Washing and sealing

How we work

When should a driveway be sealed?

Before it needs it, which is the awkward part of the answer. Sealing protects a sound surface; sealing one that has already opened up locks the damage underneath. We will tell you which side of that line yours is on, including when the honest answer is that sealing is no longer the right spend.

About the work itself

These are true whoever does the job. We have answered them properly because knowing the trade is the argument.

Is pressure washing the same as power washing?

Nearly. The difference is heat: power washing uses heated water, pressure washing does not. Heat helps on grease and heavy organic staining; on most house exteriors it is unnecessary, and the pressure and the cleaning solution do the work.

What should never be pressure washed?

Roof shingles, old mortar, painted surfaces that are already failing, most window seals, electrical fittings, and anything where water can be forced up under a lap, siding washed upward is a classic way to put water inside a wall. Soft or rotted wood is another: the pressure will simply remove it.

Can a roof be pressure washed?

It should not be. Pressure strips the granules off asphalt shingles, and those granules are what protect the shingle from sunlight, so the wash that made the roof look better takes years off it. The accepted alternative is soft washing: low pressure and a cleaning solution that kills the algae, which then weathers away.

What does washing a house actually achieve?

Beyond appearance, it removes the organic growth that holds moisture against a surface. Algae, moss and lichen keep siding and masonry damp, and permanently damp materials degrade faster. It is the cheapest maintenance most buildings can have done.

Is commercial washing worth it for a business?

The frontage is the first thing a customer reads about the business inside it, and grime accumulates slowly enough that nobody who works there notices. Entrances, walkways and dumpster areas are where it shows most and where it matters for safety as well as appearance.