We share the story of one of our most dramatic block paving restoration projects -- a Tamworth driveway that hadn't been cleaned in 15 years.
Every now and then we're called out to a driveway that makes us appreciate just how dramatic a professional clean can be. This case study describes one such project -- a double block paving driveway in Amington, Tamworth, that hadn't been professionally cleaned in 15 years.
The Situation
The homeowners had recently moved into the property and inherited a block paving driveway that was completely unrecognisable as such. The surface was entirely covered in black algae and moss, with significant lichen growth in many areas. Weeds had established themselves throughout the joints, many of which had lost their jointing sand entirely. Several blocks had become dislodged and were sitting unevenly.
The owners had been quoted for a complete replacement by several contractors, at costs ranging from £8,000 to £12,000. On the advice of a neighbour, they contacted us for an assessment.
Our Assessment
On surveying the driveway, we could see that the underlying blocks were in surprisingly good condition -- the heavy biological growth had actually protected them to some extent. The main issues were the biological growth, the loss of jointing sand, a small number of dislodged blocks, and a significant number of oil stains from the previous owners.
We were confident we could achieve an outstanding result without the need for any replacement blocks.
The Process
Our team spent two full days on this project. Day one was devoted to pre-treatment of the biological growth, pressure washing using a rotary surface cleaner, and specialist degreaser treatment for the oil staining. We reset the dislodged blocks and applied additional biological treatment to the heavily affected areas.
Day two involved a second pass with the pressure washer to remove any remaining growth, followed by thorough drying time, then a full re-sand of all joints with kiln-dried sand. We finished with two coats of a quality block paving sealant in a wet-look finish.
The Result
The transformation was extraordinary. The original honey-coloured blocks were restored to a colour and vibrancy that the homeowners said they hadn't seen in any of the estate agent's photos of the property. The driveway looked better than new, with fresh jointing, a clean sealed surface, and a rich wet-look finish.
The total cost of our work was £650 -- compared to a minimum of £8,000 for replacement. The homeowners were understandably delighted.
This is why we always recommend getting a professional assessment before writing off an old driveway. In most cases, restoration is not only possible but delivers better results than you might expect.
Written by the Tamworth Brighter Drives team
With over 10 years of experience cleaning and restoring driveways and patios across Tamworth and the Midlands, our team shares practical knowledge drawn from thousands of real jobs.
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