Beyond the Surface: Why Your Home’s Exterior Needs More Than Just a Rain Shower

Photo by Curtis Adams

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Most of us throw a ton of money at interior renovations such as new granite countertops, hardwood floors, and ultra-minimalist lighting. However, your home’s exterior is what protects the inside of your house — including your newly-sanded hardwood — from the sweltering humidity of summer, the chill of winter, and the pollutants in the air that so many of us are unaware of.

If you go outside and run your finger along your siding or examine the “shadows” on your roof, you’ll discover that what appears to be dirt is actually a living organism actively destroying your home. To address this problem effectively, you need a power washing professional.

The Science of “Gunk”: It’s Alive

Homeowners commonly attribute black streaks or a greenish hue on roofs or north-facing walls to soot or dust accumulation. What they really have, however, is a more stubborn biologic pest: Gloeocapsa magma. It’s a highly durable type of algae that relies on modern roofing materials for survival, feeding off the limestone filler used to give architectural shingles resilience.

It clumps up into gluey balls, and it becomes so sticky and dry that it sands poorly. Dark roofing materials absorb large amounts of solar energy, causing your attic to heat up and increase your air conditioning bills.

Did you know? Algae can transform into moss and lichen that peel and lift your roofing shingles, allowing water to leak into your home. By the time you see the green from outside, it will already be too late. Spraying with a hose is unlikely to help; you will need to use a specific treatment to kill the spores.

Soft Washing vs. Power Washing: Know the Difference

Homeowners with vinyl siding often have the well-intentioned but disastrous idea of renting a pressure washer to remove oxidation from the surface, not realizing that it can peel the siding. In fact, the best way to clean siding is to remove mildew or heavy dirt buildup with a water-and-bleach solution, then rinse with water to remove the cleaner. 

Professional crews generally use two very different techniques:

1. The heavy hitter — pressure washing. This service uses high-PSI to blast away grime from hard surfaces such as concrete, brick, and stone. It is used to clean driveways, decks, patios, and sidewalks. No service is better at removing oil stains and salt damage from years of use than pressure washing.
2. Soft washing. This is the secret sauce we apply to the most sensitive areas of your home. Like most people, power-washing professionals detest algae-stained surfaces, but they can’t just blast everything with high-pressure water without damaging delicate surfaces. That’s where a low-pressure wash with specialty eco-friendly cleaners comes in. For hard-to-wash surfaces such as roofs, siding, and decks, the delicate balance of heavy rain and special cleaning solutions kills the algae at its roots without causing any harm.

The “Hidden” ROI of Curb Appeal

Exterior cleaning is often seen as a luxury some homeowners can afford from time to time, but did you know that it can actually increase your home’s value by thousands? Many real estate sources say that a full exterior cleaning of a home can increase its value by anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000.

It seems that in real estate, there is another “Curb Appeal” – that being the condition of the driveway and the exterior of the siding. If it is cleaned and the vinyl siding is replaced, buyers assume that everything else on the property has been well maintained, including the HVAC, plumbing, and foundation. Conversely, if the exterior looks dirty and neglected, buyers will low-ball the purchase price, assuming deferred maintenance throughout the home.

Although you may not be listing your home for sale, the preventive maintenance and protection offered by having your home professionally cleaned are a huge value.

Seasonal Timing: When to Book?

In regions like Michigan, the timing of your clean matters. Post-Winter is the time to wash away all the corrosive salt and brine that trucks kicked up onto your property during the colder months. Salt eats concrete, and by washing it off early, it can save your driveway from ever developing those unsightly cracks known as “spalls.”

Organic matter stuck to your siding can turn into a mess once winter sets in, as it freezes and thaws over the course of three months. Before the first hard freeze of Late Fall, a soft wash is a good idea to prevent that.

Final Thoughts

Your home is probably your largest investment, so it is a good idea to do more than mow the lawn and change the air filters regularly to protect it. The “envelope” of your house includes the roof, walls, and foundation. Don’t neglect this important aspect.

Whether it’s removing rust stains from your porch or green moss from your garage, the right equipment can make all the difference. But leave it to the professionals and have the right chemistry and pressure put to work for you.

Don’t let your home’s exterior deteriorate to the point where it’s visible from outer space. Why not invest a small amount of time and money to avoid the cost of extensive repairs? Make your house stand out from the rest on your street by giving it a thorough clean.

Quick checklist for homeowners:

1. Check your roof. Are there black vertical streaks?
2. The siding is a bit fuzzy on the North side.
3. Look at the concrete closely for white, powdery efflorescence staining or dark oil spots.

Have a wet winter? If you said yes to any of these signs of water damage, time to dry your tears because there’s no need to use the hose on your house anymore — an expert is here to help dry-wash your home.

*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.