“Pressure washing” gets used as a catch-all, but there are really two very different methods — and matching the wrong one to a surface is how homes end up with stripped paint, cracked roof tiles, and blown-out window screens.
What pressure washing actually is
High-pressure washing uses water force — sometimes 3,000+ PSI — to physically blast dirt off hard surfaces. It's the right call for concrete driveways, pavers, and sidewalks that can take the force. On siding, stucco, screens, or a roof, that same force does real damage.
What soft washing is
Soft washing uses low pressure plus safe, biodegradable cleaning solutions that kill mold, algae, and mildew at the root rather than just blasting the surface layer. Because the solution does the work, it's safe for siding, stucco, lanais, pool cages, and roofs — and it keeps the growth from coming back for far longer.
The simple rule
Hard, flat ground surfaces → pressure washing. Anything on the house itself — walls, roof, screens, delicate finishes → soft washing. A good crew carries both and knows which surface gets which. If someone shows up ready to pressure-wash your roof, that's your cue to stop them.
Not sure which your home needs? We'll tell you straight during a free on-site quote — no upsell.