Pressure Washing Our Most Expensive Asset
When it comes to cleaning the exterior of our homes, pressure washing might seem like the obvious choice. After all, pressure washers are advertised to blast away mold, mildew, algae, and dirt fairly quickly for all types of siding .
But is it safe for all types of siding? In the past that was the only option, but just like anything in this world, technologies advance and newer more effective methods are eventually introduced.
Traditional Pressure Washing
The traditional method of pressure washing involves high PSI (pound per square inch) and going board to board, which can take forever to clean. This was true for all types of siding.
While it may be effective on some surfaces, higher PSI runs the risk of damaging others, especially aluminum and painted wood. Those types, even vinyl, can be easily damaged by too much pressure with little chance of fixing.
So, unless you want your beautiful home to look like it was attacked by Zoro, it might be wise to explore alternative cleaning methods. What can happen is after the job is complete, you will notice lines everywhere from the pressure washer that has essentially removed the oxidation layer. The end result is very uneven looking lines from the pressure washer and a full restoration is needed to make it look new again. This can be extremely costly and something that can be avoided in the first place.
Low Pressure For All Types OF Siding
Soft washing is a much safer and longer-lasting cleaning technique. Unlike pressure washing, soft washing employs low pressure and detergents. This gentle method is highly recommended for vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement, painted wood, and stucco; basically all types of siding.
By using a combination of low pressure and specialized cleaning agents, soft washing ensures a thorough cleaning without risking any damage to your siding. A professional company will make sure your plants, bushes, and other materials surrounding your house are properly protected from the chemicals.
But safety isn’t the only advantage of soft washing. It’s also more efficient, saving you time and money. With just water and high pressure, the traditional pressure washing method may not provide the desired results. Streaks, uneven cleaning, and missed spots can leave your home looking less than appealing and unsatisfied.
Soft washing, on the other hand, achieves a more even and visually pleasing clean. Not only that, but the cleaning typically will last much longer than traditional power washing. With the use of chemicals, the organic growth(algae, mildew, etc) is addressed at the root cause and not just blasted off at the top of the surface. When the growth is killed you are basically starting over with a clean slate.
Vinyl Siding
Out of all types of siding materials, vinyl siding is probably the most common. This type can typically handle a little more pressure than other more sensitive types, but pressure is not even needed. Soft washing this particular siding will leave a home looking amazing.
The main issue with vinyl, as discussed above, is getting too close with higher pressure and removing the oxidation layer and having an end result similar to the picture above.
Aluminum Siding
This is a form of siding that is not used much anymore, but was really common 30-50 years ago. It is much more expensive than vinyl and relatively durable.
Although aluminum tends to hold up over time, it can have a tendency to dent easy. Using high pressure on aluminum is a recipe for disaster and soft washing is always preferred.
Not only can it dent easy but overtime most aluminum will be heavily oxidized. Removing that oxidation layer can almost ensure a complete paint job on the whole house or even replacing it.
Fiber Cement
Fiber cement is an extremely popular choice with builders and homeowners today. This siding can look absolutely beautiful with the right colors scheme and can look really similar to wood. Being mixed with concrete, this type can be much heavier than vinyl siding and cost about twice as much.
However, the lifespan typically lasts around 50 years and can easily be repainted when needed. One drawback to this is the fact the paint can fade easily from oxidation and require a paint job a little sooner than expected if certain sides are being pounded in the day by the sun constantly. The very popular Hardie Plank is a form of fiber cement siding.
Another challenge with fiber cement is that they are starting to use some organic pigments in certain paints that react harshly to soft washing. Soft washing involves using sodium hypochlorite, or commonly referred to as bleach. It is the best way to clean any organic matter but can be a deadly weapon in the wrong hands.
Certain paints can immediately change colors like the picture below when mixed with bleach. This is why it is imperative to hire a professional company that knows what they are doing and takes the time to run a test spot that is inconspicuous and and out of the way.
This was a property in Cedarburg we had cleaned a couple of times before but recently had a new paint job. We ran a test spot behind some bushes and this was the result! I’ve heard horror stories from other inexperienced companies that did not run a test spot and ended up washing half and even the whole house before realizing the colors had changed.
Painted Wood
Painted wood can be similar to fiber cement but can actually damage a little easier. These can have the above challenges as well but typically the main issue is going to be using too much psi.
Too much pressure and the paint can easily get chipped off. Soft washing typically runs around 80-200 psi and a much preferred method.
Stucco
This material is actually probably the most sensitive to pressure washing out of all siding materials. Stucco is basically water, cement, and sand formed to create a durable and weather resistant siding material.
Taking a pressure washer to this is a complete gamble. Higher pressure can easily puncture stucco and leave holes throughout. Dryvit and EIFS are forms of stucco that can not be pressure washed at all. Soft washing is the only recommended method here.
These pictures are from a beautiful house in Mequon that we had washed a year or so ago. This was a multi million dollar home and was in need of a good house wash before being put on the market for sale. Improper cleaning methods or damaging the EIFS material could have led to major problems.
The Costs of Soft Washing A Property
A lot of times people think soft washing would be much more expensive than having it pressure washed. After all, efficiency usually comes at a steep price.
Soft washing is not only safer and more effective, but it’s also more affordable due to reduced labor costs. What normally would take 6-8 hours on a basic 2,000 sf house, can be washed in approximately two hours with soft washing. So, you can have peace of mind knowing that you’re getting a meticulous and professional clean without emptying your wallet. Here is a great article we wrote on the costs associated with pressure washing a house and what to expect. We go into much more detail and also discuss some of our different packages when choosing the appropriate house wash for all types of siding.
Another thing to consider is the frequency of having to have your house washed. As mentioned above, soft washing will leave your property cleaner for much longer than having it pressure washed. Typically a property will remain clean for at least two to three years, although environmental factors can come in to play with the length. Many times when you pressure wash something with straight water, the algae and growth can come back later on that year. Imagine trying to maintain your property having to hire out pressure washing twice a year as opposed to once every three years!
Soft Washing Checks All The Boxes
In conclusion, when it comes to cleaning the exterior of your home, safety should be a top priority. Pressure washing, while effective in certain situations, can be risky for almost all types of siding.
Soft washing offers a safer and longer-lasting solution. With its low pressure and specialized cleaning agents, it ensures a thorough clean without posing any damage to your beloved home. Plus, it’s more efficient and affordable, making it a win-win situation for homeowners.