Siding, decks, driveways, walkways and fences. Washing is the step that decides whether a coating bonds — and on its own it takes years off how a house looks.
- Surfaces
- Siding, decks, concrete, fences
- Pressure varies
- By what is being washed
- Often first
- Prep before painting or staining
The pressure is not the point
The instinct is that more pressure cleans better. On a house it is the opposite. Wood siding, fiber cement and painted trim each take a different setting, and too much pressure drives water behind the cladding, raises the grain on timber, or strips a sound coating off along with the dirt.
Concrete and brick take far more than wood does. Getting that right is most of the skill, and it is why a driveway and a deck are not the same job with the same machine setting.
What we wash
House siding — wood, fiber cement, vinyl and composite
Decks and porch floors, before staining or on their own
Driveways, walkways and patios
Fences and garden structures
Soffits, fascia and gutter exteriors
Washing before painting is not optional
Chalk and mildew are what a new coating has to stick to if they are not removed first, and it will not stick to either. When we quote exterior painting, washing is inside that price rather than an extra — it is part of the job, not an upsell.
Georgia grows mildew
Humidity here keeps shaded surfaces damp long enough for mildew to establish, particularly on north-facing walls and anywhere under tree cover. Dark patches that do not rinse off with a hose are usually mildew rather than dirt, and they need treating rather than blasting.
How it runs
- 01
Walkthrough
We look at each surface and settle the right pressure for it.
- 02
Protect
Plants, fixtures and openings covered before anything is turned on.
- 03
Wash
Worked in sections, top down, so nothing dries streaked.
- 04
Check
Any area that needs a second pass gets one before we finish.
Common questions
Will it damage my siding?
Not at the right pressure. Damage comes from using a concrete setting on timber or fiber cement, or from holding the tip too close. Each surface gets the setting it takes.
Can you wash a deck without stripping the stain?
Yes, if the stain is sound. If it is already failing, washing will lift the loose film — which is what needs to happen before re-coating anyway.
Do I need washing if I am not painting?
No, but it is the cheapest thing that changes how a house looks. Siding that has gone dull is often just dirty.