the toughest patio problems in the UK. It's a lichen, not a stain, and it lives inside the pores of the stone. Bleach kills what's visible on the surface and leaves the rest, which is why bleached patios go black again fast. A proper fungicidal biocide, applied with dwell time, kills the organism through the stone. On badly-affected patios we sometimes recommend two passes across two visits, cheaper than replacing the paving, and we're upfront about it at the quote.
Pointing and joints
Slab pointing is where algae, weeds and moss actually live. Cleaning the slab face without treating joints means everything returns within one growing season. We clean joints as part of the standard job; if pointing is loose, cracked or missing we can arrange to repoint with a colour-matched mortar. That's booked separately at quote stage so the timings work, pointing needs the patio dry, sealing needs the pointing cured.
Sealing patios, when it makes sense
Sealing isn't for every patio. On sandstone and porcelain that gets heavy use, outdoor kitchens, family dining spaces, pub gardens, a professional seal repels water, resists food and drink stains, deepens colour and dramatically slows algae regrowth. On patios in deep shade or with drainage problems, sealing on its own won't fix the underlying issue. Adam is Smartseal-trained and only seals patios that will actually benefit, we'll tell you honestly at quote stage.
Residential vs commercial
Domestic patios are usually a same-day job, larger split-level or wraparound terraces run to two. Commercial patios at hotels, pubs and restaurants get scheduled around trading, early mornings, closing days, off-season deep-cleans. All commercial work runs on RAMS, invoices and insurance certificates provided in advance.
