House washing that cleans the siding, not through it

What soft washing actually means

Soft washing cleans siding at roughly garden hose pressure. The work is done by the cleaning solution, not by force. It is applied to the wall, given time to break down the algae, mildew and film stuck to the surface, and then rinsed away.

That distinction matters more in this part of North Carolina than most places. Humidity here keeps north facing walls damp for most of the day, and that is exactly the condition algae wants. The green cast that creeps up the shaded side of a house is a living organism growing on the siding. Blasting it off removes what you can see and leaves what you cannot, which is why a high pressure wash so often looks clean for a season and then greens up again faster than the owner expects.

What is included

• Siding washed top to bottom, including the shaded elevations that hold the worst of the growth
• Soffits, fascia and eaves, where spiders and dirt collect out of sight from the ground
• Window exteriors and frames rinsed as part of the wash so the glass is not left spotted
• Doors, shutters and trim brought back to the same finish as the rest of the wall
• Plants and beds wet down before and rinsed after, because the solution is diluted well below what your landscaping minds when it is watered properly

Why pressure is the wrong tool for a wall

Vinyl siding is lapped, meaning each panel overlaps the one beneath it. There is a gap behind every seam by design, so the wall can breathe and drain. Point a high pressure wand at that seam and you push water into a cavity built to stay dry. It does not always show up immediately. It shows up later as a stain on drywall, a musty smell, or swollen sheathing.

Painted wood and fiber cement have a different problem. Enough pressure to strip algae is also enough to lift paint at the edges, and once the film is broken the wood underneath starts taking on water. Brick and mortar look tough but the mortar joint is the soft part, and older joints erode under a tight fan tip.

How long it takes and what you need to do

Most single story homes in the Fayetteville area are a few hours of work. Two story homes take longer, mostly because of setup and reach rather than the washing itself. You do not need to be home, though plenty of people like to be. Close your windows, move vehicles clear of the work side, and pick up anything on the ground you would rather not have wet.

You are dealing with Chris the whole way. The person who quotes your house is the person who shows up to wash it, which is the practical difference between an owner operated outfit and a company that sends whoever is free that morning.