House Washing in Aurora, CO

House washing is easy to get wrong. A high-pressure wand held close to vinyl can drive water behind the panels; on stucco it can erode the finish coat; on painted wood it can lift paint and raise the grain. A soft wash avoids that by putting the cleaning solution on at low pressure, giving it time to break down dirt and growth, and rinsing gently.

What builds up on Aurora homes

Aurora's semi-arid climate brings dust, pollen and storm debris rather than the heavy mildew of humid regions, but growth still appears where water lingers: north-facing walls, siding behind shrubs, the lower courses near sprinkler heads, and eaves under trees. Spider webs and wasp nests collect under soffits and around light fixtures. A house wash removes all of it in one pass, from the roofline down.

Matching the method to the siding

• Vinyl: soft wash and rinse; Angi lists vinyl at about $0.20 to $0.50 per square foot nationally
• Stucco: low pressure only, with extra dwell time to lift dirt from the texture
• Painted wood and fiber cement: low pressure, with peeling or failing paint noted before we start
• Brick and stone: low to moderate pressure, with care around mortar joints

If your siding has chalky, oxidized paint, washing removes some of the chalk but cannot restore faded color, and we say so up front.

Protecting plants, windows and fixtures

Cleaning solutions that are strong enough to remove growth can also burn leaves if they sit on them. Before we start, we wet down or cover landscaping, close windows, and check exterior outlets, light fixtures and dryer vents. During the job we keep application controlled and rinse plants again afterward.

Keeping runoff out of the street

Aurora's code prohibits putting detergents, dirt or sediment into the storm drainage system. On a house wash, most of the water lands on the ground right around the house, but on a sloped lot or a home with a driveway draining to the curb, we plan how to keep rinse water on the property, for example by directing downspouts and rinse water to lawn areas where it can soak in without pooling or running off, or by setting a temporary berm across the path to the gutter.

Timing your wash

Spring and fall are usually the easiest seasons for the work itself: temperatures are mild and the house is not baking in full sun, which helps the solution work without drying on the surface. In summer we work around the hottest part of the day and shaded sides of the house. We avoid washing when freezing temperatures are expected, since water left on siding, steps and walkways can turn to ice. Drought rules from your water provider can also limit when washing is allowed; we check them before we schedule.

Before you sell or paint

A clean house photographs better, and painters generally want siding washed and dry before they start. If you are preparing to list or repaint, tell us the timeline so we can schedule the wash early enough for the surface to dry.