What washing actually does for a house
Mildew, pollen, road film and the green algae that grows on a north elevation do more than look bad — they hold moisture against siding and trim, and they will bleed through a new coat of paint if you seal them in. Washing is the cheapest maintenance a house gets, and it is the step that decides whether a repaint lasts.
It is also a job where pressure is the wrong instrument most of the time. Vinyl, fiber cement, stucco, brick, old wood and composite decking each have a point where high pressure stops cleaning and starts causing damage — driving water behind siding, furring up wood grain, stripping mortar. We match the method to the surface rather than turning everything up to the same setting.
What we bring to it
The right pressure for the surface
Soft washing with a cleaning solution where the surface is delicate, higher pressure where concrete or masonry can take it. The goal is to remove what is growing, not to sandblast the finish off the house.
Prep before we start
Plants get wet down and covered, outdoor furniture is moved clear, lights and outlets are protected, and windows and doors are checked. Gutters and downspouts are rinsed out as we go rather than left full of what came off the roofline.
Washing as the first step of a repaint
If you are painting the house this year, the wash is part of that job and is priced as part of it — not a separate visit. We wash, let everything dry properly, then scrape, prime and coat. Painting over a surface that was never cleaned is the most expensive shortcut in this trade.
Left clean and tidy
Runoff is directed away from planting beds, the walkways are rinsed down, and everything that was moved goes back where it was.
What we wash
- House siding — vinyl, fiber cement, aluminum, stucco, brick and wood
- Decks, fences, porches and screened enclosures
- Driveways, walkways, patios and pool surrounds
- Gutters and downspouts, outside and out
- Commercial storefronts, dumpster pads and walkways
Where we do power washing
We are based in Upper Marlboro and do power washing across Southern Maryland — Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County, Calvert County and Charles County. Every town we cover, with what is different about painting there, is on our areas we serve page.
Common questions
Will pressure washing damage my siding?
It can, in the wrong hands and at the wrong setting — water forced up behind siding takes a long time to dry and can do real harm. That is why most house washing should be soft washing: a cleaning solution doing the work and low pressure rinsing it off. We choose based on what the surface is.
Do I need the house washed before it is painted?
Yes, and it is not optional. Paint will not bond to mildew, chalked coating or pollen film. When you book a repaint with us, washing is part of the job rather than something you arrange separately.
How often should a house be washed?
Most homes in Southern Maryland benefit from a wash every one to two years, sooner on shaded elevations where algae takes hold. If you can see green or black streaking, it is time.
Can you clean a driveway or a patio at the same time?
Yes — concrete, pavers and flagstone can usually take a higher pressure than siding, and it is efficient to do them on the same visit. Tell us what you would like included when you call and we will quote it together.
Get a free quote
Licensed and insured in Maryland — MHIC #136627 — serving Upper Marlboro and Southern Maryland. Call (240) 981-4472, any time, or request a free quote.
