We price every job individually and quote a fixed figure before any work is booked, so there are no surprises on the day. But it helps to understand what a quote is actually made of, particularly if you are comparing two very different numbers for the same driveway.
These are the five things that move the price.
1. Area and measurement
Square metres are the starting point for paving, and elevation count and height for a house wash or roof. Larger areas cost more in total but usually less per square metre, because the setup time is the same whether we clean 30m² or 130m².
2. Access
Access is the factor most people underestimate. A drive we can park on and reach with a single hose run is straightforward. A rear garden reached through the house, a roof needing a powered access platform, a courtyard with no water source or a property on a busy road needing traffic management all add real cost, because they add real time and equipment.
3. How contaminated the surface is
Two identical patios can take very different amounts of time. Light algae is a single pass. Twenty years of moss, embedded weed root and thick lichen can be double the labour, and may need a pre-treatment visit before the main clean.
4. Surface type and the method it demands
Concrete takes pressure and is quick. Indian sandstone needs a lower setting and more care. Render and painted masonry need softwashing, dwell time and controlled rinsing. Roofs need working at height. The method the surface demands sets the pace of the job.
5. The finishing work
Kiln-dried sand re-sanding, biocide treatment, sealing, gutter downpipe flow testing — these are what make a clean last. They are included where they belong in our quotes, and they are frequently the reason a proper quote sits above a cheap one.
How to compare two quotes fairly
Before you compare the numbers, check the two quotes cover the same work.
- Does it include re-sanding the joints on block paving?
- Is a biocide treatment included, or just the wash?
- Is the method right for the surface — softwash on render and roofs, not pressure?
- Who is supplying water and power, and is waste water being managed?
- Is there full public liability insurance, and cover for work at height?
- Is the price fixed, or an estimate that can change on the day?
Bundling saves money
The largest single cost in any small job is getting a team and equipment to your property. If you are having the driveway cleaned, adding the patio, the path and the gutters to the same visit is far cheaper than three separate bookings. Whole-property packages are usually the best value per surface.
The short version
- Access and contamination often matter more than area.
- A cheap quote usually excludes re-sanding, biocide or both.
- Bundling surfaces into one visit reduces cost per surface.
- Insist on a fixed written price, not an on-the-day estimate.
