Pressure washing uses pressurized water to strip dirt, algae and staining from exterior surfaces. The important distinction most homeowners never hear: hard surfaces like concrete take high pressure, while siding and roofs must be soft washed at low pressure or you cause damage that costs more than the cleaning did.
Pressure washing vs. power washing vs. soft washing
These three terms get used interchangeably in advertising, and only one of the distinctions actually matters.
Pressure washing is pressurized cold water. Power washing is the same thing with a heating element, which helps on grease and gum but is otherwise identical. Most residential work does not need heat.
Soft washing is the one that matters. It applies a cleaning solution at roughly garden-hose pressure and lets chemistry kill the organic growth, then rinses. Nothing is blasted off. On siding, roofs and painted wood, this is the only correct method — and it is what separates a contractor who understands the trade from one who owns a machine.
What we clean
Most properties need two or three of these at once, which is why we quote the whole exterior rather than itemising. Pick the surface bothering you most and we will tell you honestly what else is worth doing while the truck is already parked.
- Roof cleaning — black streaks, moss and lichen, treated at low pressure
- House washing — vinyl, brick, stucco, painted siding and soffits
- Concrete and driveways — driveways, sidewalks, patios, pool decks
- Gutter cleaning and brightening — interior clearing plus exterior oxidation removal
- Decks and fences — wood, composite and vinyl, with staining as a follow-on
- Commercial and fleet — storefronts, dumpster pads, drive-thrus, work trucks
Why a fully mobile rig matters out here
Southeast Missouri is not a dense market. A lot of the properties worth cleaning sit well outside city limits, on wells, sometimes vacant between owners. The standard answer those addresses get is that they are outside the service area.
Our truck carries its own water tank and generator. We do not need your spigot, your outlet, or your presence. That single fact is why we can say yes to a farmhouse twenty minutes down a gravel road when the company in town cannot.
What drives the price
We quote flat rates per job rather than by the hour, so the number you approve is the number you pay. What moves that number:
- Square footage and, for houses, how many storeys
- Surface type — concrete, vinyl, brick and shingle all behave differently
- How heavy the organic growth is, which is mostly a function of shade and how long it has been
- Access — steep grades, tight side yards and delicate landscaping all add time
- Whether we are bundling surfaces on one trip, which is always cheaper than separate visits
How often exterior cleaning is worth doing
In this climate most homes look right on a roughly annual cycle. North-facing walls, heavily shaded lots and anything near a treeline grow back faster and sometimes want attention twice a year.
Roofs are the exception. Once the black streaking is removed, a treated roof commonly stays clean for several years before it needs revisiting — the cleaning kills the organism rather than just rinsing the discolouration.
The argument for staying on a schedule is not appearance. Organic growth holds moisture against the surface it is living on, and moisture is what shortens the life of shingles, paint and sealant.