Soft Washing & Plant Safety

Although our cleaning solution is safe, we take some extra steps to ensure no damage occurs when plants and vegetation are present. We thoroughly pre wet them prior to cleaning, to soak the roots with water so they’re already “full” before we begin. We rinse them off again upon completion as an extra precaution.

Our detergent is mostly water with a small amount of sodium hypochlorite (pool chlorine/bleach) to clean and disinfect for removal of mildew. The ratio is 80% water, only 15% active ingredient and 5% a neutral thickening soap to keep it on the house surface - as opposed to excessively running onto the ground. Once this is applied with a low pressure washing, it’s then rinsed off thoroughly using even more purely plain water to further dilute any minimal remaining soap. At this point in the cleaning there’s no active soap remaining, and even if there were, it is completely inert once dry, roughly 1-2 hours after completion. 

Proper Treatment And Maintenance For Your Exotic Hardwood Deck In Northern Va.

PLEASE NOTE - Proper maintenance requires annual cleaning and oiling. If these guidelines have not followed and the wood has been allowed to weather and dry out there may be variations in the texture, color and finish after treatment.

Exotic Hardwood decks are as beautiful as they are strong. It’s no wonder Brazilian Hardwood is often referred to as “Iron Wood” although you probably recognize it as ipe (pronounced EE-pay). There are many different types of hardwoods, such as ipe, mahogany, teak, and cumaru. Among hardwoods, ipe is considered the most prestigious and valued wood. It stands out for its strength, durability, and density. These properties make it rot resistant & scratch resistant.

Hardwood decks can be left untreated for a more rustic, weathered grey look OR properly cleaned, sanded & oiled annually. You’ll want to use a UV Oil, which is technically not a stain. UV Oil is not meant to provide a color change like a stain. Ipe and similar tropical hardwoods have natural colors and variations in the grain. They are also naturally resistant to water penetration, so stains like the ones you might find at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s are not only unnecessary- they are improper. If you are planning to maintain the natural color, we recommend using Messmer’s Ipe Hardwood Deck Oil, which comes in two shades, Mahogany and Natural, with the most popular tone being Natural. This finish protects the wood and contains transparent iron oxide pigment. This pigment absorbs UV radiation, yet at the same time will allow visible light to pass through it. The oiling results you’ll get are a finish that highlights the natural beauty and variation of the ipe wood while simultaneously protecting it. Maintaining the color of your deck typically involves cleaning & oiling every 12-18 months. We suggest that clients get their hardwood decks washed, sanded, and oiled annually. Since annual maintenance can become costly — we offer package discounts for cleaning, sanding, & oiling.

What's The Difference Between Deck Washing & Deck Stripping?

Deck Stripping

The first step to completely remove a tinted stain is to apply a deck stripping chemical. It will need to be applied by hand through a battery operated or hand pump sprayer. A pressure washer cannot be used for this application as the pressure washer dilutes any detergent applied through it at 80% water and only 20% chemical. The stripping agent needs to sit on the surface for a varying amount of time depending on how much old finish is on the surface, typically 10-20 minutes to break down the failing stain. The entire deck needs to be soaked liberally in this solution and let dwell until you can start to see the finish separating from the wood. This can be very time consuming - requiring our technicians to wear PPE, and cover and protect surrounding shrubs/grass - so the extremely corrosive stripper doesn’t cause chemical burns on our skin or dry out your nearby plants.

The next step is to now use our pressure washer to blast away the old stain once we see that the stripping agent has broken down the old stain we’re trying to remove. Every inch of the deck needs to be hit for the most uniform end result possible.

