Pressure washing and surface prep
Pressure washing and soft washing in Atlanta
Most exterior surfaces don't need high pressure; they need the right cleaner and a gentle rinse. We match the method to the surface, so siding, wood and mortar come out clean, not damaged.
Calls answered 24/7. Crews staged from the Atlanta service office.
- Answered 24/7
- Low pressure on siding
- Plants protected
Quick answer
Pressure washing in Atlanta is mostly about pollen, mildew and red clay. Pine pollen coats houses from mid-March to early April, and clay splashes onto lower siding in every heavy rain. Siding and painted surfaces get a low-pressure soft wash with a cleaner that kills mildew; concrete gets higher pressure. Washing before painting is always followed by a drying day.
Updated September 2026
The job
Soft washing vs pressure washing
High pressure strips paint, gouges soft wood, forces water behind siding and blows out old mortar. On houses, decks and fences we rely on a cleaning solution to kill mildew and algae, then rinse at low pressure.
Concrete driveways, walks and patios are the exception: they take real pressure and a surface cleaner that leaves even results without stripes.
Around Atlanta
Pollen, clay and mildew in Atlanta
Metro Atlanta gets three kinds of dirt most places don't. Pine pollen blankets every exterior surface from mid-March to early April, heavy rain splashes iron-rich red clay onto lower siding and walls, and shaded sides grow mildew in the humidity. Painters here see peeling within a year when siding wasn't properly washed first, which is why our exterior jobs start with a wash that kills mildew spores and lifts clay before any primer goes on.
What we handle
What we wash
Pre-paint wash and prep
Every exterior repaint starts here. We wash off dirt, pollen, chalk and mildew so the primer and paint bond to the surface, not to the grime on top. The wash also shows where paint is already loose, which helps us plan the scraping. After washing, the house needs a full dry day before any coating goes on, longer after rain. Painting over a damp or dirty wall is the most common reason fresh exterior paint peels within the first year.
Soft wash for siding
Green algae on the north side, black streaks under eaves and gray mildew on vinyl come back after a plain rinse because the spores survive. A soft wash applies a mildewcide cleaning solution at low pressure, lets it work, then rinses gently. It cleans vinyl, painted wood, fiber cement and stucco without damaging them. We wet down and cover plants first and rinse them afterward, since the cleaning solution isn't something you want sitting on shrubs or grass. Gutter faces and trim are cleaned on the same visit.
Deck and fence cleaning
Gray, weathered wood holds a layer of dead fibers that stain can't soak through. We clean decks and fences with a wood cleaner at low pressure, then use a brightener that restores the grain and neutralizes the cleaner. Too much pressure raises the grain and leaves fuzzy, gouged boards that need sanding before any stain. Cleaning is usually the first half of a staining job, and the wood needs to dry fully before stain goes on. Loose nails and screws are flagged while we clean.
Driveway and walkway cleaning
Concrete handles pressure well, and a rotating surface cleaner gives an even result without the stripes a wand leaves. We pre-treat oil spots and rust stains, clean the flat surfaces, and rinse edges and joints. Red clay staining on light concrete can be stubborn and sometimes needs a second treatment. Clean concrete also makes a freshly painted house look finished, which is why many owners have the drive and walks done at the end of an exterior repaint. Sealing the concrete afterward is optional.
Step by step
How a washing visit runs
- 1
Walk and plan
Surfaces, stains and plants checked; method chosen for each.
- 2
Protect
Plants wet down, outlets and fixtures covered, windows closed.
- 3
Treat
Cleaner applied and left to work on mildew and algae.
- 4
Rinse and clean
Low-pressure rinse on siding, surface cleaner on concrete.
- 5
Check
Plants rinsed again and every surface checked with you.
Warning signs
Signs your house needs a wash
- Green film on north walls
Algae growing in the shade and humidity.
- Black streaks under eaves
Mildew and runoff staining the siding.
- Yellow pollen coating
Spring pollen stuck to every surface.
- Red staining near the ground
Clay splashed up by heavy rain.
- Gray, weathered deck boards
Dead fibers that stain can't soak through.
- Dark concrete patches
Mildew and dirt on shaded walks and drives.
- Chalk on your hand
Old paint breaking down, ready for a wash and repaint.
Do it yourself or call
Renting a pressure washer vs having it done
Rented pressure washers do more damage to houses than almost any other tool. Here is why.
| Surface | Common DIY result | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl and painted siding | Water forced behind panels, paint stripped | Low-pressure soft wash |
| Wood decks and fences | Gouged, fuzzy boards | Wood cleaner, brightener, gentle rinse |
| Mortar and stucco | Joints and surface eroded | Low pressure and masonry cleaner |
What moves the price
What moves the price of washing
- Surface area
A two-story house takes longer than a single-story ranch.
- Surface type
Siding, wood, concrete and masonry each need their own method.
- Growth and staining
Heavy mildew, algae or clay may need a second treatment.
- Access and height
Tall walls and steep yards slow setup.
- Plant protection
Dense landscaping takes longer to wet down and cover.
- Combined with painting
Washing is part of every exterior repaint we quote.
Questions
Pressure washing questions
High pressure can. We soft wash siding at low pressure with a cleaner that does the work.
We wet plants down before and rinse them after, which protects them from the cleaner.
At least a full dry day, longer after rain or on shaded walls.
Most clay staining lifts with the right cleaner; heavy staining on concrete may need a second pass.
Many Atlanta homes benefit from a wash each year after pollen season, especially shaded sides.
Also in Exterior Painting
Related work from the same crews
- Wrought iron fence and gate painting
- Cedar shake and shingle staining
- Standing seam roof painting
- Fiber cement siding painting
- Brick and Masonry Painting
Before you book, read our peeling paint guide.
Get the pollen and mildew off before it sets in
Tell us which surfaces need cleaning and we'll set up a visit.
Call (470) 887-8741Answered 24/7 from 565 Tift St SW Ste b, Atlanta.
Where we start from