Sandstone cleaning and sealing in Bellevue Hill

A typical Bellevue Hill job involves three kinds of sandstone surface. Retaining walls hold back the slope and often sit in deep shade, so they carry mould and lichen for much of the year. Driveways and paths run under established trees and pick up tannin stains, seed-pod marks and tyre marks. Entry stairs and landings take daily foot traffic and turn slippery once growth sets in. Older houses from the 1910s to 1930s may also have sandstone footings that draw moisture from the ground and show salt bloom. We look at each surface separately and agree with you which matter most before quoting, so the budget goes where you want it.

On walls and stairs, mould and lichen get a stone-safe biocide that is left to work, so it dies back properly instead of returning within months. A low-pressure or hot-water rinse then lifts it without cutting into the stone. On driveways, tyre marks and tannin are each treated with the cleaner that suits them, and the deepest leaf stains may be drawn out with a poultice over a day or two. Wash water is collected at the foot of each slope and vacuumed up rather than allowed to run into the gutter, and garden beds below the walls are covered or wetted down throughout. On a steep block, that containment is most of the setup.

Sealing makes the most sense on driveways, paths and stairs, where it keeps tannin and oil near the surface and makes regular cleaning much easier. Retaining walls are judged individually: a wall that carries ground moisture through its face can be harmed by sealing, while a freestanding wall in sound condition may benefit. We use breathable penetrating sealers only, never a gloss coating that could make a steep drive treacherous in the wet, and we show you a natural and an enhancing finish on small test patches before you choose. The product, date and areas are noted for your records, and we suggest a simple water-drop test each year to judge when to reseal.