As you can probably tell this process is very involved, much more than a standard deck washing. Here’s the fun part… If multiple coats are to be stripped, or the stain was applied very heavy in spots and lighter than others to begin with, there will most likely be stubborn areas still remaining on the deck after the first stripping. Guess what? Now we have to repeat the entire process listed above until all of the stain is removed. Neutralizing the stripper to bring the wood back to a neutral PH is the final step in this process with a wood brightener (oxalic acid) that needs to be hand applied by pump up sprayer as well. As you can imagine this process can be a bit abrasive on the wood so sanding the deck is always recommended after stripping to buff out any fuzzy or splintered wood caused by the abrasive chemical and multiple passes with the pressure washer. THIS SERVICE IS ONLY RECOMMENDED IF THE DESIRE IS TO GO BACK TO A NATURAL WOOD LOOK OR TO REMOVE A DARKER STAIN TO GO TO A LIGHTER STAIN. In most cases we can do without stripping and perform a basic wash and then match or cover existing stains with a solid, opaque stain.

Deck Washing (Standard)

The main difference between stripping and washing is the initial step of hand applying the stripping agent through a dedicated pump sprayer that won’t dilute our chemical. Our standard deck wash uses a similar detergent but is diluted to a much safer ratio of chemical and water. As shown on our Deck Washing webpage, a similar detergent is used, but this time we’re able to mix it a bit less abrasive and apply the mild detergent through our pressure washing hose, eliminating the need to bring out multiple application tools, wear extensive PPE and less prep for the areas surrounding the deck. A standard deck washing will remove all mold, mildew, dirt, debris, etc. and usually some of the old stain, if present, in high traffic areas or areas where the old stain has worn away. On average, 95% of our clients get a standard deck washing, usually accompanied by sanding if it is an older deck, and finally re staining with a color that is similar enough to their prior stain we can match with a comparable semi transparent stain OR if we want to change the look of the deck without the hassle of stripping, applying a SOLID STAIN is usually the best bet for a uniform finish without the hassle of stripping. Solid stains are also the longest lasting, most durable stains on the market today.

NOTE - SOLID STAINS AND THICKER DECK OVER PRODUCTS CANNOT BE STRIPPED WITH THIS METHOD

Has Your Siding Been Hit By The Artillery?

Artillery fungus (Sphaerobulus stellatus) is a fungus that develops on rotting wood in a moist environment. What makes it unique is the way it shoots its spores into the air after so much liquid has built up in its mature fruiting bodies that they burst open.

Artillery fungus is a wood-decaying fungus that likes to live in landscape mulch. In its natural habitat, artillery fungi shoot spores towards sunlight. At your home, the fungus may behave differently. Lack of direct sunlight will cause the fungi to shoot spores at reflective surfaces, like white siding or cars. Obviously the dark spores are easily spotted on lighter color surfaces as well.

Artillery fungus has been more prevalent than it has in the past. Landscaping over the past several decades has included the use of wood mulch. In the past, purely bark mulch would have been more typical. Cool spring and fall periods will always yield more of the fungus as well. It’s common to notice this fungi growing in shady environments and on the east and north sides of homes. Beds that aren’t in full sun most of the day are most susceptible. However, artillery fungus has been found in full-sun environments as well.

Spores are very sticky and don’t take long to fasten themselves to surfaces. This makes them almost impossible to remove with most cleaners. They don’t pose any damage risk to surfaces other than cosmetic.

What Time Will We Arrive On Our Scheduled Date Of Service?

“What time will you be here?” Is a fairly common question we receive and it is a very good question, unfortunately it is a hard one to answer. We service a high volume of clients, especially during our busy spring and summer months. On an average day we have between 3 to 5 service stops on our route per vehicle, each of these stops taking a varying amount of time. The good news is that in almost all cases nobody needs to be home in order for us to begin since we use ladders to access second story decks and require no access inside your home. If we’re cleaning your home we just need your outside water turned on and all windows shut. If we’re cleaning a deck or patio space we need your water turned on and the area as clear of furniture as possible.

If you would like to be home prior to our arrival please let us know and we can arrange to be there first stop of the day, which would typically be between 9-10am. We can also call when we are on our way over to check in. We have to deal with Northern Va traffic as well as the usual challenges that can arise at any moment using gas powered engines for our pressure washers and vehicles. Mechanical issues ranging from minor to major can pop up when we least expect it when running these machines so frequently. Every house is different and in different condition. We may also have a client that requests us to add some additional work while we are there. For these reasons it is fairly difficult to quote an exact time, however we always try our very best to accommodate your schedule.

