Remember when your block paving driveway was newly laid. How it shone !

You met with the contractor and carefully chose the pattern you wanted. You selected the colour scheme; silver grey, mistral granite, curragh gold. The work wasn't cheap, but in the end it was worth it.

When it was all finished it looked great. Admiring glances from passers-by, envious comments from the neighbours, and the quiet satisfaction each time you returned home that you had improved both the looks and value of your property.

Now a few years down the line it doesn't look like that any more. The blocks are stained, grubby and grey. The original kiln dried sand has disappeared from the gaps and been replaced by soil. Now moss and weeds have taken over the gaps. Quite frankly it makes the front of your house look tired and shabby.

Not to worry! You don't have to spend all that money again to restore your driveway or patio to that new pristine look again. All you need is a pressure washer and a few hours of work. And right now is the time to do it. And here are 8 reasons why ?

During the hot dry summer months the grime, grease and dirt is hard baked onto the surface of the blocks. With the cooler, wetter conditions that autumn and winter bring this layer of filth starts to slowly loosen its grip.

The rain effectively pre soaks the blocks and flagstones so that the actual cleaning process goes faster, smoother and the result is better.

The summer is when we make the most use of the garden. Whether it's the kids running around, barbecues for friends and family, birthday parties or just simply relaxing in a shady corner.

Fine weather means we take full advantage of the garden. Who wants to pressure wash when you could be sitting in a deckchair reading a good book with a beer, or a glass of wine at hand?

But in the winter !

Now is the ideal time to do that deep clean of hard surfaces. During the winter months weather dictates that the garden is hardly used at all. It's the perfect time to start tackling the exterior cleaning in preparation for next year. Before all that outdoor activity starts again.

Wet block paving and slabbing often becomes slippery during the winter months. Particularly treacherous are any slopes and steps.

Energetic children can often come a cropper. But they usually only suffer cuts and bruises, and hurt pride.

It's not the same for adults however. Particularly the elderly and infirm. Nasty falls, twisted ankles, knocks to the head. Sometimes broken bones and hospitalisation.

Power washing your hard areas removes that treacherous layer of greasy slime, algae and moss quickly making the winter garden a safe place to move around in.

Hanging out the washing shouldn't result in a trip to the infirmary !

Almost certainly your drains will be blocked with silt and leaf debris after the autumn fall. Pressure washing now means that you can kill two birds with one stone.

Did you know that compacted leaf debris is the number one reason why outside drains become blocked ?

Take the opportunity to open up the gulleys and driveway drains and blow or scoop out that build up of dead leaf and silt.

The cleared out drain or gulley can be finished off with a quick pressure wash to leave a pristine drainage system. Avoid dealing with blocked drains and pools of standing water throughout the cold winter months.

While you have have the pressure washer out don't forget your wooden fencing and furniture. They may need some attention.

After a fence has been up for a while layers of dirt, grime, algae, and other surface contaminants start to discolour the surface.

Pressure washing will benefit your fence. Pressure-treated wood needs regular maintenance to continue repelling insects and prevent algae growth. The wood won't withstand long-term damage and corrosion without a proper cleaning programme.

Winter can be a rather dull season. In the garden there is not much going on. The colour is all gone and much is bare.

Staring out the lounge or kitchen window does not bring much inspiration or joy.

However, there are things that you can do to make the garden look neat and tidy if not colourful. Trimming the hedges, final grass cut and leaf blowing will ensure you are not looking at a depressingly untidy garden all winter.

One thing that can make a huge difference is cleaning and restoring the original colours of patios, driveways and fences.

That's where you can bring out some colour. Ensuring that the view from inside the house is at least clean and tidy during those dark winter months.

During the winter months much outdoor commercial work slows down or comes to a halt. This includes pressure washing. But this can actually work to your advantage.

If you don't fancy doing the work yourself, you will find that booking contractors becomes much easier. There are no long lists of waiting clients and turnaround time between booking and completion is much faster.

This can be especially important if you need the work doing quickly, messy building work has been completed, guests are coming or perhaps there is an up and coming special event in the diary.

Again, since it is the closed season you might find that shopping around will pay dividends.

With the drop off in the amount of work coming in, some companies offer special winter discounts or bonuses that you can take advantage of.

So there you go.

And if you don't have the time or inclination to do it yourself then keep reading to discover:

My name is Tom Cross and I run a small local company called 'Straight Hedges'. During the growing season we are busy cutting hedges and shrubs.

But when the colder weather draws in and demand for this service tails off we focus more on exterior cleaning.

With our high-powered petrol engined pressure washer we can blast away all those years of dirt and grime.

As you will have seen, if you have watched the accompanying videos, this is a serious piece of kit.

Much more powerful and effective than the do-it-yourself and cheaper electric versions, so popular with homeowners.

Within a few hours we can restore the original colours and texture of many types of hard surfaces, paving, fences and even furniture.

Once again you can enjoy the admiring glances and comments of friends, neighbours and passers-by. Once again you can come home to a pristine driveway.

Now, before I reveal to you those 7 additional reasons why you should use my company, let me tell you about the 3-step process that guarantees your total satisfaction when you engage our services.

The 3-Step Process

When we arrive to complete an initial site assessment we will of course measure up and calculate an all in price for the work. But we do much more than that.

