Concrete Mixer and Groundworks Tool Hire in the South Hams
April 15, 2026
The South Hams gets a lot of rain. Combined with the salt air along the coast and the general enthusiasm of Devon moss and lichen for colonising any surface left unattended for more than a season, outdoor surfaces here need more maintenance than they would in drier parts of the country.
Pressure washing is often the fastest and most effective solution — but there are right and wrong ways to go about it, and knowing which jobs are suited to a hired pressure washer (versus a domestic machine, or a professional contractor) makes a difference.
What Jobs Are Pressure Washers Best For?
- Patio and terrace cleaning — algae, moss and dirt accumulate quickly on Cornish and Devon stone, concrete pavers, and composite decking. A good pressure wash before the season makes an enormous difference
- Driveway cleaning — block paving and gravel driveways collect grime and weeds that regular brushing doesn’t shift. A pressure washer clears them properly and can also re-compact block paving jointing sand when done carefully
- Garden furniture and fencing — timber fencing and garden furniture benefits from an annual pressure wash before re-staining or sealing
- Vehicle and machinery cleaning — particularly relevant for farms, rural properties and businesses
- Holiday let preparation — many holiday let owners in the South Hams use a pressure washer at the start and end of the season to get outdoor areas up to standard
Hire vs Buy: The Honest Version
A reasonable electric domestic pressure washer costs around £80–200 to buy. A professional-grade petrol pressure washer — the kind that actually makes light work of heavy moss and deep cleaning — costs considerably more and requires storage space and maintenance.
If you have a large outdoor area to clean or need to shift serious grime and biological growth, a hired professional machine will do a far better job than a basic domestic model, at a cost that makes sense for occasional use. If you just need to clean garden chairs and a small patio once a year, a modest domestic machine might be the right call.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
A few things that cause problems with pressure washing:
- Using too high a pressure on soft stone or old pointing — jet washing can blast pointing out of stonework if you’re not careful. Keep the nozzle moving and use a wider-angle tip on more delicate surfaces
- Holding the nozzle too close to decking or timber — this can raise the grain and leave lines. Keep the nozzle moving and stay further back than you think you need to
- Pressure washing block paving with narrow nozzle tips — this can displace jointing sand and take more effort to fix than the original cleaning. Use wider fan patterns and lower pressure settings
- Not re-treating after cleaning — a freshly pressure-washed surface is also a clean surface ready to reabsorb sealers, stains, or moss treatments. It’s the ideal time to apply a treatment before anything else grows back
Hire a Pressure Washer in the South Hams
Contact Olympus Hire South Hams to check what’s available and arrange delivery to your location. We cover Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Modbury, Yealmpton, Salcombe, Dartmouth and the surrounding area.
📞 01752 922535 | hire@olympushiresouthhams.co.uk
Mon–Fri 7:30–5pm | Sat 8–10am
