How each method works
A pressure washer cleans by force. A narrow, fast jet of water strips grime, moss and stains off hard surfaces, and on a concrete driveway that is exactly what you want.
Soft washing cleans by chemistry. The solution is applied at low pressure and left to work on the organic growth, which is often rooted into the surface. Once it has done its job, the surface is rinsed gently. Because the growth is killed rather than just knocked back, it tends to stay away longer.
Surfaces that need a soft wash
- Rendered and painted walls, where a hard jet can lift paint and etch render
- Roof tiles and their coatings
- Weatherboards and cladding, where water forced behind the boards causes problems later
- Fences, timber and older brick with soft mortar
- Window frames, seals and screens
Surfaces that suit high pressure
Concrete driveways, paths, pavers, car parks and most hard paving can take high pressure and usually need it. Oil stains and ground-in dirt on these surfaces don’t shift with a gentle rinse.
What goes wrong with the wrong method
Most damage comes from putting high pressure on a surface that can’t take it. Render gets pitted, paint peels in strips, mortar is cut out of brick joints, and roof coatings are stripped back to bare tile. On a roof, it can also crack tiles and push water under them.
The opposite mistake is less dramatic: a soft wash on a stained driveway simply leaves it stained.
Doing it yourself
Hire-shop pressure washers are fine for a patio. Walls, roofs and anything up a ladder are where people get hurt and surfaces get damaged, and the solutions used in soft washing need care around gardens, pets and drains.
Booking a clean
Our pressure washing service covers both methods, so each part of the property gets the one that suits it. High-pressure cleaning starts from $2.50 per sqm, or $165 per hour.
Every job is done by fully insured, police-checked technicians and carries our satisfaction guarantee.
Soft washing questions
Is soft washing safe for roofs?
It is the method made for them. Low pressure cleans tiles and coatings without cracking tiles or forcing water underneath.
Does soft washing last longer than pressure washing?
On walls and roofs it tends to, because the solution kills the mould and algae rather than knocking the surface growth off.
Can a driveway be soft washed?
It can be, but concrete usually needs high pressure to shift oil and ground-in dirt.
High pressure cleaning from-prices| Service | From price |
|---|
| High pressure cleaning |
|---|
| Per square metre | $2.50 per sqm |
| Hourly rate | $165 per hour |
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