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.

Clean Block Paving Driveway after Cleaned by Balo Jetwash

Are you tired of constantly battling weeds and moss overtaking your driveway or patio? It can seem like an endless struggle—no matter how often you pull them out, these unwelcome guests keep returning. But here's good news: achieving a weed-free, pristine driveway or patio is not impossible, and Balo Jetwash has the proven methods to help you get there.

Step 1: High-Performance Pressure Washing

Pressure washing isn't just about removing dirt and grime; it’s a powerful first step towards permanently managing weeds and moss. At Balo Jetwash, we use industrial-grade pressure washing equipment specifically designed to thoroughly eliminate weeds, moss, algae, and dirt embedded deeply within the paving joints.

The intense pressure blasts away even the most stubborn vegetation, immediately transforming the appearance of your outdoor space and creating a clean slate from which proper maintenance can continue.

Our high-performance pressure washing process involves multiple steps:

• Initial assessment of the area to identify problem spots.

A kind client of mine recommended their neighbour, who reached out to me wanting their driveway cleaned. According to the homeowner, they also had a pressure washer, but it was clear that their machine wasn’t powerful enough to achieve a proper clean.

Once we agreed on the price and the date for the work, I turned up as arranged and got the job done. As you can see from the photos, the surface was quite discoloured, with dirt and grime settled deep within the gaps of the block paving. The job was made trickier by the fact that the entrance area had a large overhang, making it harder to clean.

Fortunately, within less than an hour of my arrival, I had the driveway looking spotless. Using a high-pressure washer, I removed the algae, moss, and various stains that had built up over time. To ensure long-lasting cleanliness, I then treated the surface with an industrial-grade cleaning detergent, which helps maintain the driveway in perfect condition for longer.

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.