House Washing in Algonquin, IL

Vinyl, painted wood, aluminum and fiber cement: four ways to wash a wall

Vinyl is forgiving of cleaning solutions but unforgiving of pressure, which can drive water into the overlap seams. Painted wood and aluminum have finishes that can lift or streak if sprayed too hard or too close. Fiber-cement siding is durable, but its seams and painted face still call for a controlled approach.

Rob identifies the material from your picture, then picks a method for each wall. If a house has mixed materials, such as vinyl siding with wood trim or brick accents, he adjusts as he goes. The principle, laid out in Mold and Algae on Siding: What It Is, Whether It Matters, and How to Clean It, is that the solution does the cleaning while the rinse stays light.

What is actually on your siding

Green coating is algae. Black spotting is often mildew or a mold growth, which tends to appear in humid corners. Orange or rust streaks may be from well water or iron-bearing sprinklers. Gray film is a mix of dust, pollen and exhaust that sticks to damp walls.

These do not all respond to the same treatment, and rust is not removed by the solution that handles algae. If a stain looks unusual, mention it in your message. Rob will sometimes test a small corner first rather than gamble on a whole wall.

• Green film on north and shaded walls: algae
• Black speckles in damp corners: mildew
• Rust-colored streaks: iron in irrigation water
• Gray haze: pollen, dust and road film
• Cobwebs and wasp nests under eaves

Soffits, fascia and the places you can't see from the lawn

Looking up from the ground, you rarely notice how dirty the soffits are. They collect cobwebs, dust and algae, and a clean wall with a dirty eave still looks unfinished. Rob washes the soffits and fascia as part of the visit, along with trim around windows and doors.

The area beneath roof overhangs can also hide insect nests and heavy buildup that fall onto the walls below. Doing the top first and rinsing down is why a proper house wash starts at the roofline. If gutters are involved, you will probably want gutter cleaning done in the same visit, since runoff from a dirty gutter leaves streaks down a clean wall.

Trees, shrubs and the shade that keeps walls green

A wall that stays green is usually a wall that stays wet. Shrubs planted tight to the siding, a dense tree on the north side or a downspout that splashes back all keep the surface damp. Washing without addressing those causes means the green returns sooner.

Rob will point out simple fixes, like trimming a shrub back a foot or two, when he sees them. He also protects plants during the wash by wetting them first and rinsing them afterward. For the gentler technique used on most siding, compare it with soft washing, and for the ground-level work, see pressure washing.

How to get a quote and what the visit looks like

House washing is priced after Rob sees the house, because size, height, siding and condition set the scope. Send one picture of each side if you can, along with your address. Mention the walls that bother you most and any worries about peeling paint, cracked siding or loose trim.

On the day, close windows, move cars and grills away from walls, and bring in cushions or decor near the house. Rob handles the rest and walks the result with you at the end. If he spots damage while he works, he will say so rather than leave you to find it later.

House Washing through the year in Algonquin