ServicesExterior Soft Wash
Exterior Soft Washing in Rotterdam, NY
Green streaks and gray film come off your siding, soffits and trim with a low-pressure soft wash that keeps water out from behind the panels. First we look over every wall of your home exterior and tell you honestly what we see, including anything a wash cannot fix.
A gentler way to clean your siding
A soft wash pairs a mild cleaning solution with low water pressure, close to what a garden hose puts out. The solution breaks down the green and black growth clinging to your siding, and the rinse carries it away. High-pressure spray can drive water behind vinyl laps, strip paint from older clapboard and scar soft trim, so we leave it in the truck.
It is the right call when your siding looks dull, streaked or green but the material underneath is still sound. If our walk-around turns up cracked panels, peeling paint or soft wood, we tell you before anything else. A wash will not repair those, and you deserve to know that before you spend a dollar.
Damp springs and humid summers around Rotterdam keep algae coming back on shaded walls, so most homes look their best with a wash every year or two instead of waiting until the growth is heavy.
What the soft wash covers
Siding of every common type
Vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement and painted wood clapboard. We adjust the strength of the mix to the material and to how much growth is on it.
Soffits, fascia and trim
We clear the gray film, old spiderwebs and nest remnants that collect under the eaves, where a brush on a pole never quite reaches.
The dirt line at the bottom
Rain splashes soil onto the lowest courses of siding all year. We give that band extra attention so the whole wall looks even.
Protection for plants and fixtures
We soak your plants before and after, cover outdoor outlets and light fixtures, and direct runoff away from garden beds.
Photos of anything worth watching
If we spot loose panels, gaps around windows or trim that feels soft, we photograph it and show you. No pressure, just the facts so you can plan.
Signs your siding is ready for a wash
- A green tint on shaded walls
- Algae settles first on north-facing walls and on siding that sits under trees. What starts as a faint tint can turn into a fuzzy green coat within a couple of seasons.
- Black streaks or speckles
- Mildew shows up as dark dots or drips, often below windows and along the corners where water runs off.
- A chalky, faded look
- Older vinyl and painted surfaces can leave a powder on your fingers. A wash often brightens them, and if the fading is in the material itself, we will tell you so you are not oversold.
- Cobwebs and grime under the eaves
- Soffits collect dust and webs that make the whole roofline look tired, even when the siding below is fairly clean.
- A muddy band near the ground
- If the bottom few feet of your siding are darker than the rest, splash-back dirt has built up and a rinse alone will not lift it.
How a soft wash day runs
- 1
Walk-around and plain findings
We check every side of the house, note the siding type and its condition, and test a small spot if anything looks fragile. Then we tell you what we will clean, what we expect it to look like after, and what a wash will not change.
- 2
Prep around the house
We ask you to close windows and doors, then cover outlets and exterior fixtures, soak nearby plants and move light items like chairs and planters out of the way.
- 3
Apply and let it work
We apply the solution at low pressure in sections and give it a few minutes to break down the growth. We never let it dry on a sunny wall.
- 4
Rinse and check
Each section gets a thorough rinse from the top down. Afterward we walk the house again, treat any stubborn spots and point out the results to you.
- 5
Cleanup
We rinse your plants once more, collect every cover and put your outdoor items back where we found them.
What affects the price of a soft wash
Every quote starts with a look at your home, so the number reflects your siding and not a guess from a photo. We explain what goes into the price before any work begins. There are no surprise add-ons on the day.
- Size and height of the house
- A two-story colonial takes more solution, more time and longer reach than a ranch. Steep yards and tall gable ends add to that.
- How much growth is there
- A light film rinses off quickly. Several years of heavy algae may need a longer dwell time or a second pass on the worst walls.
- Siding material and condition
- Older painted wood and brittle vinyl call for a weaker mix and slower, more careful work than newer, sturdy siding.
- Access around the home
- Decks, tight side yards and dense plantings take extra time to protect and work around.
What neighbors ask before we wash
- Is the wash safe around my flower beds and grass?
- Before any solution goes on the walls, we give your shrubs and flowers a good drink of clean water so their leaves and roots are already full. When the siding is done, we water them down a second time and guide the runoff toward the driveway or lawn edge instead of into the beds. By the following morning, your yard should look just as it did before we arrived.
- Is a soft wash safe for vinyl siding?
- Yes, it is one of the gentlest ways to clean vinyl. Low pressure means water is not forced behind the laps or under the J-channel around windows. If we see panels that are already cracked or loose, we point them out before we start.
- How long will my siding stay clean?
- It depends on shade, nearby trees and how much moisture the walls see. Sunny sides often stay clean for a couple of years, while shaded walls may show a green tint sooner. We will tell you which walls on your house are likely to come back first.
- Can I head out while you work?
- Yes, once we have had a few minutes together at the start. We like to walk around the house with you so you hear what we found straight from us. With windows and doors shut, you are free to run errands or get on with your day.
- Should I get a wash before permanent lighting goes up?
- It is a good idea. A clean fascia and soffit give the light track a better surface to mount on, and the roofline looks sharper once the lights are on. We can talk through both when you call about Permanent Exterior Lighting Installation.
- What happens if you find damage during the inspection?
- We show you what we found, with photos if it helps, and explain whether a wash still makes sense. Sometimes it is better to fix a loose panel or failing paint first. You decide what happens next.
Let us take a look at your siding
We will walk the outside of your home, tell you plainly what we see and explain what a soft wash can do for it. The quote is free and there is no obligation.