Does your deck have a previously applied coating that is peeling, flaking, & cracking?

The end result of your deck restoration greatly depends on the condition of the base we are starting with. If a deck has been stained improperly or not properly maintained prior to our involvement we will do our best, given the pre existing condition

We typically stain a couple hundred decks and fences per year, and have done so for over a decade now. The most challenging things we encounter every year are decks that either have been stained improperly, stained with a cheap product that is peeling off, or decks that simply haven’t been maintained for a number of years. We almost always can bring these decks back to their former glory, however the expectations need to be set in order to keep our clients happy with the end result.

Once a solid stain (opaque) is applied to the deck it is essentially a lifelong commitment. The problem is that we often find clients have coatings that either were improperly applied to begin with , or faulty products like exterior house paint or Deck Over and Deck Restore products, which I have written an entire separate article about here.

So how do we handle these situations? We do offer deck stripping services that use a chemical stripper and pressure washing to remove old stain, however this only works for semi transparent and transparent finishes. The best we can do is wash the deck, sand the deck, and properly apply a quality solid stain. The cleaning is just that, using detergent and moderate water pressure to remove mildew, dirt, debris from the surface. The next step is sanding, which is actually a bit more than that. We run a large floor buffer with varying grits of sandpaper over the floor to smooth out splinters, dead wood fibers, and flaking/peeling remnants of the old coating. We also use hand held scrapers to ensure any loose, peeling stain is in fact removed by the floor sander. Tops of handrails and corners where the large floor machine can’t fit are hand sanded with our special grinder attachment that uses stiff bristles to remove loose wood fibers and loose stain. The last step is choosing a solid color stain you like, preferably something in the darker/brown family, since more natural, organic looking colors tend to hide imperfections in the wood better than lighter colors.

After all of this the texture may still not be perfect, since we can’t chemically strip off the entire finish in most cases. The sanding, scraping, grinding doesn’t strip off all of the old finish but removes loose, chipping stain and splinters. Essentially we need to do our best to stop the underlying problem, which is the peeling and flaking of the old coating so that it doesn’t continue to happen under our new stain.

My purpose in writing this is to let you know in most cases we can save your deck, while managing the expectations. The next step after the outlined process would be either a full or partial replacement of the deck. If you have an older, weathered deck or a failing finish but don’t currently have replacement in the budget our washing, sanding, and staining package is a great option to get more years out of your deck for a lower cost than replacing it.

Deck Staining and Sealing - Timeline & process

“My goal with this article is to manage our client’s expectations for the best possible customer service experience we can offer, while managing factors out of our control.”

View fullsize

Fresh Stain damaged by overnight rain

View fullsize

Passing shower after stain application

View fullsize

Heavy morning dew damaged stain

View fullsize

Moisture sealed in wood caused premature failure

Temperature, moisture content of wood, rain forecast, and excessive winds can all delay this process. Photos above are examples of what can happen if proper guidelines are not followed for this service

After 15 years in this business the biggest challenge we have every year (especially in the rainy spring months) is appropriately scheduling our deck staining services. I attribute this to one major factor out of our control…WEATHER. We are actually one of the only pressure washing companies that stains wood along with our deck cleaning service. When talking to other firms in the area it seems that most have dropped this service due to it being near impossible to accurately predict the weather and schedule accordingly.

As the weather warms up in spring the demand for this service is high and this demand stays consistent all year. I attribute this to our passion for quality customer service and ensuring every client is happy with the end result, as well as being one of the very few firms that offers this service in a highly populated area.

Here is a typical scenario from our perspective -

We may try to wash 10 decks per week, all of them needing a second visit to stain once the deck is dry from the initial washing, stain type and color have been chosen, and the washing portion has been paid for. So we have ten clients now awaiting their stain service, which we would ideally take care of the following week.

