Line Marking Removal Without Damage — With a Spotless Finish

Removing painted line markings can be difficult, time-consuming and, in some cases, seemingly impossible to do without damaging the surface. In this blog I walk through a recent clean and debunk a few common myths and methods that are either ineffective or, worse, potentially harmful and dangerous.

The call-out

Last month a corporate client asked for help removing a mistakenly applied “Deliveries Only” marking. Due to a communication mix-up, the maintenance team had painted the wording in the wrong place. They tried several chemicals but couldn’t shift it. The facilities manager then emailed This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to ask whether we could assist.

With extensive experience in graffiti removal, I was confident we could handle it and accepted the job. I met the client at an office complex in Solihull, inspected the marking referenced in the email, and discussed the brief with the site contact.

Why others turned it down

Several local contractors had declined the work. In my view, this was largely due to a lack of training on how to use the right detergents effectively and safely — and not having the correct tools for controlled, non-destructive removal.

The method that worked

I used a specialist detergent sourced from Pureseal, followed by 70 °C high-pressure water. This combination allowed me to lift the paint cleanly. The entire removal took around 30 minutes.

Let’s be blunt—driveways in Sutton Coldfield, like much of the UK, face a losing battle against the weather. The famous Midlands drizzle and ever-damp air aren’t just good for gardens; they practically invite moss, algae, and stubborn stains. It’s no surprise that, after a few winters, your driveway starts looking a little worse for wear—slippery, green, patchy, and not exactly the sort of thing you want greeting guests or passers-by.

But does hiring a professional driveway cleaner actually deliver, or is it all hype? At Balo Jetwash, based right here in Sutton Coldfield, we believe in cutting through the sales talk and being straight with people. Here’s an honest, warts-and-all case study of a recent driveway cleaning job in our area—real problems, real results.

The Client: Sutton Coldfield Home, Real Issues

Our client lives just outside the town centre, in a classic Sutton Coldfield semi, with a well-used block-paved driveway. Like many locals, they’d watched the surface become steadily greener and more slippery, especially in the shadow of a couple of old sycamores. No shortage of DIY attempts—scrubbing, hosing, trying supermarket moss killer—made much difference.

They were, understandably, sceptical. Their first question? “Will it actually look new again?” If you live in Sutton Coldfield, you’ve probably wondered the same. The honest answer: not every driveway can be made to look as it did the day it was laid. We set realistic expectations—cleaner, safer, fresher looking? Absolutely. Flawless? No promises.

Inspection: Looking Past the Surface

Arriving on a damp Thursday (surprise, surprise), our first job was to get a proper look at what we were dealing with. Ten-year-old block paving, typical for Sutton Coldfield, complete with the usual: moss in the joints, black spots (lichen) here and there, oil stains from the car, and a few blocks coming loose at the edges. Poor drainage near the garage meant standing water and even more moss.

At Balo Jetwash, we believe the secret to a flawless clean isn’t just skill – it’s also having the right tools for the job. Each surface presents its own challenges, and that’s why we use a wide variety of pressure washing equipment to deliver outstanding results across Sutton Coldfield and beyond.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the key equipment we use daily and explain what surfaces they’re best suited for.

Turbo Nozzle – Powerful and Precise
Our go-to tool for the toughest jobs, the turbo nozzle produces a high-pressure rotating water jet ideal for deep cleaning block paving and heavily soiled hard surfaces. It’s especially effective on areas with stubborn moss or deep-rooted weeds.

Lance Gun – Dual Nozzle Control
This piece of kit combines two nozzles: one with a 20° spray angle and one with a 65° angle. We typically use the lance gun for smaller surface areas or to rinse down and consolidate debris after the main clean. It’s perfect for gathering waste into manageable piles for bagging and removal from site.

20°–40° Gun – Low Pressure, Delicate Finish
When it comes to delicate surfaces, this lower-pressure gun is our tool of choice. It’s perfect for resin-bound driveways, painted surfaces, and even brickwork where high pressure might cause damage. Precision and care go hand-in-hand with this method.

Pleasure to help

The other day, I received a call from a kind elderly gentleman who wanted a quote for cleaning his patio. He told me that the concrete paving stones had become heavily discoloured over the years and had never been properly cleaned before. His main concern was making sure the patio looked beautiful, as his grandchildren often played there, and he wanted them to enjoy a clean and pleasant space.

The following day, I personally went to carry out the job. The task itself was quite straightforward, as concrete paving is relatively easy to clean – especially with the high-quality equipment I use. After pressure washing the entire surface, I applied a specialised cleaning solution to restore the patio’s original beauty and prevent further discolouration.

When I showed the finished result to the customer, he was absolutely amazed. He said he had completely forgotten how stunning the patio could look! Moments like these remind me why I love what I do – seeing a happy customer makes all the effort worthwhile.

If you have a patio that needs a fresh look, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

In a previous blog post, I mentioned how one of my patio cleaning jobs turned out exceptionally well, leading the same customer to ask me to clean their driveway as well. While working on it, their neighbour saw the results and decided to book my service too. This video is about that job.

As you can see, this is a block-paved driveway. While it wasn’t heavily stained or covered in dirt, the cleaning process was still quite challenging due to its location on a steep slope. Working on such surfaces requires extra care and effort to ensure a thorough and even clean.

After discussing the details with the client, we agreed on a suitable time, and I arrived on schedule to carry out the work. Fortunately, the weather was excellent, making the job much smoother and more efficient.

The Cleaning Process

As shown in the video, I started with a high-pressure wash using my industrial-grade cleaning machine. This method effectively removed moss, dirt, algae, and all other surface contaminants, restoring the driveway’s original colour.