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Patio Cleaning in Somerset & Dorset
Indian sandstone, limestone, porcelain and concrete slabs cleaned of moss, algae and black spot. Joints re-pointed where they need it, so the patio looks laid rather than just washed.
Patio cleaning that brings the colour back.
Most people are amazed by their own patio after a clean, because natural stone has far more colour in it than the grey-green film on top suggests. The job is getting that film off without scarring the stone underneath.
Pressure is matched to the stone. Sandstone and limestone are softer than most people expect and will pit under an aggressive lance held too close, so we drop the pressure and take longer over it rather than forcing the pace.
Moss, algae and organic black spot come off the surface and out of the joints, and weeds are cleared from the pointing rather than simply cut back. Where joints have washed out or cracked we will re-point them — cleaning very often exposes pointing that was already failing underneath the growth. Beds, lawn and drains stay protected throughout and everything is rinsed down at the end.
Three steps, no surprises.
Send a photo
A photo tells us the stone type and how much of the staining is organic rather than permanent.
Get a fixed price
A clear written price, including whether any re-pointing is needed once the joints are exposed.
We clean it
Most patios are a single day. Furniture moved back, borders rinsed, everything left tidy.
Old flagstones, new sandstone.
Somerset patios are a real mix. In the older villages you find Ham stone and blue lias flags — around Martock, Somerton and Castle Cary especially — laid decades ago and often bedded in soft, old mortar. Those are soft limestones, and they get a gentle, treatment-led clean rather than a lance, because a weathered stone face does not come back once it has been blasted off.
On newer homes around Yeovil and Wincanton it is mostly Indian sandstone and porcelain. Sandstone is softer than it looks and pits under too much pressure, so we drop the pressure and take longer. Porcelain is the easy one: the slabs clean quickly and the work is in the joints.
Why patios here go green.
A lot of Somerset gardens sit in sheltered, damp valleys or under mature trees, so patios stay wet for long stretches. That is why the green film builds up so fast from autumn onwards, and why it turns slabs slippery — there is more on that in why your patio turns lethal every autumn.
Black spot is the other common one: small dark dots of lichen bonded into the stone that a jet wash barely touches. It needs a specific treatment and time. If you have a driveway going the same way, it often makes sense to do both on one visit.
Questions, answered straight.
Will it damage Indian sandstone?
Not at the right pressure. Sandstone is softer than most people assume and can be pitted by an aggressive lance held too close. We drop the pressure and take longer over it rather than forcing the pace.
What is black spot and will it come off?
Black spot is lichen bonded into the surface of the stone. Ordinary washing barely touches it — it needs a specific treatment and time to work. Most of it lifts. Very old, deeply embedded spotting may fade rather than vanish entirely.
Do you re-point afterwards?
Where it is needed, yes. Cleaning often exposes joints that were already failing under the moss. We will flag that before starting so it is priced in rather than sprung on you.
Can you clean porcelain?
Yes, and it is straightforward — porcelain is non-porous, so it cleans up quickly. The work is usually in the joints rather than the slabs.
Should I seal the patio afterwards?
On natural stone it helps resist staining and slows regrowth. It is not essential, and we will not push it if your patio does not need it.
Can old Ham stone or blue lias flags be cleaned?
Yes, but gently. Both are soft limestones, often laid in old, soft mortar. They get a low-pressure, treatment-led clean rather than a lance — and if the stone is already failing, we will tell you to repair it before cleaning it.
Do you clean patios across Somerset?
Yes — Yeovil, Martock, Somerton, Castle Cary, Bruton, Wincanton and the villages in between, as well as across Dorset. Send a photo and your postcode for a fixed price.
How long does a patio clean take?
Most patios are a single day, with furniture moved back, borders rinsed and everything left tidy. If re-pointing is needed, we will tell you when we quote so it is planned in.
We also clean…
Areas we cover.
Based near Sturminster Newton and working right across North Dorset and South Somerset. Pick your town for the local detail, or just ask — if you are anywhere near this list, you are in it.
Ready to see the difference?
Send a photo of your patio and we will come back to you with a clear, fixed price within 24 hours. Free, no obligation, no pressure.