Washing · Painting
Soft washing vs. pressure washing: what’s safe for your siding?
Green and black streaks on siding are everywhere in central North Carolina. Warm, humid summers and shaded walls are exactly what mildew and algae like. Cleaning them off is satisfying—but the method matters more than most people realize.
Soft washing: for the house
Soft washing uses low pressure—closer to a garden hose than a jet—combined with cleaning solutions that break down mildew and algae. The solution does the work; the water just rinses.
It’s the right approach for:
- Vinyl, fiber-cement, and wood siding
- Painted trim and soffits
- Roofs (where cleaning is appropriate at all)
Why not just blast it? High pressure can force water behind lap siding, strip or etch paint, scar soft wood, and break seals around windows. It can also leave the roots of mildew behind, so it grows back faster.
Pressure washing: for hard surfaces
Higher pressure—ideally with a surface cleaner, a spinning attachment that cleans evenly without stripes—is right for:
- Concrete driveways, walks, and patios
- Brick pavers (with care, and usually re-sanding afterward)
Even here, pressure has limits. Too much can etch concrete or wash out joints between pavers. Older or damaged concrete deserves a gentler hand.
Protecting plants
Any cleaning solution near beds needs care. A good crew will wet plants before and rinse them after, and cover sensitive areas when needed.
When to wash
- After pollen season in spring is popular in the Triangle—otherwise you may wash twice.
- Before painting. Paint needs a clean surface to bond; washing is the first step of good prep.
- Before selling or hosting, for obvious reasons.
What to expect
Most siding brightens immediately. Some stains—rust, oxidation, paint overspray, and old oil spots—may not fully lift, and an honest estimate will say so up front.
Most house washes and driveway cleanings can get an instant estimate from a few measurements and photos. See our pressure and soft washing services.