Now the following week is here and our washing team is starting to wash our next batch of 10 decks for this current week, while our stain techs get ready to stain the previous week’s decks. BUT there’s a problem! Four out of the seven days of the week have high chances of rain, some of which happen to be overnight. Each day with a high probability of rain in the forecast we cannot stain. One of those days has the rain forecasted overnight, that cancels out the current day as well as the following day since everything will be damp from the overnight rain…

A whole week has passed that we were unable to stain any of the 10 decks from the first week. We also have 10 additional decks from the second week that were cleaned and are awaiting staining as well. So we now have 20 total clients waiting for their decks to be stained. Now we’re at week 3 ready to wash 10 more decks… and so on and so forth.

As you can imagine, the clients from the first week may be getting impatient or still have their deck furniture on their lawn awaiting our return, therefore feeling essentially unable to use their deck. As a homeowner myself, I understand these frustrations and the one thing I care about most is keeping our clients happy and not adding any stress to these already stressful times. Therefore, we will be managing our deck washing appointments and scheduling only a small number per week to lessen the wait time between the washing and staining services, as well as managing customer expectations and timelines. These services will be scheduled on a first come first serve basis April through mid November.

*Note* If you have a deadline for completion of your staining project, such as a cookout or party, please let us know in advance and we will try our very best to accommodate your event

Soft Wash Roof Cleaning Treatment Process, Expectations, Timeline

The process outlined below is the guideline and standard procedure recommended by the The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. Trying to get immediate results when removing moss by abrasive scrubbing or pressure washing will cause damage and void the warranty of your roof. For more info visit our Roof Cleaning section of this site.

The first step in our roof cleaning service is to use a blower to blow off loose leaves, twigs, branches, and other items that may have fallen on to the roof. We then use a soft bristle broom to gently remove any thicker, heavier moss that may be present. We won’t be able to get all of it off but usually we can remove a good amount of the thicker buildup so that our chemical treatment can penetrate into the roots better. Before we can actually apply our chemical solution we need to inspect gutter downspouts and properly attach a bag to catch any of the minimal runoff detergent. The last step is to completely saturate any surrounding landscape with fresh water and cover plants and shrubs where necessary. One technician stays on the ground to ensure all landscaping below is kept safe and protected.

We’re now ready to soft wash. Our detergent is applied through a low pressure pump at no more pressure than a garden hose. It is gently sprayed all over the roof’s surface until the entire area is saturated. An additive is used in the solution to thicken it so the solution stays on the surface longer, increasing its cleaning ability. Algae, which causes black streaks and dark stains starts to disappear almost instantly and is usually completely gone within 20 minutes. Moss will start to turn from green to a white/yellow color, indicating the treatment is effective and it is starting to die. The customer will be able to note a marked difference as the dark streaks are completely gone and the remaining moss starts to wither and change color. Note, however, that it will not look immediately clean. Rather, the solution will kill the growth and then, over the course of the coming 4-6 weeks, the growth will die and be washed off by rainwater. We provide a complimentary follow up service and treatment if the roof is not completely clean at the 6 week mark.

---

Did you know that your insurance company may cancel your policy due to moss & algae buildup ? Check out this informative newscast below about the importance of cleaning your roof.

My deck and fence look fuzzy after cleaning, is this normal?

Deck furring or fuzzing after cleaning heavily oxidized and mildewed deck.

One thing that can potentially happen when your deck is cleaned or stripped is that it’s possible to get “wood fuzzies” or “wood furring” when finished. This looks like very small raised wood grain fibers or hair on the decking boards. When you are prepping a deck you essentially remove a layer of oxidized or damaged wood cells. The more you need to remove, the greater the chance of making the wood look “fuzzy” or “soft”. This is totally normal and only cosmetic, it doesn’t affect how long a stain or sealer will last and doesn’t do any damage to the wood itself.

