Luckily you n still use the Balo Jetwash service anytime!

As the UK braces itself for another dry summer, water authorities are introducing hosepipe bans in various regions – including areas around Sutton Coldfield. With the BBC recently reporting on these growing restrictions, homeowners and business owners alike are asking the same question: “Can I still book an exterior cleaning or jet washing service during a hosepipe ban?”

It’s a fair concern. When councils announce water restrictions, many assume it affects all water use outdoors. But the reality is more nuanced – and if you’re considering having your driveway, patio, roof, or shopfront professionally cleaned, it’s important to understand the details.

What Is a Hosepipe Ban?

A hosepipe ban, officially known as a Temporary Use Ban (TUB), is put in place by local water suppliers during times of water shortage. It’s designed to reduce non-essential water use by households, ensuring there’s enough supply for everyone.

Typically, a hosepipe ban includes the following prohibitions for domestic users:

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.

Gutter Cleaning

At Balo Jetwash, one of the most common questions we get from customers before a roof clean is: “What happens to all the moss, dirt, and water used during cleaning?” It’s a fair concern—no one wants to swap a mossy roof for a blocked gutter!

During a typical roof cleaning service, we remove a significant amount of moss, algae, and accumulated grime. While some of this debris naturally washes away through rainfall or flows into your gutter system, a good portion of it can remain lodged in the guttering. Left unattended, this build-up can cause blockages, poor water flow, and even damage to your property’s fascia and foundations.

That’s why, at Balo Jetwash, we always take an extra step after every roof clean. We use our professional-grade gutter vacuum system to clean out the guttering thoroughly. This equipment allows us to safely and effectively clear gutters from ground level—even on buildings up to four storeys high. It ensures that your drainage system remains free-flowing and that your property is protected from potential water damage.

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.