Pressure Washing
Driveways, siding and concrete cleaned at the pressure the surface allows.
How we approach pressure washing
On the Gulf Coast, exterior surfaces do not just get dirty. They grow. Warmth plus humidity plus shade produces algae on north-facing siding, black streaks on roofs, mildew on fences and the green film that makes a concrete driveway slick after rain. None of that is a cosmetic issue only. Biological growth holds moisture against the surface it lives on, and moisture against wood, mortar and paint is what shortens their life.
The mistake most often made with a pressure washer is using pressure as the whole strategy. Concrete can take high pressure. Vinyl siding, painted wood, stucco, soft brick, wood decks and roof shingles cannot. Turning a 4,000 PSI wand on siding drives water behind it and etches the surface, and the same approach on a wood deck raises the grain and leaves permanent wand marks in stripes you can read from the street.
We match the method to the surface. Hard flatwork gets a surface cleaner attachment that holds a consistent distance and eliminates the zebra striping a hand-held wand leaves on concrete. Siding, fences and painted surfaces get soft washing: a cleaning solution that kills the growth at low pressure, dwell time, then a rinse. Soft washing works better than force because it removes the organism rather than only the visible layer, which is why the surface stays clean longer.
Detail work is the difference between clean and finished. Edges along a foundation, the strip where a driveway meets grass, the corners of steps and the area behind downspouts all need hand attention because a surface cleaner cannot reach them. Oil stains on a driveway need a degreaser and dwell time, not more pressure. Rust from irrigation or fertilizer needs a different chemistry entirely.
We also protect what we are not cleaning. Plants get rinsed before and after, exterior outlets and light fixtures get covered, doors and windows get checked, and we work away from vehicles or ask you to move them. Then we walk the property with you while it is still wet, because that is when a missed spot is easiest to see and fix.
Six things that decide the result
Pressure matched to the surface
Concrete gets force, siding and wood get chemistry. The wand setting is a decision, not a default.
No zebra stripes on flatwork
Surface cleaners hold a fixed distance so driveways come out uniform instead of streaked.
Soft washing that lasts
Solution and dwell time kill algae and mildew at the root, so regrowth takes much longer.
Stains treated as stains
Oil, rust and tannin get the right chemistry and dwell time instead of more pressure.
Edges and corners by hand
The strip along a foundation and the corners of steps get finished by hand, where machines cannot reach.
Property protected
Plants pre-rinsed, fixtures covered, outlets protected and a walkthrough while surfaces are still wet.
What is written into your quote
Driveways and flatwork
- Concrete driveways, sidewalks and aprons
- Patios, pool decks and walkways
- Oil and rust treatment where present
- Edge and corner detailing by hand
House exterior
- Vinyl, fiber cement and painted siding
- Soffits, fascia and gutter faces
- Brick and stucco at appropriate pressure
- Entry doors, columns and porch ceilings
Fences and structures
- Wood and vinyl fencing
- Wood decks with grain-safe technique
- Sheds, carports and garage floors
- Dumpster pads and commercial walkways
Site care
- Plants rinsed before and after
- Fixtures and outlets covered
- Water source and runoff managed
- Wet walkthrough before we leave
From the first call to the walkthrough
Walk the property
We identify each surface, its condition and what it can safely take.
Written quote
Surfaces, method, chemistry and access needs listed with a fixed price.
Protect
Plants rinsed, fixtures covered, vehicles and furniture moved clear.
Clean
Soft wash where required, surface cleaner on flatwork, hand detail at edges.
Inspect wet
We walk it with you before the surfaces dry, when anything missed still shows.
Why the wrong pressure costs more than the cleaning
Pressure damage is permanent and easy to cause. Etched concrete keeps the wand marks forever. Vinyl siding driven with water at close range holds moisture in the wall cavity. Wood decks raised by high pressure need sanding before they can be stained. Roof shingles lose granules and years of life in a single afternoon of misapplied pressure. None of these are repairs that cost less than the cleaning did.
There is also the part of the job that is chemistry rather than equipment: knowing the right dilution for the growth on a north wall, how long it needs to dwell, when to neutralize, and how to protect landscaping from runoff. Rental units come with a wand and no judgment, which is why the most common call we get is to fix striped concrete rather than to clean it.
Pressure Washing work in the area
Pressure Washing: the seven we hear most
Most homes here benefit from a soft wash once a year, and shaded north or east elevations sometimes need it more often. Driveways and walkways vary with tree cover; heavy shade can mean twice a year to keep them from getting slick.
Not the way we do it. Siding gets soft washed at low pressure with a cleaning solution, which removes the algae itself rather than blasting the visible film. High pressure on siding is what forces water behind panels and causes problems inside the wall.
Usually we can improve them significantly, and often remove them. It depends on how long the oil has been there and how porous the concrete is. Fresh stains respond well to degreaser and dwell time. Stains that soaked in years ago may lighten rather than disappear, and we will tell you that before we quote rather than after.
Those streaks are a type of algae. They are removed with a low-pressure application designed for shingles, never with pressure. Any contractor offering to pressure wash your roof is offering to shorten its life. We assess the roof and tell you honestly whether it is a job for us or for a dedicated roof cleaning specialist.
We need an outside spigot with normal pressure, and we bring our own equipment and power. If your spigot is weak or the property has no accessible water, tell us during the estimate and we will plan for it.
The solutions we use are diluted for the surface and rinsed thoroughly. Plants get watered before and after, which is the main protection. We ask that pets stay inside while we are working and until surfaces are rinsed and dry.
Yes. Storefronts, dumpster pads, sidewalks and drive-throughs are usually done early morning or after closing so wet surfaces and equipment do not interfere with customers. We schedule that in writing before the job.
Usually booked alongside this
Post-Construction Cleaning
Construction dust removed from every surface before the walkthrough. See this serviceResidential & Commercial
One crew for occupied homes and for spaces that have to open on schedule. See this serviceFlooring & Tile
Hardwood-look, tile and stone floors installed flat, level and square. See this serviceWhere we do this work
Pressure Washing jobs run out of Kenner and across Metairie, Harahan, River Ridge, New Orleans, Elmwood, Westwego, Gretna, Marrero and Destrehan. See the full service area map.
- Kenner, LA
- Metairie, LA
- Harahan, LA
- River Ridge, LA
- New Orleans, LA
- Elmwood, LA
- Westwego, LA
- Gretna, LA
- Marrero, LA
- Destrehan, LA
Get a fixed price for your pressure washing job
Free on-site visit. We walk each surface, set the right pressure and chemistry, and quote only what benefits from cleaning.
Free estimates. No obligation.