Over the years ourselves and many others in our trade have tried different methods to reduce the chances of this happening. Initially it was thought that too much pressure was the cause, so ourselves and some colleagues in the industry did some experimenting. We tried using only water to clean with just enough pressure to remove the greyed wood, a mixture of deck cleaning detergents and less water pressure, cleaners and garden hose, deck brighteners and deck brushes . All of these methods produced some degree of furring when removing mildew and oxidized greying wood. Here is an interesting thread we found where a homeowner ended up with the fuzzies without even using a pressure washer from DoItYourSelf.com

Of course this doesn’t always happen and there are ways to prevent this from happening as well as fix it if the cosmetic appearance of the “Fuzzies” bothers you. The main factors are how much oxidation (greying) and green mildew are on the deck? An untreated deck that is exposed to the elements and left to gray (oxidize) from the UV will need to have all of the damaged wood cells removed to bring back it’s color. The next step after greying is eventually turning green and developing mildew. The more grey & green on the wood, the more you will need to remove from the surface and the greater the chance of getting the “fuzzies”. Basically the best way to avoid this is to take care of your deck regularly.

You can see now how proper and regular maintenance is very important. Once a deck is built it does need a little time to weather and dry out from the pressure treating process at the mill. After the small “drying” time it is important that within the first year of the deck’s life it should be stained and then maintained every two to three years from then on. This will eliminate the chances of “furring” happening to begin with. That’s not to say that there’s no hope if the deck is older. We have all multiple deck restoration services we offer, Deck Cleaning, Deck Stripping (old stain removal) Deck Sanding, and Deck Staining.

Our solution to this is our Sanding Service. We can smooth out these small fuzzy fibers after the cleaning service on our second visit to your home along with the staining. The horizontal surfaces of the deck are smoothed out, the residual dust is cleaned up and then we’re ready to stain.

There is a lot more useful information on this subject as well as a thread of many homeowners and contractors discussing this occurrence at DeckStainHelp.com

Oxidation (chalky residue) on Vinyl & Aluminum Siding

Chalky Residue (Oxidation) On Siding

When I first started cleaning houses in the early 2000’s we would typically expect to see oxidation on all older houses with aluminum siding. Now it’s almost 20 years later and vinyl siding is much more common, we are seeing oxidation on these homes as well due to the age of the homes and the extreme seasonal weather and humidity we experience in our region. There’s a good chance if you wipe your hand on your siding you may see a chalky residue on your hand. Essentially Oxidation is the first step in the material breaking down, as nothing lasts forever.

Oxidation creates a chalky white substance on your vinyl siding and trim which occurs most often during damp or wet weather. This can leave a dull or uneven look to your home that can sometimes be more visible after a cleaning once all dust, mildew, pollen, etc. have been removed. In certain cases depending on the environment of the house (in the shade all day or exposed to the hot summer sun) certain areas of the home can be more oxidized than others and leave a slightly uneven look. Generally it is not that noticeable and sometimes can only be visible looking at the siding from certain angles.

During a low pressure soft wash cleaning we are mindful of this and do light rinsing as opposed to high pressure washing that can further damage the siding. The oxidation is not removed during this process as our washing is meant to remove mostly organic discoloration such as mold and mildew. This is purely a cosmetic issue and does not seem to affect the integrity of the siding itself.

For older homes that may still have aluminum siding this oxidation caused by weathering over the years may actually wear away the thin, colored finish and expose the aluminum color. In this case if replacing the siding isn’t an option it can be painted once it is cleaned to restore the color and a more uniform look.

Common Problems With Composite Decking

Composite decking has become very popular over the past two decades.  These decks are constructed of a synthetic wood material that has become popularized as a maintenance free alternative to wood. This all sounded great in the early 2000's  but as the years have past it has been found that they are not maintenance free and can actually have more issues than traditional wood decks.  The leading manufacturer, Trex has been involved in multiple class action lawsuits as well. We will go over some very common problems here.

One of the most common complaints about composite decking is mold. Decking that is in shaded area or areas that tend to get wet frequently have been shown to grow mold and stain the deck. This is not restricted to composite decking. Wood decking can grow mold, mildew and algae. For wood decking, the remedy for would is cleaning and re staining. Composite decking requires using special cleaning chemicals that will kill the mold and remove some of the finish. This will leave the decking more porous and susceptible to more mold growth.

