Patio Cleaning in Buckingham

Buckingham sits in the valley of the Great Ouse, and many gardens rise or fall towards the river, so patios are often split into levels with steps between them. That makes cleaning about more than appearance. Steps and sloping paving that turn green are a real slip risk, especially for older relatives or young children.

On sloping patios, water runs across the surface and collects at the lower edge, which is where algae and moss build up thickest. Steps hold water on their treads and stay damp in the shade of the risers. Weeds take hold where joints have opened, often at the back of each tread.

Cleaning steps needs a slower approach than flat paving. A rotary cleaner cannot always reach, so we use a lance at a controlled pressure and work down the steps so dirty water does not run back over cleaned areas. On sandstone treads, we keep the pressure lower and rely more on treatment, to avoid roughening the edges people step on.

Some gardens near the older part of town have stone that matches local buildings, while newer homes may have concrete or porcelain. If your home is listed or in the conservation area and you plan anything beyond a clean, it is worth checking with Buckinghamshire Council first.

Loose or rocking step slabs often become obvious once they are clean. We point these out so they can be fixed before someone catches a foot on them.

Edges of steps are worth looking at closely. Nosings, the front lip of each tread, wear first and tend to hold a strip of algae where feet do not quite reach. Getting those clean makes the edge more visible as well as grippier, which helps anyone with weaker eyesight see where each step ends.

Retaining walls beside terraced patios often weep water through their joints after rain, and that runs onto the paving below and keeps it green. We can clean the face of the wall where it meets the patio, but if the wall is wet all the time, it may need weep holes cleared or drainage looking at. We will note it so you can decide.

Run-off on a slope also affects where dirty water ends up. Washing from the top terrace down means the bottom of the garden collects the most water, so we make sure it drains away from the house and does not pool by the back door.