Patio Cleaning in Wavendon

Wavendon has two quite different kinds of garden. Around the newer estates, patios are often porcelain or smooth concrete, laid within the last decade or so. Near the older part of the village, cottages may have stone paving that has weathered for many years. Knowing how to clean porcelain patio paving properly is a different skill from caring for old stone, so we treat them separately.

Porcelain does not absorb water in the way natural stone does, so most dirt sits on the face or collects in the joints. A grey haze, footmarks and green film along the edges are typical. A gentle wash with a suitable detergent usually brings it back. Strong pressure is unnecessary and can damage the jointing, which is often the weakest part of a porcelain patio.

Newer gardens here are often open and sunny, but fence lines and the shadow of the house still create damp strips where algae grows. On sloping plots, water may run across the patio from the lawn, carrying soil that stains the lower slabs. Spotting where that water comes from helps the clean last longer.

Some new build patios were laid quickly with narrow joints and a thin bed. Washing them is still worthwhile, but we keep an eye on slabs that move, because a loose edge can lift under the cleaner.

Older stone around village cottages needs a lighter touch again. Its surface may be soft, worn or slightly uneven, and old joints may be lime based. We clean by hand or at a low setting and check the joints as we go, rather than chasing a bright finish that strips the patina.

Black spots and lichen. Where Indian sandstone has been used on newer homes, black spot lichen can appear within a few years, especially in shade. It responds to a dedicated treatment left to act over time, not to more pressure.