The Job
A customer got in touch asking for help with a sandstone patio that was looking weathered and uneven. As soon as we looked at it, we could tell this wasn’t a standard pressure washing job. The stone was fragile, with visible flaking on the surface and very delicate edges.
If we had gone in with high-pressure or turbo nozzles, it would have been a disaster. It would have pitted the surface, eroded the stone further, and stripped away its natural colour.
Choosing the Right Method
Before we even set up the equipment, we had to look at the condition of the stone, not just the dirt. Our main goal was to clean it without breaking it.
Because sandstone is made of compacted grains, it can be soft. On older patios like this, blasting it with water can rip the top layer right off. That leaves you with a rough, patchy surface that actually gets dirty faster in the future. We decided softwashing was the only safe way to go.
The Process
We used a low-pressure softwash system to apply a cleaning mix specifically designed to eat through the organic growth and grime. We didn’t need force; we let the solution do the heavy lifting.
Cleaning it chemically instead of physically meant:
- We didn’t etch or flake the stone.
- The pointing and edges stayed intact.
- We didn’t strip the stone’s natural “patina”.
- No mess or aggressive splashback.
After the mix had done its job, we gave it a gentle rinse.
The Result
The difference was night and day. The stone’s natural colours came back out, and that circular feature in the middle looks brand new again. Most importantly, we got it clean without damaging a single paver. The customer was over the moon to see the patio restored safely rather than blasted aggressively.
The Bottom Line
This job is the perfect example of why soft washing is usually the best bet for sandstone. High pressure might be faster, but the risk of damage is too high on older stone. Softwashing takes a bit more patience, but it preserves your patio for the long haul.
Looking for patio cleaning near me? Contact us at Stourbridge Jet Clean today for a quote!
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