Pressure Washing vs Soft Washing: Which Does Your Home Need?

Using high pressure on the wrong surface is the fastest way to damage a home: stripped paint, gouged wood, water forced behind siding, and shingles with the granules blasted off. Here is the difference between pressure washing and soft washing, and which one each part of your home needs.

Pressure washing

Pressure washing uses a commercial machine and the force of the water to lift dirt, oil, algae and grime off hard surfaces. It is the right tool for concrete, interlock, natural stone, brick walkways and unfinished decking. The technician controls the pressure, the nozzle and the distance for each material, which is the part that matters. Too close on interlock and you blow the polymeric sand out of the joints.

Soft washing

Soft washing uses low pressure, about the force of a garden hose, and a biodegradable cleaning solution that does the work instead of the water. The solution kills the algae, mould and mildew and lifts the grime, then it is rinsed away. It is the only safe way to clean vinyl siding, stucco, painted surfaces, aluminum, and asphalt shingle roofs.

Surface by surface

• Driveways, walkways, patios, pool decks: pressure wash.
• Interlock and pavers: pressure wash at a controlled distance so the sand stays in the joints.
• Brick and stone walls: soft wash, or low pressure at most; old mortar does not like high pressure.
• Vinyl, wood and aluminum siding, stucco: soft wash.
• Fences and painted decks: soft wash.
• Asphalt shingle roofs: soft wash only. High pressure strips the protective granules and shortens the life of the roof.

What AmberMount uses

We bring both. Driveways, patios and walkways get the commercial pressure washer with the nozzle and pressure set for the material. Siding gets a soft wash with biodegradable solution, top to bottom including trim, soffits and fascia, and roofs get a low-pressure roof wash. Pressure washing and house washing are bookable online, roof washing is quoted after a look, and if you are not sure which service your home needs, send us a photo and we will tell you.

What it costs

Driveway washing is priced by how many cars fit on it: $354.17 for a 1 to 2 car driveway, $458.33 for 3 to 4 cars, $612.50 for 5 to 6, $770.83 for 7 to 8 and $950 for 9 or more. Patios, walkways and other surfaces go by area: $312.50 up to 200 sq ft, $385.42 for 201 to 400, $500 for 401 to 600, $583.33 for 601 to 800 and $720 above that. House washing starts at $500 for homes up to 1,800 sq ft. All prices are before HST and show before you confirm the booking; roof washing is quoted after a look.