pressure washing and soft washing FAQ for Rochester homeowners

Pressure washing uses high water pressure (1,500–3,500 PSI) to physically blast dirt off hard surfaces like concrete and brick. Soft washing uses low pressure (under 500 PSI) with biodegradable cleaning solution to kill algae and mildew on siding, roofs, and other delicate surfaces. Wrong method causes damage — pressure on siding forces water behind boards; pressure on shingles knocks off granules.

High-pressure washing is NOT safe for vinyl siding. The pressure can force water behind the siding, leading to mold inside walls. Soft washing is the right method — kills the algae/mildew that causes black streaks, then rinses clean with low pressure. We exclusively soft-wash siding.

Every 18–24 months for most homes. Faster (12 months) for shaded, north-facing properties with heavy algae growth. Slower (3 years) for full-sun, well-ventilated exposures. We can recommend based on inspection.

They're Gloeocapsa magma — a black algae that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. They're cosmetic at first but accelerate shingle degradation over years. Soft washing kills the algae and removes the streaks. Done every 2–3 years, this can add 5+ years to roof life.

High-pressure can absolutely damage wood — it raises grain and gouges soft wood. We use light pressure plus wood brightener on decks, which cleans without damage. If your deck is heavily weathered, we'll often recommend cleaning followed by sand + stain (we hand off to a finishing contractor for the stain).

We handle landscape masking, gutter protection, and chemical containment. We ask that you move outdoor furniture and toys off the surfaces being cleaned the night before, and ensure outdoor pets are inside during the visit. Everything else is on us.

Yes. Our soft-wash solution is biodegradable and we pre-water and post-rinse all plant beds. We have not lost a single plant in over [X] years of operation. (Operator note: edit time-in-business when the business is operational.)

Yes. House + roof + driveway bundled in one visit usually saves 15–20% versus booking separately. We'll quote both ways so you can compare.

No — ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association) explicitly endorses soft washing as a safe method for asphalt shingles, and major shingle manufacturers (GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning) reference ARMA TR-7-Bulletin guidance. High-pressure washing of shingles, by contrast, can void the warranty. We follow the ARMA-recommended low-pressure approach on every roof.

Yes once dry. Our solution is biodegradable and rinses to a neutral pH. We ask that pets and kids stay off treated surfaces during application and for about an hour after rinse. Plant beds are pre-watered and post-rinsed; we have not damaged landscaping with this protocol.

Not required. We just need outdoor water access and the gate code if you have one. Most house washes take 2–4 hours. If you're home, please keep windows closed during the soft-wash application so the cleaning solution stays outside. We'll text photos when we wrap up.

Lake-effect humidity off Lake Ontario plus shaded north-facing roof exposures is the worst combination for Gloeocapsa magma algae. Pittsford, Webster, and Irondequoit homes near tree cover often see streaks return in 24–30 months. A roof soft wash every 2–3 years with a residual treatment can stretch that interval significantly.