Patio Cleaning Cost: Pressure Washing Within the Refresh and on Its Own
Pressure washing is already included in our guide price of approximately €15/m² + IVA for cleaning, repairing and recolouring a driveway or patio. If you only want cleaning with no paint, we quote it separately from your photos, because the effort depends far more on the dirt than on the m².
Send us a photo and the m²How much does patio cleaning cost with you?
When cleaning is part of a full refresh, it costs you nothing extra: the guide rate of €15 per m² + IVA covers the wash, crack repair and two coats. A 50 m² terrace refresh at €750 + IVA already has the pressure washing built in.
When you want cleaning only, we do not apply that rate, because it would be wrong in both directions. A lightly dusty driveway and a terrace black with algae are not the same job, even if they measure the same.
Why is cleaning priced separately when there is no painting?
In a refresh, cleaning is preparation: its job is to give the paint a sound surface, and the per m² rate absorbs it. On its own, cleaning is the finished result, so the time it takes depends on what has built up, and that is what we price.
- Light dust and pollen: quick to lift and usually uniform across the area.
- Algae and moss: common in shaded patios and north-facing paths, slower to remove.
- Weeds in paving joints: need extra passes along every joint line.
- Oil and tyre marks: some lift, some only fade; we tell you which from the photos.
- Flaking old paint: loose material comes off, but bonded paint may stay.
Access plays the same role as in a refresh. A patio reached only through the house, a terrace down a flight of steps or a driveway full of parked cars takes longer to clean than an open, empty area of the same size.
So when you send photos for a cleaning quote, show us the way in as well as the surface. A picture of the gate, the side passage or the steps saves a question later.
What does driveway pressure washing actually achieve?
A good wash removes surface dirt, organic growth and loose particles, and it reveals the true condition of the concrete. It does not restore colour that the sun has bleached out of the material itself.
That is why owners are sometimes surprised after a wash: the driveway is clean, but still pale. If that is your situation, compare the wash with the full driveway painting cost, where the colour comes back as well.
Which surfaces do you clean?
We clean the same outdoor surfaces we restore: plain concrete, imprinted concrete, block paving and stone slabs around villas, patios and pools. Indoor floors and industrial warehouse floors are not part of our work.
Natural stone and older paving can be more delicate than concrete, so the photos matter even more. If a surface looks fragile, we tell you before quoting rather than risk damaging it.
When is cleaning alone the better value?
Cleaning alone is the better buy when the colour underneath is still strong and only dirt hides it. Block paving with intact colour, stone slabs and recently coloured surfaces often fall into this group.
A full refresh is the better buy when the surface is faded, patchy or cracked. Paying for a wash first and a refresh later means the first wash is repeated inside the second job.
Our article on cheap and expensive quotes shows how this choice plays out in money terms, and our guide to what the €15/m² covers explains why cleaning sits inside the rate.
What happens to the wash water and paint residues?
Wash water from a dirty driveway is one thing; paint, pigments and solvents are another. In Málaga city, the sewer regulation prohibits discharging water-immiscible solvents and paints or pigments that cannot be removed by normal treatment.
For Marbella and other municipalities, we have not verified the local discharge rules (to be verified), so the ayuntamiento is the place to confirm them. Our guide to costs outside the quote covers the regulatory side in more detail.
How do you price cleaning for a communal garage or long driveway?
Large areas are priced from photos just like small ones, with the area, the dirt and the access as the deciding factors. Communal garage ramps and access lanes often have oil marks and tyre deposits that need specific attention.
If a community is weighing cleaning against a full refresh, we can quote both so the administrator can put the choice to the owners. The communal garage quote page explains how those budgets are prepared.
How do I get a quote for cleaning?
Send a wide shot of the area and close-ups of the worst stains, moss or weeds, plus your estimate of the m². Tell us whether you want cleaning only or the full refresh, or ask us to quote both.
The price calculator shows the refresh figure straight away. For cleaning-only work, the confirmed price arrives with our reply, in English and in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does patio pressure washing cost?
Within a full refresh, pressure washing is included in the guide price of approximately €15/m² + IVA, together with crack repair and two coats of resin paint. For cleaning on its own, there is no fixed public rate: we quote it from photos, because the amount of dirt, algae and staining decides the effort far more than the size.
Why don't you publish a cleaning-only price per m²?
Because a single number would mislead. A dusty driveway and a patio covered in algae or weeds can measure the same and take very different amounts of work. We prefer to look at your photos and give a written figure that reflects your surface rather than publish a rate that fits nobody.
Will pressure washing remove oil stains?
Some oil stains lift completely, others only fade, and deep old stains may remain visible. We cannot tell which from a description alone. Send close-up photos and we will say honestly what to expect; if a stain will stay, a full recolour may be the better answer.
Can pressure washing damage my driveway?
On sound concrete, a correctly handled wash removes dirt without harming the surface. Weak, crumbling or very old surfaces, and some natural stone, need more care. That is one reason we ask for close-ups before quoting, so that we can flag any fragile areas in advance.
Is a wash enough before I sell or rent out the villa?
If the colour is still good, a wash can make a big visual difference on its own. If the surface is faded or cracked, a wash will only show a cleaner version of the same problem. We can quote both options so you can choose based on your budget and timing.
Do you clean block paving and remove weeds from joints?
Yes. Block paving is cleaned with extra attention along the joints, where weeds and moss collect. If blocks are loose or sunk, that is a separate repair outside our service. Joint condition is one of the things we check in your photos before giving a price.
Is cleaning included if I order the full refresh?
Yes. Every refresh starts with pressure washing, and the cost is already part of the guide price of approximately €15/m² + IVA. You do not pay a separate cleaning fee on top, unless the photos show exceptional problems such as thick old paint that must come off.
Can you clean the pool surround?
Yes, pool surrounds are one of the areas we clean, often with algae or black marks on the slabs. Narrow strips and coping edges take careful work. Send photos of the whole surround and the worst areas, and we will reply with a written price.
Can you clean a communal garage?
Yes. We quote cleaning and full refresh options for communal garages, ramps and access areas so the administrator can present them to the owners. Oil and tyre deposits are common in these spaces, and we assess them from photos before giving a figure.
What about IVA on a cleaning job?
IVA is added to the cleaning price at the rate that applies. The general rate is 21%; a reduced 10% rate can apply to renovation and repair works on private homes when the legal conditions are met. Our IVA guide explains the conditions with official sources.
Do I need to be at home for the cleaning?
No. Being abroad when the work is done is not a problem. If someone can open the gate, we can arrange the visit with a key-holder or property manager and send photos of the result over WhatsApp, so you see the before and after without travelling.
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