Exterior Painting
Built for a climate that swings 120 degrees a year and tests every square inch of it.
See detailsMadison & Dane County
Pressure & Soft Washing
Low pressure, the right detergent, and no water forced up behind your siding.
We soft wash rather than pressure wash on siding, which means low pressure and a mildewcide solution doing the work instead of force. It is quoted by the size and condition of the elevation and it is the cheapest thing on this list by a wide margin. High-pressure washing drives water up behind lap siding and into end grain, and that trapped water is the leading cause of paint failure the following spring.
- Timeline
- Most homes are a half day. Adding concrete flatwork makes it a full day.
- Wisconsin timing
- April through October. A wash in late April, right after the wet Wisconsin spring, removes the growth before it sets in for the summer and is the single best-timed exterior maintenance dollar you can spend.
There is a real difference between washing a house and blasting one. A pressure washer at 3,000 PSI will absolutely remove the green film off your north wall. It will also drive water up under every lap, into every end grain cut, and behind every piece of trim, where it sits until the freeze-thaw cycle turns it into a crowbar.
Soft washing uses low pressure, roughly what a garden hose delivers, and lets a mildewcide solution do the chemical work. The organic growth dies rather than being knocked loose, which is also why a soft-washed house stays clean substantially longer than a blasted one. Blasting removes the visible growth. Soft washing kills the root.
Wisconsin springs are wet, and north-facing walls in Dane County grow a mildew film almost every year. An annual or biennial wash is the cheapest exterior maintenance there is, and it directly extends how long your paint lasts. Hard surfaces like concrete and pavers do take real pressure, and we use it there, where there is nothing behind the surface for water to get into.
Scope
Every kind of washing work we take on.
House Washing
Full exterior soft wash of siding, soffits, fascia, and trim, north walls included, where the growth actually is.
Pre-Paint Washing
The first step of every exterior repaint. Priced into the paint job rather than billed twice.
Concrete and Paver Cleaning
Driveways, walks, and patios, where genuine pressure is appropriate and effective.
Deck and Fence Cleaning
Low-pressure cleaning with a wood brightener, either as maintenance or as prep before staining.
Gutter Face Brightening
The vertical black streaking on gutter faces needs a specific detergent. A house wash alone will not touch it.
Roof Soft Washing
Asphalt shingle algae streaking treated with a low-pressure application. Never pressure, which strips granules and voids roof warranties.
How we work
Step by step, no surprises.
You will know what is happening in your house on every one of these days before the first one starts.
- 01
Walk and protect
Landscaping pre-wet, sensitive plantings covered, windows and doors checked for gaps, and outdoor outlets covered.
- 02
Apply the solution
A mildewcide detergent applied low and worked upward, then given dwell time. The chemistry does the work, not the pressure.
- 03
Dwell and agitate
Heavier growth gets soft-brushed by hand. Some walls in Madison have five years of buildup and need contact, not more pressure.
- 04
Rinse low to high, then high to low
A rinse pattern that leaves no detergent streaking, which is the mark of a rushed wash.
- 05
Hard surfaces last
Concrete, pavers, and masonry cleaned at proper pressure after the house, so runoff from the walls does not restreak finished flatwork.
- 06
Final rinse of landscaping
Everything green gets a thorough rinse. Detergent left on a hosta bed in July is a dead hosta bed in August.
Our work
More washing photosWashing projects.
How much does it cost to pressure wash a house in Madison?
It is quoted by the size and condition of the house, and it is the least expensive service we offer by a wide margin. Concrete flatwork is quoted separately by area. When a wash is booked alongside an exterior repaint it is part of the paint job's preparation rather than a separate line.
What is the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?
Soft washing uses low pressure, about what a garden hose delivers, and a mildewcide solution that kills the organic growth. Pressure washing uses force. On siding, force drives water behind the laps and into end grain, which causes paint to fail the following spring. We soft wash siding and reserve real pressure for concrete and masonry.
Will washing damage my siding or plants?
Not the way we do it. Low pressure will not damage vinyl, aluminum, LP, fiber cement, or sound wood. Landscaping is pre-wet before the solution goes on and thoroughly rinsed afterward, which is the step that actually protects plants.
How often should I wash my house in Wisconsin?
Every one to two years, and the north and east elevations need it most because they stay damp and grow mildew. An annual wash is the cheapest way to extend the life of an exterior paint job, and it costs a small fraction of repainting early.
Can you clean the black streaks on my gutters?
Yes, but it is its own step with its own detergent. That streaking is oxidized aluminum and road film bonded to the gutter face, and a normal house wash will not remove it. We quote it separately so you can see what it costs.