Many of the composite decking companies have beautiful brochures with images of elaborate decks of different colors and looks, many of these companies will not show you the deck several years later when it is faded from contact with the sunlight. Everybody knows color fades in the sun, but composite decking companies seem to be oblivious to what their products are really capable of. Some composite decking has faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards stand out like a sore thumb. Trex actually admits this on their own website when referring to their older generation products. 

Composite decking is made of a combination of wood and plastic. This combination is intended to reduce chance of rot and extend the life of the deck, however the material is not indestructible. The surface of the boards can be scratched rather easily. 

If you check out consumeraffairs.com you will see hundreds of testimonials from folks who feel mislead by false promises and have experienced the less than stellar performance of composite decks.

Potential Solutions - You probably invested in a composite deck or inherited one from your home's previous owner thinking you would not have to stain it or maintain it like a wooden deck, sadly that is not the case.  Trex has Acknowledged their color fading and since it is not covered in their "warranty" have actually recommended staining these decks in a similar fashion to traditional wooden decks. There are actually many brands that have created lines of solid deck stain to restore these faded decks.  

Helpful Appointment Information To Review Prior to scheduling

It can be difficult to quote an exact timeframe for arrival on our service date based on the high volume of clients we service, typically 3 to 5 stops per day of varying times for each service call. We also have to deal with Northern Va traffic, which can be unpredictable as well. The good news is that in almost all cases nobody needs to be home in order for us to begin since we use ladders to access second story decks and require no access inside your home. If you would like to be home prior to our arrival please let us know and we can arrange to be there first stop of the day, which would typically be between 9-10am. We can also call when we are on our way over to check in.

---

Booking Outdoor Cleaning Appointments

• Payment is due upon completion of the cleaning. We do supply all materials necessary for your cleaning or staining project, therefore we require payment in full upon successful completion of each step of the project via cash, check, or credit card. Myself and my technicians are all husbands & fathers of young children and appreciate it :)

• Prior to a cleaning appointment we need your outside water turned on, your windows, doors & outdoor electrical outlets tightly shut.

• Nobody necessarily needs to be home, we need no access inside the home and use ladders to access 2nd story decks.

• All furniture, planter boxes, decorative items, toys, potted plants, etc. need to be moved away from the areas we are cleaning to ensure nothing is damaged and we can thoroughly and efficiently complete your cleaning. (if there are larger items that cannot be moved or you need help, please let us know)

---

Booking Deck Staining Appointments

• Payment for the completed washing is required prior to staining. Once payment for the first step is received along with a confirmation of stain color/type we will determine the schedule for the staining based on the weather.

• Deck washing & staining is a two part process. Once the deck or fence is washed it needs time to dry from the thorough cleaning process, this time can vary by temperature and humidity.

• Nobody necessarily needs to be home for the sanding or staining service, however we do need access to a power outlet near the deck

• Weather is a HUGE factor when scheduling staining projects. One day of heavy rain can affect our entire schedule as the deck then needs to dry again and we need to re arrange our schedule to accommodate our clients. High winds can also make covering surroundings in plastic nearly impossible to prevent dripping and overspray.

• If you have a deadline for completion of your project such as a graduation party or BBQ please schedule as far in advance as possible and let us know ASAP so we can try our best to make this happen. As mentioned above, weather plays a big role in scheduling these outdoor services.

• We do not schedule staining dates until after the washing is complete. Since the forecast changes so frequently we have found it best to stay in communication with you after the washing and monitor the weather so we can plan our route along with dry days.

• You are welcome to use your deck during the timeframe between the washing and staining, we will thoroughly blow off and sweep the deck prior to staining on our second visit.

• A stain color choice must be made. We will need your desired color of choice selected so we can then order that product, purchase it & pick it up. We are happy to make recommendations as well, for example some folks may have inherited an older deck with a prior stain that we can help match or cover with a solid stain.

• During our peak deck staining season (April through July) we do a high volume of work. We are also one of the few power washing companies that actually stains decks. Our attention to detail has repeat customers as well as new customers reaching out to us. We ask that you please be patient with us as our peak season is also during the rainy spring months. As noted above, if you have a deadline for completion let us know and we will try our very best to accommodate.

