"Power washing" gets used for everything, but there are really two different ways to clean the outside of a house. Using the wrong one is how siding gets cracked, paint gets stripped and roofs lose years of life.
Pressure washing: for hard surfaces
Pressure washing uses high-pressure water to physically blast dirt off a surface. It's the right tool for concrete, pavers, brick walkways and other hard, durable surfaces that can take it. On a driveway, pressure is what gets out ground-in dirt and tire marks.
Soft washing: for siding, roofs and anything that can be damaged
Soft washing uses low pressure, about what a garden hose puts out, with a cleaning solution that does the actual work. The solution kills algae, mildew and mold at the root. Then the surface is gently rinsed.
That matters because the green and black growth on houses and roofs in Illinois is mostly living organisms, not just dirt. High pressure can knock off what you see while leaving the roots behind, so it grows back quickly. Soft washing kills it, so the clean lasts much longer.
What high pressure can do to a house
- Vinyl siding: water forced up behind the laps, cracked or loosened panels
- Painted wood: stripped paint, gouged and furred wood
- Brick and mortar: etched faces, eroded mortar joints
- Asphalt shingles: blown-off granules, which shortens the life of the roof
- Windows: broken seals and fogged double-pane glass
Quick guide
- Siding, soffits, gutters faces: soft wash
- Shingle roofs: soft wash, always
- Wood decks and fences: low pressure with a wood-safe cleaner
- Concrete, pavers, driveways: pressure wash
Not sure what your home needs? Send us a photo and we'll tell you.
