Soft washing or pressure washing: which surface gets which
Pressure cleaning suits hard concrete. Soft washing suits walls, roofs and paint. How to tell which each part of your house needs, and why it matters.
The assumption we're testing
“More pressure means a better clean.”
Two ways to clean the outside of a house
Pressure washing uses a strong jet of water to shift dirt. It works on hard surfaces that can take it, like plain concrete and pavers.
Soft washing uses low pressure, close to a garden hose, plus a cleaning mix. The mix does the work. It kills mould, lichen and algae. Then it all gets a gentle rinse.
Most of what you're looking at is alive
The green on the south wall. The black streaks on the render. The grey patches on the roof. Most of it is mould, algae or lichen. Lichen is the flat, crusty growth that looks like old spots of paint.
Living growth has roots in the surface. A jet knocks off the top and leaves the roots, so it grows back fast. A soft wash kills it at the root. On a roof, it keeps dying off for a few weeks, and rain finishes the job.
Which surface gets which
Plain concrete, exposed aggregate and most pavers get pressure. We run it through a spinning surface cleaner, so the finish is even.
Render, painted walls, weatherboard and cladding get a soft wash. So do roof tiles and metal roofs. High pressure strips paint, cracks old tiles and pushes water where it should not go.
Timber decks get a cleaner first, then a low rinse along the grain. Coloured or sealed concrete gets a lighter touch, since the finish can come off.
What about the garden, pets and ponds?
Cleaning mixes can harm plants and fish if they're used carelessly. Ask anyone you book how they protect garden beds. We cover or rinse plants as we go.
Keep pets inside while the work is on. Tell us about any fish pond before we start, so we can keep the mix well clear of it.
Our soft washing page has more on walls and eaves. Or get a free quote, and we'll check each surface before we pick the method.
Want it done without the risk? We'll check the surface first, then pick the method.