HOW TO HIRE · CLEANING

How to hire a pressure washing contractor in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No register applies to pressure washing contractors. Check the pressure for the surface, the chemicals and where the run-off goes.

  • Search and compare — no account needed
  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a pressure washing contractor in five steps

  1. Say what is being washedPath, patio, render or walls.
  2. Mention delicate surfacesRender, sandstone, old pointing.
  3. Run-offAsk where it goes.
  4. Shut windowsAnd move cars.
  5. AftercareRe-sanding or sealing priced.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

Nothing licenses pressure washing contractors in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, so pressure washing can be offered by anyone; trader status, insurance and references carry the weight.

Ask for a business name, an invoice for the pressure washing and the name of the insurer.

Cleaning chemicals and COSHH

HSE's COSHH rules on hazardous substances apply to self-employed people who bring hazardous products onto other premises, apart from monitoring and health surveillance. Strong degreasers, descalers and biocides used for pressure washing fall within them.

Ask which products the pressure washing uses, and whether they are safe on your surfaces. hse.gov.uk →

Public liability insurance

Nothing obliges a cleaner to be insured, but public liability cover is the difference between a claim paid and a dispute if pressure washing goes wrong. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitles you to pressure washing done with reasonable care and skill.

Ask the pressure washing contractor who the insurer is before the pressure washing.

Damage to the surface and your rights

Too much pressure can etch stone, strip joint sand or blow out pointing. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the pressure washing must be done with reasonable care and skill, and damage from careless work is the pressure washing contractor's to put right at their cost.

Before the pressure washing starts, photograph the surface and point out any loose pointing or cracked slabs.

VAT

Pressure washing is standard-rated at 20%. A pressure washing contractor taking more than £90,000 a year must register, charge the 20% on the washing, pre-treatment and aftercare, and set it out on its own line.

Ask the contractor for the VAT number and check the 20% is listed below the washing price. gov.uk →

“What pressure will the pressure washing use on this surface?”

A good answer: Lower for tarmac, sandstone and render; a soft wash for walls.

“Where will the run-off from the pressure washing go?”

A good answer: A plan for slurry and dirty water.

“Which chemicals does your pressure washing use?”

A good answer: Named, with care around plants.

“Will you protect windows and plants?”

A good answer: Yes, described.

“Is re-sanding or sealing included?”

A good answer: Priced separately.

“Are you insured if pressure washing damages something?”

A good answer: Public liability, insurer named.

Getting the quote right

  • Area and surface
  • Pre-treatment
  • Aftercare priced
  • Clear-up
  • Who actually attends with the pressure washer, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, with 20% VAT shown separately from the washing and aftercare

Walk away if

  • High pressure on render or sandstone
  • No plan for run-off
  • No insurance
  • Price per square metre that grows on site
LOW
£100
TYPICAL
£300
HIGH
£900

What a pressure washing contractor costs: £100–£900 per job

Pressure washing is priced per job, often by the square metre, with aftercare on top. Pressure Washing price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Pressure washing contractors near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Site checkSurface, drains and nearby windows.
  2. Pre-treatMoss and oil treated.
  3. WashAt the right pressure.
  4. RinseArea rinsed.
  5. Clear upSlurry swept up.

Soft wash
Low-pressure cleaning with a solution.
Rotary cleaner
A spinning head for flat surfaces.
Slurry
Dirty water and grit after washing.
Pointing
Mortar between bricks or slabs.
Etching
Surface damage from too much pressure.
COSHH
HSE's rules on hazardous substances.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check the surfaceEven, no etching or lifted pointing.
Clear-upNo slurry left.
Keep the invoiceArea and method.
Rate the jobTell the next person how the pressure washing went — time kept, mess left, price held. Under four stars, the pressure washing contractor is offered the chance to fix it first through make-it-right.

STEP 1Tell the pressure washing contractor, in writingContact the pressure washing contractor first, in writing, and keep a copy. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the pressure washing must be done with reasonable care and skill; you can ask for the faulty part to be done again free of charge, and if that fails, for some or all of the money back.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right stepIf you rate the pressure washing under four stars, Locufy asks whether to send the problem to the pressure washing contractor first, and we follow it through before your review goes up.
STEP 3Trading Standards, through the helplinesA pressure washing contractor who will not engage can be reported through the consumer helplines, which pass cases to Trading Standards — Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133) in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland (0808 800 9060), Consumerline (0300 123 6262) in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Small claims, if money is owedIf money is still in dispute over the pressure washing, the small claims routes need no solicitor: up to £10,000 in England and Wales on the small claims track, £5,000 in Scotland under simple procedure, and £5,000 in Northern Ireland's small claims court.

Hiring a pressure washing contractor: questions people ask

No. No licence or register applies.

HSE's COSHH rules apply to hazardous products a self-employed contractor uses.

Not a legal requirement, but ask about public liability.

£100–£900 per job, about £300 on average. For what moves the figure, see the pressure washing price guide, and search your town above to find contractors nearby.

Usually with a soft wash, not high pressure.

A couple of hours for a patio, up to a day for a house exterior.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in cleaning

How to hire: Driveway CleaningHow to hire: Patio CleaningHow to hire: Roof CleaningHow to hire: Gutter CleaningHow to hire: Window CleaningHow to hire: Conservatory CleaningHow to hire: Solar Panel CleaningHow to hire: After Builders CleaningAll 701 hiring guides →

Pressure washing contractors near you

Pressure washing contractors in LondonPressure washing contractors in ManchesterPressure washing contractors in BirminghamPressure washing contractors in GlasgowPressure washing contractors in BelfastAll pressure washing contractors on Locufy →Do it yourself: pressure washing a driveway, decking and outdoor surfaces →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. HSE — does COSHH apply to the self-employed?
  2. HSE — safe use of cleaning substances (CAIS22)
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  4. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue (England)
  5. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  6. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register