Property Care
Pressure Washing
Pressure is a blunt instrument. Concrete will take three thousand PSI happily; siding, roofing and painted wood will not. Matching the method to the surface is the whole job.
The Problem
The wrong pressure does more damage than the dirt.
Driveways go green, siding gets a gray film, and the north side of everything grows algae. Done wrong, the cleaning causes more damage than the dirt: etched concrete, water forced behind siding, stripped paint.
What the job includes
- Driveways, patios, walkways and retaining walls
- Soft washing for siding, soffits and painted surfaces
- Surface cleaners on flatwork for an even finish, not wand stripes
- Detergent dwell time so the chemistry does the work, not brute force
- Fence and deck cleaning ahead of staining
- Plants rinsed and protected before and after
How It Goes
Step by step.
- 01
Identify the surface
Concrete, pavers, vinyl, painted wood, stucco and composite decking all have different tolerances. This determines pressure, nozzle and detergent before anything is switched on.
- 02
Protect the surroundings
Planting gets watered down first so detergent cannot concentrate on it, and fixtures and outlets nearby are covered.
- 03
Apply detergent and let it dwell
The detergent breaks down organic growth so it can be rinsed away at low pressure. Skipping this step is what forces people to use damaging pressure instead.
- 04
Clean at the right pressure
Flatwork is done with a rotary surface cleaner for an even result. Anything delicate is soft washed at garden-hose pressure, where the chemistry does the cleaning.
- 05
Final rinse
Everything gets rinsed down, planting included, so no residue is left to dry on the surface.
Questions
Pressure Washing: what people ask.
What is soft washing?
Cleaning with detergent at very low pressure, typically under 500 PSI, instead of blasting. It is the correct method for roofing, vinyl siding and painted wood, where high pressure drives water behind the surface or strips the finish outright.
Will it damage my siding?
Not if it is soft washed. High pressure aimed at vinyl siding forces water up behind the panels, and on older vinyl it can strip the oxidised layer unevenly and leave permanent streaking. Siding should be soft washed, not pressure washed.
How often should this be done?
Most properties benefit from an annual clean. North-facing surfaces and anything under trees grow back faster and may want twice a year.
Free Estimate
Get a price for pressure washing.
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