Paving Cleaning in Pretoria: Power Washing, Weed Removal and Paver Sealing
Paving cleaning in Pretoria starts with the City of Tshwane's Level 1 water restrictions, which the City's notice of 27 August 2026 says "were never withdrawn and are therefore still applicable".
Use the form below for a paving quote.
Paving Wiz Pretoria cleans, weeds, re-sands and seals brick, clay and concrete paving across Tshwane, with the water source agreed before work starts. New and re-laid paving is covered under paving in Pretoria.
City of Tshwane Water Restrictions and Paving Cleaning
| Date | City of Tshwane notice | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 2 October 2024 | Level 1 water restrictions | "Do not water or irrigate gardens with a hosepipe or sprinkler system between 06:00 and 18:00." "Do not use a hosepipe to clean driveways or patios." "Do not wash vehicles with a hosepipe." "Do not fill or top up swimming pools or water features." |
| 27 August 2026 | High consumption in Regions 1, 3, 4 and 6 | Level 1 restrictions "were never withdrawn and are therefore still applicable"; consumption of 932 Mℓ per day, 265 Mℓ per day above the permitted limit; fines and restricted supply for non-compliance; "Use a broom instead of a hosepipe when cleaning driveways or patios." |
| 26–27 October 2026 | Overnight reservoir restrictions | Supply to selected reservoirs reduced or closed from 18:00 on 26 October until 06:00 on 27 October 2026, to stabilise the network |
A paving cleaning quote in Pretoria therefore names the water source and the equipment before any washing is booked.
Paving Cleaning Jobs Compared
| Job | What it fixes | When it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Dry sweep and scrape | Loose soil, leaves, jacaranda blossom | Monthly, and before any wash |
| Power washing pavers | Ground-in dirt, algae, tyre marks | Dull or slippery paving |
| Stain spot treatment | Oil, rust, blossom stains | Before the wash |
| Weed removal | Grass and weeds in the joints | When weeds appear |
| Re-sanding joints | Empty joints, loose or rocking blocks | After every wash |
| Paver sealing | Faded colour, oil and stain uptake | On clean, dry, re-sanded paving |
Stains on Pretoria Paving
| Stain | Cause | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Jacaranda blossom | Crushed wet flowers | Sweep before it is crushed; wash and spot-treat |
| Oil and diesel | Vehicle leaks on driveways | Degreaser spot treatment, then wash |
| Algae and moss | Damp, shaded paving | Wash, then improve drainage and sun where possible |
| Rust | Steel furniture and metal fittings | Rust-specific spot treatment |
| Efflorescence (white powder) | Salts carried out of new concrete pavers | Dry brushing; it is a surface deposit |
Power Washing Pavers: The Method
- Sweep and scrape. Dry debris and joint weeds come out first, so less water is needed.
- Treat stains. Oil and rust marks get a spot treatment before washing.
- Wash evenly. A rotary surface cleaner keeps the jet at one distance, which cleans without gouging the block face.
- Re-sand. Washing lifts joint sand. Fine dry sand is brushed back in and the paving is compacted.
Removing Weeds from Pavers
Weeds root where joint sand has washed out. Pulling the tops leaves the roots, so the joint is scraped out, the roots removed and the joint refilled with fine sand. An example bill of quantities in the national Department of Public Works' dolomite manual (PW344/2017, Annex U) includes weed killer and filler sand with a grading of less than 1.18 mm in its segmented paving item.
Paver Sealing
Paver sealing coats clean paving with a clear sealer that slows oil, dirt and water from soaking into the blocks. Sealers come in matt and wet-look finishes. A sealer only bonds to paving that is clean and fully dry, so sealing follows the wash and re-sand, never the same hour. Sealers are sold for clay or for concrete pavers, so the product is matched to the paver.
When Cleaning Is Not Enough
Cleaning cannot fix a sunken patch, a root-lifted edge or cracked blocks. Those areas are lifted, the sub-base corrected and the same blocks re-laid, as described under driveway paving in Pretoria. Patterns for a new look are compared under paving designs, and pool surrounds are covered under pool coping.
What to Send for a Paving Cleaning Quote
- The area in m², or the length and width of the driveway, patio or pool surround.
- The paver: clay brick, concrete block, cobble or natural stone.
- What is wrong: dirt, algae, oil stains, weeds, empty joints or faded colour.
- Whether the paving was sealed before, and with what.
- Photos in daylight, which show stains and joints better than a description.
Paving Wiz Pretoria: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hose down my driveway in Pretoria?
No, not under the City of Tshwane's Level 1 water restrictions. The City's list published on 2 October 2024 says "Do not use a hosepipe to clean driveways or patios", and its notice of 27 August 2026 states the Level 1 restrictions were never withdrawn and asks customers to use a broom instead.
Should pavers be sealed after cleaning?
Yes, where the owner wants colour and stain resistance. A sealer slows oil and dirt from soaking in and deepens the colour. It goes onto clean, fully dry paving with the joints already re-sanded.
How do you stop weeds coming back between pavers?
Remove the roots, then refill the joints with fine, dry sand and compact it. Weeds root in half-empty joints, so the joints are refilled to the top.
Does power washing damage pavers?
Yes, when the nozzle is held too close or the joints are blasted out. Washing with a rotary surface cleaner at an even distance, then re-sanding the joints, keeps the block faces intact and the joints filled.
How do I remove jacaranda stains from paving?
Sweep the blossom off before it is crushed and wet, then wash and spot-treat the marks. Sweep fallen blossom before it is crushed into the paving.
How often should paving be cleaned?
A dry sweep monthly, and a wash when the paving turns dull, green or slippery. Re-sand after every wash and seal only clean, dry paving.
What is the white powder on new paving?
Efflorescence: salts carried to the surface by water as concrete pavers dry. It is a surface deposit, not a defect in the blocks.