Nothing gets forced behind the siding
Soft wash at low pressure cleans the surface without driving water into the wall assembly.
Exterior
Pressure washing and soft wash
Low-pressure soft wash for siding and roofs, controlled pressure for hardscape.
- From
- $0.22 per sq ft on siding, sample
- Typical time
- Half a day to a full day
Overview
What this actually involves
Most of what people call pressure washing should not be done with pressure at all. Vinyl siding, painted wood, stucco and shingle roofs all want a soft wash: a low-pressure application of a cleaning solution, a dwell period, and a rinse. Pressure belongs on concrete, brick and pavers, and even there it needs the right tip and the right distance.
On the coast the organism doing the damage is usually gloeocapsa magma, the algae responsible for the black streaks running down north-facing roof slopes, plus green algae on anything shaded. Both die with a properly dosed soft wash. Neither is fixed by blasting, which just drives water behind the siding.
Scope
What is included
- Soft wash of siding, soffits, fascia and trim
- Roof soft wash for algae streaking on asphalt shingle
- Controlled pressure on driveways, walkways, patios and pavers
- Deck and dock cleaning at wood-safe pressure
- Landscape pre-wet and post-rinse on every elevation
- Windows spot-rinsed afterwards so nothing dries on the glass
Method
How the visit runs
Order matters. Most damage in this trade comes from doing the right steps in the wrong sequence.
Protect first
Beds pre-wet, fixtures and outlets covered, and anything that should not get solution moved or wrapped.
Apply and dwell
Solution applied bottom-up at low pressure and given time to work. Dwell time does the cleaning, not force.
Rinse top-down
Rinsing from the top prevents streaking and stops solution running onto dry surfaces.
Glass check
Anything that dried on the glass during the wash gets cleaned before we leave. That is the advantage of a glass company doing your exterior.
Why it is worth it
What you get out of it
Roof work that does not void the shingle warranty
Asphalt shingle manufacturers specify chemical cleaning, not pressure. We follow that.
The glass is clean afterwards
Most pressure washing companies leave a chalky film on the windows. We clean glass for a living.
Pricing factors
What moves the price
Every figure on this site is a sample. A real number follows a count on site.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Surface area | Priced per square foot for siding and hardscape. |
| Surface type | Vinyl, stucco, painted wood, brick and pavers each get a different pressure and solution. |
| Organic load | Heavily shaded north elevations carry far more algae and need a longer dwell. |
| Height | Third-storey gable ends need extended reach or lift access. |
Questions
About pressure washing and soft wash
Anything not covered here, call and ask. You will reach someone who has done the work.
Beds are pre-wet, shielded during application and rinsed afterwards. That protocol is the difference between a safe wash and a dead hedge.
We soft wash roofs. Pressure on asphalt shingle strips granules and shortens roof life by years.
On this coast, most homes look right for 12 to 18 months. Deeply shaded north walls come back faster.
Often booked together
Related services
Gutter cleaning
Hand cleared, bagged, downspouts flushed and flow tested. Pine needles included.
Residential window cleaning
Interior and exterior glass, sills, sashes and frames on houses from cottages to oceanfront builds.
Commercial window cleaning
Storefront, office, restaurant and hospitality glass on a fixed route, billed monthly.
Free estimate
Get a written figure for pressure washing and soft wash.
No sales visit. A technician counts the glass, checks the storey and the coating, and sends a written figure the same day.
Insured and IWCA. Certificates issued to your property manager on request.