If you searched for pressure washing, here’s the honest version. Pressure washing is good at plain concrete walkways. It’s a poor fit for roofs, stucco, wood, painted surfaces, window seals and solar panels, because force can damage them. For those, we softwash: low pressure plus a cleaning solution that does the cleaning so the water doesn’t have to hit hard.
At Solar Spa Club we pressure wash walkways and softwash everything else. Here’s why, and how to judge any contractor who offers either one.
What is pressure washing good at?
Pressure washing blasts dirt off with force. On a hard, plain, unpainted surface that’s exactly what you want. Plain concrete walkways are the best example. They take the force, and it’s the fastest way to lift oil spots, grime and ground-in dirt.
That’s the reason we offer it for walkways. It’s a good tool used on the right surface.
What can pressure washing damage?
The problem is that homeowners and some contractors use one tool for everything. Here’s what force can do.
| Surface | What high pressure can do |
|---|---|
| Shingle roofs | Strip the granules that protect the shingle |
| Tile roofs | Chip or crack tile and wear away the surface coating |
| Stucco | Etch the surface and drive water into the wall |
| Wood fences and decks | Splinter, gouge and raise the grain |
| Painted surfaces | Strip or lift paint |
| Window seals | Push water past the seal and into the frame |
| Solar panels | Damage panels and the coatings on them, and force water into places it shouldn’t go |
Water intrusion is the one that sneaks up on people. Water forced behind stucco or around a window frame can sit in the wall, and you may not see it for a while. If your roof has damage, force makes it worse.
What does softwashing do instead?
Softwashing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution. We apply it, let it loosen algae, mildew and grime, and rinse it off. The solution is what breaks down the growth, so we don’t rely on force.
That works on the things that tend to stain Southern California homes. Shaded, north-facing roof slopes hold moisture and grow algae and black streaks. Stucco is porous and holds green and gray growth. Tile roofs collect streaks where trees shade them. Many homes in Chatsworth, Northridge and Sherman Oaks have this exact mix of stucco walls and tile or shingle roofs.
We rinse plants and protect landscaping before and after. Tell us about anything delicate.
Comparison at a glance
| Pressure washing | Softwashing | |
|---|---|---|
| How it cleans | Force of the water | Cleaning solution at low pressure |
| Good on | Plain concrete walkways | Roofs, stucco, siding, fences, decks |
| Risk on roofs | Granule loss, chipped or cracked tile | Low, because pressure stays low |
| Risk on stucco | Etching, water forced into the wall | Low, because pressure stays low |
| Risk on wood | Splintering and gouging | Gentler on the grain |
| Around windows and solar | Can push water past seals and damage panels | We clean glass and panels separately by hand with purified water |
| What it targets | Loose dirt and grime | Algae, mildew, black streaks and the growth holding dirt in place |
Why not DIY it with a rented pressure washer?
You can, on a walkway. Beyond that, think twice.
- Ladders. Falls from ladders and roofs are a real source of injuries. A wet roof is slippery, and algae makes it worse.
- Water intrusion. Spraying upward at stucco, eaves or window frames can send water where you can’t see it.
- Damage you can’t undo. Stripped granules, chipped tile and etched stucco don’t grow back.
- Landscaping. Cleaning solutions and runoff need care around plants.
If your home has solar, keep pressure and solution away from the panels. Ours are cleaned by hand with purified water. See solar panel cleaning.
Birds are another thing to consider. If pigeons or crows nest in your tile ends or around your panels, cleaning won’t keep them out. See bird proofing.
What should you ask a contractor?
Before you book anyone who says “pressure washing,” ask:
- Will you use high pressure on my roof, stucco or wood? If yes, ask why.
- What method do you use on each surface?
- How do you keep water out of window frames, vents and eaves?
- How do you protect plants and landscaping?
- What do you do around solar panels?
- Are you licensed and insured?
- What’s your policy if I’m not happy with the result?
A good answer names the surface and the method. A bad one is “we pressure wash everything.”
What we do
We pressure wash walkways and softwash everything else, including tile and shingle roofs, stucco and siding, fences, decks and pool areas. Our house washing page has the full list. If you want the basics first, read what house washing and softwashing is.
We won’t promise a stain fully comes out, or tell you how long the result will last. Shade and moisture decide how fast growth returns. We’ll tell you what we see before we start.
On a day when the crew is already out, many people add window cleaning. Our guide to hard water spots explains why glass gets cleaned separately from the walls.
How do you tell which method a surface needs?
A good rule is to ask what the surface is made of and whether force helps or hurts it. A plain, hard, unpainted surface that’s just dirty can take pressure. A surface that’s porous, coated, painted, layered or made of wood needs a gentler method, because the damage from force is permanent.
Roofs are the clearest case. A roof is designed to shed water that falls on it from above, not water blasted upward under the edges of tile and shingles. High pressure works against how the roof is built.
Stucco is next. It looks tough, but it’s a porous finish over a wall, and it takes water in. Pressure can mark the surface and push water into places that stay damp.
If you’re not sure about a particular surface, send us a photo and we’ll tell you what we’d do.
What about walkways that are stained?
Walkways are where pressure earns its place. Oil drips, tire marks, ground-in dirt and the gray film that collects along the edges respond well to it. We’ll tell you up front if a stain looks like it has soaked in, since some marks lighten without disappearing. Ask us about driveways and patios.
Get an estimate
Send us a photo of the roof, wall or walkway and we’ll tell you which method fits. Estimates are free, and our work comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call (818) 913-1626 or see the cities we serve, including Canyon Country, Saugus, Calabasas and Thousand Oaks.