What Is A House Wash?

So what exactly is house washing?

A house wash service cleans the exterior of a building from the soffits down to the base of the walls. In Grand Bahama the main culprit of a dirty home exterior is organic growth.

Organic growth is that green, black, pink, or brown staining that is visible on the exterior of your home.

An exterior wall covered in organic growth in need of a house wash

On vinyl surfaces like soffits, trim and cladding this can develop and become noticeable quickly. On stucco or other plastered coatings it can take longer to become noticeable but is more stubborn to remove.

A dirty soffit needing a soft wash service

In Freeport it is common practice to wait until organic growth has become severely embedded and then to paint over it. Sometimes a homeowner may give the surface a quick blast with a pressure washer first.

This is wrong, we often see structures that have had paint applied over mold multiple times, the result is always failed paint.

Repainting a house is a big expense, and in reality most homes would not require painting if they had been regularly cleaned.

Unfortunately we see countless examples where a client’s home exterior has become damaged by pressure washing. Using too much pressure can etch concrete, lift paint, scar stucco, expose wood fibers, break vinyl soffits and generally leave messy lines from uneven cleaning. Pressure washing alone will also not remove the root of mold spores meaning mold returns faster.

Damaged surface from using too much pressure

At Sea Fan Investments we offer exterior cleaning solutions. We are the industry leading soft wash providers in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Our soft wash equipment and techniques can clean some of the islands largest and most complex structures.

Soft washing is the modern method for all exterior cleaning and has replaced old fashioned pressure washing in every aspect except for concrete cleaning. This process uses detergents to clean a variety of surfaces. This makes it perfect for exterior house washing, it removes organic material at the root and can quickly transform dirty surfaces like walls and soffits.

Soft washing stone columns

Our house wash service is a perfect pairing with a roof wash and a glass cleaning service. Together these services will clean the exterior of a property, increase curb appeal, extend the lifespan of finishes, and help to keep your investment looking its best.

There are times when mold and mildew have been left unchecked and finished surfaces do require painting or refinishing. Ask any licensed and insured professional painter or mason and they will tell you that preparation is the key to a successful paint job. Don't intrust your expensive painting and masonry project on a quick and often inexperienced pressure washing. You need to completely remove that organic growth first to insure a successful outcome.

Let's round up and tackle some myths.

Myth

• A home needs to be repainted whenever it gets dirty.

• The right way to clean a home is with a pressure washer.

• Mold and mildew can be painted over.

True

• A home should be regularly soft washed to keep it looking its best and extend the lifespan of finishes.

• Soft washing is the right way to clean a home.

• Mold and mildew must be removed at the root before painting.

At Sea Fan Investment we are here to manage and maintain your investment. We are your property management professionals and we care about your investment. Have a question, ask us! We are here for you.