Pressure Washing Guide for Florida Homes & Businesses

Pressure washing vs. soft washing

Pressure washing is high-pressure water for hard surfaces. Soft washing is low pressure plus a solution that kills mildew and algae at the root. Pick wrong and you etch concrete, splinter wood or force water behind siding.

• Pressure wash: concrete driveways, sidewalks and dumpster pads; brick and paver patios; unpainted block walls; commercial entryways and loading areas.
• Soft wash: roof shingles (the black streaks are algae, and high pressure tears off granules); vinyl and painted siding; stucco and screen enclosures; wood decks and fences.

PSI and nozzle by surface

Most damage we're called to look at came from the wrong pressure or a tip held too close. Test a hidden patch first.

Florida timing

• Black streaks on north-facing walls and roofs are Gloeocapsa magma, an algae. Rinsing alone won't stop it coming back; use a cleaning solution.
• Wash in late winter through spring. From roughly June through September, afternoon storms re-splash mud the same day and the humidity feeds regrowth.
• Work in the cooler morning, and pre-wet and protect landscaping from runoff.
• Lakefront homes and homes under heavy oak canopy (a lot of Polk County) usually need it every 12–18 months, not every two or three years.
• HOA letter about a streaked roof? That's surface algae, not shingle failure. A soft wash costs far less than a new roof.

Washing a driveway yourself

1. Sweep, move cars and pots, and pre-wet the grass and plants along the edges.
2. Let degreaser sit on oil spots 5–10 minutes. Pressure alone won't lift oil.
3. Overlap passes with the tip 8–12 inches off the surface, at a steady walking pace. A surface-cleaner attachment beats a wand for an even finish.
4. Rinse downhill toward drainage, then rinse the landscaping again.
5. Let it dry fully before judging. Damp concrete looks blotchy.
6. Seal it with a penetrating sealer to slow staining and algae, so you wash every two or three years instead of every year.

A rental machine runs about $60–$120 a day plus detergent, and a driveway is a half-day of hot work. Many customers add it to a deep clean or a post-construction cleanup.

When to call a pro

Roofs, ladders, two-story walls and chemical soft-wash mixes need a trained, insured crew. For businesses, algae on walkways is a slip liability, and dumpster pads and entryways are the first thing customers and health inspectors see. Exterior washing is part of our commercial and office cleaning programs (see our work).