The August bank holiday falls on Monday 31 August this year, and if you are anything like most of our customers across Torbay, it means a garden or outdoor space that needs to be presentable. Whether you are hosting family, having friends over, or simply want to make the most of the last long weekend of summer, the condition of your driveway, patio or decking makes a bigger difference than most people realise.
I am Mike, and together with Paul we run Bay Exterior Cleaning across Torbay and the South Hams. We have been jet washing and cleaning exterior surfaces across Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Newton Abbot and the surrounding area for years, and August is one of our busiest periods. Not just because of the weather, but because property owners look outside, see what a summer of rain, foot traffic and garden use has done to their paving, and decide enough is enough.
If you have been putting off getting the driveway or patio sorted, now is the time to book. Here is what we cover and why it makes such a visible difference.
What a Summer Does to Driveways and Patios in South Devon
The coastal climate around Torbay is brilliant for living in, but it is not kind to outdoor surfaces. The combination of warm and wet conditions through spring and summer creates ideal conditions for algae, moss and lichen growth on paving, block paving, concrete and natural stone. You will have seen it on your own property or on a neighbour’s: a green or black film across the surface of the driveway, or black patches that build up between block paving joints.
On top of biological growth, summer use adds its own layer of wear. Barbecue grease, oil drips on the driveway, muddy footwear from coastal walks, garden furniture legs leaving marks on patio slabs, vehicle tyres grinding grit into block paving joints. By August, most outdoor surfaces have taken a fair amount of punishment, and it shows.
The issue with algae and moss on hard surfaces is not just cosmetic. A film of algae on patio or driveway stone becomes genuinely slippery when wet, which is a safety issue as well as an unsightly one. And if moss is left to establish itself in block paving joints, it expands as it grows and begins to disturb the sand binding that holds the blocks in place.
A professional jet wash at this time of year deals with all of this properly. Not just the surface appearance, but the biological growth that causes it.
What We Clean and How
Block paving driveways
Block paving is one of the surfaces where professional cleaning makes the most dramatic difference. We use the appropriate pressure and technique for the specific block type to remove the surface staining, lift biological growth from the joints and restore the original colour and texture of the paving. Where joint sand has been lost through erosion or the cleaning process, we re-sand as part of the job.
Done properly, a cleaned and re-sanded block paving driveway can look close to new again, even on surfaces that have been down for ten or fifteen years. We see this transformation regularly on properties across Torquay and Paignton.
Concrete and tarmac driveways
Concrete driveways develop dark staining from algae, oil and general surface contamination over time. We can clean these effectively and lift the surface back to a significantly cleaner finish. Oil stains, which are a common issue on driveways, respond well to professional-grade pre-treatment before jet washing.
Natural stone and Indian sandstone patios
Natural stone is a surface where the wrong approach does real damage. Too much pressure erodes the stone surface and accelerates weathering. We work at the right pressure for the material and use appropriate cleaning solutions where needed to lift the staining without compromising the stone.
Indian sandstone in particular develops green algae staining in shaded areas quickly, and the texture of the stone holds the discolouration in a way that looks worse than on smoother surfaces. A professional clean restores the natural colour and brightness of the stone considerably.
Porcelain and composite decking
Porcelain paving and composite decking materials are increasingly common in South Devon gardens, and both benefit from a professional clean. Porcelain in particular develops a surface film that makes it slippery, and a proper clean with the correct technique deals with it without damaging the surface.
What About Rendering and Gutters?
If your property’s exterior needs more than driveway or patio work, we cover the full range of exterior cleaning services. Render cleaning and soft washing, gutter clearing and cleaning, roof moss treatment, window cleaning and fascia cleaning are all within what we do. If you are getting the outdoor spaces sorted before the bank holiday, it makes sense to look at the whole exterior at the same time. We will give you a single quote covering everything and coordinate the work to minimise disruption.
Book Before the Bank Holiday Rush
Availability in late August fills up faster than at any other time of year. If you want your driveway or patio sorted before the bank holiday weekend, the time to book is now. We aim to provide a quick turnaround from enquiry to visit across Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Newton Abbot, Dartmouth and the wider South Devon area.
We always come out for a look before we quote. There is no charge for this, no obligation, and no pressure. We tell you what we think the job involves and what it will cost, and you decide.
Request a free, no-obligation quote from Bay Exterior Cleaning
Call Mike or Paul directly on 01803 935187
