Protecting Your Big Investment: Soft Washing & Pressure Washing

When it comes to pressure washing –  Is it safe? Is it effective? Is it even needed? We’re going to answer some questions when it comes to cleaning the exterior of your home, and why you might want to consider soft washing over a pressure wash for your home’s exterior.

Pressure Washing – Is it Necessary?

A lot of people will use pressure washing to clean the exteriors of their homes. At 2,000-3,000 psi, there is a risk of stripping siding, damaging gutters, and potentially getting water inside your attic through the soffits. Pressure washing may be more suited for washing cement patios and stairs. These can withstand that high pressure, and it can clean all the little divots and crevasses in the cement.

Soft Washing – How it Works

Soft washing is a much lower pressure, highly effective way to clean your home’s exterior. This method has a much lower psi, but uses special soaps and bleach to kill bacteria and actually remove dirt and mold as you spray. The majority of discoloring on siding, fencing, and your roof occurs from mold, rust or algae growth. Without these cleaning solutions it is probable the issue could come back again if you simply pressure wash.

Why Should You Soft Wash Your Home?

Because the outside of your home is exposed to the outdoors, nature and the elements are constantly affecting the exterior of your house. Mildew, mold, and algae eat and decompose surfaces of your home. By letting these substances fester, your home will slowly start to deteriorate. You might not notice it immediately, but the damage they can cause can be costly.  A soft wash will take care of these problems and keep your home looking brand new and your appeal looking sharp.

Signs You Need to Clean Your Exterior

In the picture above, you can see on the top photo there is a considerable amount of blackening of the roof. You can see it’s quite streaky near the top – this is a sign of algae growth. You should be able to tell that your roof or exterior needs to be cleaned just by walking around the property and noting any discoloration like what you say in the “before” photo.  This algae or mold growth not only discolors and wears away the shingles on your roof, but can cut its lifetime almost in half. Soft washing this roof made it look practically brand new, and this is an 18-year-old roof with plenty of life yet to go!

Roofs are not the only exterior surface of your home that can benefit from soft washing. Vinyl siding and fencing can end up looking red or brown from rust if they are getting wet from your sprinkler system. Soft washing works its magic on these types of stains and will bring your fence or siding back to its untouched state.

People often believe that pressure washing your deck should be done frequently to keep it clean and free of debris. But that high pressure can actually damage the surfaces and strip any wood, paint, or stain you’ve got on your deck. Composite decks in need of cleaning can go from absolutely filthy, to a spot-free clean with our soft washing system.

Check out this dramatic before and after of siding softwash:

Many areas of the home can be soft washed and the results are impressive, not only just for the appearance but for the long term benefit to your exterior. This includes fences, siding, decks, front steps, porches, and your roof. Anything that looks dirty, can safely be cleaned with soft-washing. But avoid pressure wash, especially near siding or the roof because that high-pressure water can blow its way up under siding and gutters, leading to moisture inside the walls causing mold or mildew growth.

 

The soft washing system by First American is more effective and safer than pressure washing. It lasts longer, won’t damage exterior surfaces, and from our before and after pictures you can see it’s proven to work. Our safe and biodegradable disinfecting solution kills bacteria, fungus, mold, mildew, moss, and more. So, before you go out and rent a pressure washer, give us a call for more information on our soft washing services, and get a FREE estimate.

Thanks for watching!

 

email: info@firstamericanroofing.com   phone: 608-305-2275