"Pressure washing" gets used as a catch-all term, but professionals actually use two very different methods: pressure washing and soft washing. Choosing the wrong one is one of the most common — and most expensive — DIY mistakes. Here's the difference.
Pressure washing uses a high-pressure stream of water (often 2,000–4,000 PSI) to blast away dirt, algae, and stains. That force is perfect for hard, durable surfaces that can take it:
Soft washing uses very low pressure — about the force of a garden hose — combined with specialized, biodegradable cleaning solutions. The solutions do the work, killing mold, mildew, and algae at the root rather than just blasting them off. It's the safe choice for anything fragile:
Aim a pressure washer at your roof and you'll strip the protective granules off the shingles — voiding the warranty and shortening the roof's life. Hit vinyl siding too hard and you'll force water behind it, trapping moisture in your walls. Blast soft wood and it splinters. Soft washing avoids all of this while actually cleaning deeper, because the solution kills the organisms instead of leaving roots behind to regrow.
Our hot, humid Gulf Coast climate grows algae and mildew aggressively, especially on shaded north-facing walls and roofs. That's exactly the organic growth soft washing is designed to eliminate — which is why most Houston home exteriors and roofs should be soft washed, while driveways and patios get traditional pressure washing.
Hard and horizontal (driveways, patios, sidewalks) → pressure washing. Delicate or up high (siding, roofs, painted surfaces) → soft washing. A good pro uses both, choosing the right one for each surface on your property. Get a free assessment and we'll handle the decision for you.
Not sure which your home needs? We'll assess it on-site and recommend the right method — free.