Getting Started with the Driveway
Right, so the driveway here in Chalfont St Peter was looking a bit worse for wear. You know, green stuff growing in the gaps, general dirt built up over time. It was definitely time to give it a proper clean.
First thing I did was check the weather forecast. Needed a dry day, obviously. Looked okay, maybe a bit cloudy but no rain expected, so decided to crack on.
Moved the cars out onto the street and shifted the wheelie bins around the back. Had to get everything off it so I had a clear run. Preparation is half the battle, I always say.
Tackling the Weeds and Dirt
Next up, dealing with the weeds. Spent a bit of time pulling out the bigger clumps sprouting between the paving bricks. Some were really dug in. Used a scraper tool for the stubborn ones lodged in the joints.
After the weeding, I grabbed my stiff outdoor broom. Gave the whole area a really thorough sweep down. Got rid of all the loose leaves, grit, and bits of soil. Amazing how much stuff collects on there. Filled up a garden waste bag pretty quick. You really need to get this loose stuff off before you start washing, otherwise, it just turns into sludge.
The Main Event: Pressure Washing
Okay, then it was time to bring out the big gun – the pressure washer. Hauled it out from the garage. Hooked up the garden hose to the tap and connected it to the machine. Plugged in the power cable. Selected a fan nozzle, didn’t want anything too fierce that might blast out the jointing sand.
I started working from the highest point of the driveway, near the garage doors, and made my way down towards the pavement. Used slow, overlapping passes with the spray wand. You could immediately see the clean stone underneath the grime. It’s quite satisfying watching the dirt just lift off like that.
- Kept the wand moving steadily.
- Made sure I wasn’t spraying directly into the joints too hard.
- Worked methodically across the surface, section by section.
It’s quite a messy job, mind you. Spray goes everywhere, so I was wearing old clothes and boots. Took a fair while to do the whole thing properly, probably a couple of hours steady work. Stopped for a quick cuppa halfway through.
Finishing Up
Once I’d washed the entire surface, I gave it a final light rinse over with the pressure washer, holding the nozzle further away this time. Just to wash down any remaining detergent suds and loose debris.
Then just left it to air dry naturally for the rest of the day. Packed the pressure washer and hoses away. Tidied up the tools.
Looks loads better now. Really lifted the appearance of the front of the house. The colour of the bricks looks brighter. Felt pretty good looking at the finished job. Worth the afternoon’s work, definitely. Proper clean driveway again.
