Is the siding on your house getting dull and dirty? Are your walkway steps stained and covered with mold? Is your roof full of moldy sections? Do you long for that fresh, newly-remodeled look for the exterior of your home? Mold, mildew, and dust not only look unattractive, but they can shorten the life of your roof or siding as well as make your home less attractive to buyers when it comes time to put your home on the market. If you’re dissatisfied with the look of your home’s exterior, pressure washing and soft washing can help restore the beauty of your home and give it the curb appeal that your home deserves. However, do you know which technique is best for your structure? There is a big difference between soft washing and pressure washing.
What is soft washing?
Soft washing uses low pressure combined with a biodegradable cleansing agent to gently remove things like mold, pollen, moss, dirt, and mildew from the exterior of your home. This thorough process is the safest cleaning method on the market and is less likely to cause damage to your structure and to your bedding plants and landscaping than other cleaning methods. Soft washing is also gentler on your paint and your mortar holding your brick walls or patio together. Soft washing is recommended by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association because it helps to extend the lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof as opposed to pressure washing, which can mimic the effects of a heavy hailstorm and shorten the life of the roof.
Soft washing can be done by using a pressure washer with a specially-designed nozzle that reduces the pressure to 500 psi or less or by using a hose, tank, gun or gasoline-engine pump.
The difference between soft washing and pressure washing
In contrast to soft washing, the pressure washing method of cleaning uses a spray of water under high pressure to loosen and remove old paint, dirt, mold, grime and other undesirable substances that may be stuck on the surface of your building. While pressure washing is more forceful than soft washing, there still is a place for this method of cleaning. Pressure washing is well-suited to washing hard, dense surfaces, such as concrete driveways, sidewalks, fences, and patios.
Soft washing is the preferred method of cleaning roofs, siding, brick walls, and decking because it is effective against mold, mildew, and dirt without damaging the integrity of the surface. Leaving these elements on your home can detract from your home’s value and make it necessary to spend money on expensive repairs. In fact, the longer you wait to clean the exterior of your structure, the more potential there is for damage. The next time you want to spruce up the exterior of your home, inquire how soft washing can beautify your home without exposing it to undue wear and tear. For more information on soft washing, contact us today