---

My goal in laying all of these points out is to successfully manage your expectations as well as ensuring the best possible end result with as minimal inconvenience to the most important person, which is YOU! As a homeowner, husband, and father myself I know the day to day list of things to do in life and around the house is seemingly never ending. Myself and our small, yet dedicated team truly do love our work and being able to clean up our community one neighbor at a time. Please reach out to us if you have any questions at all.

Sincerely,

Brian Callan

Why does the foundation of my home still look dirty after a house wash?

Discoloration remaining after power washing and scrubbing alone.

Red clay is a dominant soil type in the southern United States as well as found in other parts of the U.S. Red clay stains occur after heavy rains when water carries the clay deep into the pores of concrete, brick or stucco. Home foundation walls are often susceptible to this via splash build up, but even the simple act of walking on a concrete driveway with muddy shoes will do its damage. Power washing alone does not take the red dirt stains out.

Why are red clay stains so hard to clean from concrete and masonry? Possibly because what gives the reddish color of the dirt is iron oxide or better known as rust, which is highly insoluble in water.

We have found that the best preventative steps that can be taken are to properly landscape around your home by applying mulch beds, decorative river rock, or some other type of turf over the ground so that the clay mud doesn't splash back on your home every time it rains causing discoloration.  

One solution is to hand applying an acidic cleaner to the areas through a pump sprayer, then power washing off the discoloration. This is a service that is not included in our standard house wash process but can be added on if the homeowner chooses to.  It seems to me that by the time this has happened, most of the paint on the foundation is chipping or faded and needs to be re painted anyway.  After we have thoroughly cleaned the house and removed any loose dirt from the surface the area is prepped to be re painted and then preventative measures can be taken to ensure this does not happen again. 

Gutter & home Scrubbing to minimize the appearance of vertical black lines (tiger striping)

Hand scrubbing with specialized detergent

Tiger stripes, those dark vertical stripes that appear on aluminum rain gutters and other areas of the home where water and debris collect and run down the house. Customers sometimes call us about these dark stripes that will not wash off. The first assumption is that the paint has gone bad, this is usually not the case with aluminum gutters. If these lines appear on a painted surface they can be scrubbed off or re painted.

Naturally, pollution and dirt build up on the top lip of the gutter. When moisture combines with these pollutants, it streams down the face of the gutter. Future precipitation will continuously follow the same path. Over time, the buildup becomes alternating light and dark stripes

During a normal house wash these marks may lighten depending on how discolored the gutters are, for heavily discolored gutters a more thorough scrubbing is usually necessary with a degreasing solution that needs to be hand applied and scrubbed with an extendable brush.  This service is not included in our $249 house wash rate due to the increased labor, time, and special cleaning solution.   This service is an add on to house washes depending on what the customer's expectation is for the end result, the service ranges from $200 for most townhouses up to $350 for larger single family homes. 

The problem with Deck-Over and Deck Restore Products

Homeowners are always looking for an alternative to a deck replacement. When wood is neglected, it can be expensive to have it restored or replaced. A few companies like Behr and Rust-Oleum are selling a deck resurface product. They claim it is the smart alternative to deck replacement. It can be applied to wood surfaces such as decks, stairs, docks, composite decking, and more. So is it a good alternative or is it just a waste of time and money?

What tests are showing is that these products are prone to peeling despite what the manufacturers are claiming. With any film-forming product, peeling is always an issue. It still seems to stand true that anything subjected to the elements will not hold up for more than a couple of years.

Another issue with the deck resurfacing products is that they create a whole host of maintenance and removal issues. With conventional wood restoration, the ease of maintenance using a wood stain is what helps the deck look so good for many years. It also allows you to easily remove the product if you want a different look. With deck resurfacing, maintenance is almost non-existent and good luck trying to remove such a thick heavy product. Basically, once the product is on the deck you are stuck with it.

Here is some info regarding a class action lawsuit for the Rust Oleum line of this product