Local guide · Fulham
Pressure Cleaning in Fulham — Soft Wash, Not Brute Force.
Why most SW6 patios get destroyed by the jet wash that's meant to save them — and the five-step sequence that actually restores Indian sandstone, porcelain and decking.
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Why Fulham patios go green so fast
SW6 sits in a Thames-side microclimate — high humidity, shaded gardens hemmed in by Victorian terraces, and limited airflow. Sandstone and porcelain patios off Fulham Road, Parsons Green and Hurlingham develop algae and lichen within 8–12 months of laying. By year two, the same slabs look 10 years old.
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Pressure alone won't fix it
Aiming a 3000 psi jet at York stone strips the surface, opens the pores and accelerates re-soiling. The right sequence: alkaline pre-treatment to lift organics → soft wash → low-pressure rinse → joint re-sanding with kiln-dried polymeric sand → sealer. Skip any step and the green is back by Easter.
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Surfaces we treat differently across SW6
Indian sandstone (most common in Fulham gardens) — soft wash only, never turbo nozzle · Porcelain (newer builds) — needs a slip-coefficient-safe detergent so it isn't lethal when wet · Brick paviors on driveways off Wandsworth Bridge Road — high-pressure with rotary surface cleaner, then re-sand · Decking — soft wash + oxalic acid brightener, no jet.
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Drainage rules most cleaners ignore
Fulham sits on combined sewers. Hammersmith & Fulham council prohibits discharging detergent-laden runoff into surface gullies. A proper contractor bunds the area, vacuums the slurry, and disposes of it as trade waste. Ask to see a waste-transfer note — it protects you if a neighbour complains.
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Best time of year
March to early May, or September. Avoid June–August: sealer cures badly above 25°C and the surface dries before chemistry can work. Avoid December–February: sealer won't bond below 8°C and you'll pay twice.
Book Fulham
Patios restored, not stripped.
Soft wash, re-sand and breathable sealer. Fixed quotes per m², waste-transfer note provided, fully insured.