Obviously we need a supply of water so a working outside tap is essential before any work can proceed.

But, most important at this stage is to look for and identify any potential problems or snags.

We will inspect the surfaces, looking in particular for any points of weakness that may be damaged by high pressure washing.

Cracked and old mortar between joints will come apart, as will some cheaper or old and weakened sandstone type flags.

Any findings will be clearly communicated with the client to make sure that expectations are met. What can and cannot be achieved on the day. In some cases we may even advise against pressure washing a surface !

Plus, we are more than happy to demonstrate the actual cleaning process completely free of charge. Read more about our free demonstrations below.

We will clean the area in a systematic and methodical manner. All areas will be cleaned correctly.

To clean your driveway, patio or paths properly requires a patient and thorough operator.

Patience and concentration is required to make sure that all areas, corners and edges are cleaned thoroughly. No missed bits !

Our primary aim is that the client should experience the most thorough clean ever. We want happy clients and no call backs. It is to our benefit to make sure that the job has been completed to the client's total satisfaction.

After an area has been pressure washed we give it a low pressure rinse with just the hose or the machine on low power. We will wash down adjacent fences, walls and brickwork to make sure that no splashed debris is left on vertical surfaces.

We won't leave your drains blocked or piles of silt debris on the sides of the driveway or the public pavement.

After a couple of days to allow the hard surface to dry out thoroughly we shall return to apply and brush in clean fresh dried kiln sand into all the cleaned out gaps in the blocks or flagstones. And to make sure that you are totally satisfied with the work !

Only then will you be invoiced and you have a further 30 day money back guarantee and 30 days credit before any monies are due.

Want to try out our pressure washing service for the first time then ....

Book your pressure washing experience in the next 30 days and get 15% off our normal prices. For a limited time we are offering our high quality, satisfaction guaranteed, pressure washing service at £3.00 per square metre instead of the usual £3.50.

Never seen the results of a professional pressure wash? Wondering what the result would look like for you? Book a free demonstration.

We are more than happy to demonstrate the results that you can obtain by cleaning some small areas around your property. Don't worry ! You don't have to end up with an 'unsightly' clean patch right in the middle of your driveway.

We are more than happy to clean a small area at the back of the driveway, or perhaps just the kerb stones along one edge. You will be able to see the actual result that can be obtained with our professional pressure washing service, before spending one penny.

Increased heating and lighting bills, Christmas fayre and presents, entertainment costs, and the holiday season in general can stretch the household budget at this time of year.

That doesn't mean that you have to miss out on our winter discounted price. We offer the option of paying for any exterior cleaning in 3 equal instalments.

On completion of the work to your satisfaction you will be billed. You have 30 days to pay the first instalment, 60 days to pay the second and 90 days to pay the third and final payment.

Small manageable payments mean that you don't have to miss out on all the benefits of getting your exterior cleaning out of the way now.

Many people are pressed for time and are not available during the working week or on certain days. This can be an issue when trying to arrange a suitable date and time for the work to be carried out. To help you book remember.

We do not require an electricity supply to carry out the service. We only require access to the external areas of your property and a working outdoor tap. This means you do not need to be present for the work to be carried out.

You can carry on with your normal activities. You're not stuck at home. You can be doing something else while your property is being cleaned.

Of course, if you wish to be present this is not a problem either. We work 7 days a week meaning that you can have the work carried out while your home, even if this means at the weekend. There is no extra charge for this convenience,

If there is any aspect of the service that you are not happy with you have a full 30 days to notify us. We will not ignore your calls or emails. We aim to provide the highest level of service for the best clients.

Whatever the problem is we shall try to rectify it, free of charge. If you are still not satisfied we shall agree to a full or partial refund with you. Satisfied clients are of the utmost importance.

One thing that stops clients from pressure washing in the winter is the fear that algae and moss will soon reappear on their lovely clean driveways, patios or fences. There is an easy solution.

Patio Magic kills and controls green mould, algae and lichens on block paving, driveways, fences, garden furniture, glass and perspex.

Biodegradable, Long lasting, No Bleach or Acids, Antibacterial. Patio Magic is easy to apply. Simply dilute and apply by brush or watering can. No scrubbing required. Will keep areas mould free for up to 3 months.

We offer this inexpensive optional extra to ensure your hard areas, fences and garden furniture remain mould free this winter.

Right now we are giving away a free bird feeder with every quotation for pressure washing.

Winter is here and our feathered friends could always do with some help. Food sources are limited and the smaller birds need to eat every day to survive.

These bird feeders are easy to fill, easy to clean and we even offer them with 4 fat balls to get you started. Not only will you help the local bird population, you get to enjoy a little bird watching from the comfort of your own home.

Take the first step. Get a price, ask any questions you may have, we will gladly advise and explain and point out any potential problems or limitations of the clean.

There is no obligation to proceed. All estimates are good for 90 days. We will gladly gift you a free bird feeder ( fat balls included ) simply for the interest you have shown.

Winter Special Offer

Want to try out our pressure washing service for the first time then ....

Book your pressure washing experience in the next 30 days and get ...

To grab your 'Winter Special Offer' simply pick up the phone and dial or text on 07783 492 037.

Clearly state your name, address and phone number.

Then ask for your pressure washing site assessment.

You will be contacted within 24 hours to arrange a site visit and hard area inspection.