Why Things Get Dirty, and What Removes Them
No listicles and no filler. 118 guides explaining the chemistry, the failure modes, and the real cost of doing each job right — written by the crew that does it across Macomb County.
Washing & Soft Wash
How the two methods differ, what each surface needs, and the damage caused by using the wrong one.
Should I pressure wash my wood fence before staining it?
Yes, you can pressure wash a wood fence before staining it, but gently: apply a wood cleaner, then rinse with a wide fan tip at low pressure, not…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashHow do I get orange or black sprinkler stains off vinyl siding and a vinyl fence?
Orange sprinkler stains on vinyl siding or fencing are iron, and black or brown ones are usually manganese, both left behind as well water dries…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashShould I seal the brick on my house in Michigan?
Most brick houses in Michigan should not be sealed. The Brick Industry Association says well-built, maintained brick needs no water repellent, and it…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashHow do you remove graffiti from brick or concrete without leaving a ghost?
Remove graffiti from brick by starting with the gentlest method that works: test in a hidden spot, try water and a neutral detergent, then a paint…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashWhat are the green, yellow or brown stains on my light-colored brick?
A fuzzy green film on a shaded wall is usually algae. Yellow, green or purple stains in the face of tan, buff or white brick, often after an acid wash…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashHow do you clean manufactured stone veneer without damaging it?
Manufactured stone veneer is cleaned with a water rinse, mild detergent or a cleaner the stone maker approves, and a soft-bristled brush. CMHA…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashHow do you clean limestone window sills and trim on a brick house without damaging them?
Clean limestone sills and trim with water, mild clear detergent and a soft bristle brush, then a pH-neutral stone cleaner if needed. Never use acid…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashCan you pressure wash LP SmartSide siding?
No, LP Building Solutions tells owners not to use a pressure washer on LP SmartSide engineered wood siding, because high-pressure water can force…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashCan you power wash asbestos siding?
Power washing asbestos-cement siding is not advised. Health agencies say intact shingles are best left alone and never abraded, and high-pressure…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashIs roof cleaning worth it, or will it void my shingle warranty?
Roof cleaning is worth it when the shingles are sound. The warranty risk comes from pressure washing, not from cleaning done as the Asphalt Roofing…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashWhat insurance should a power washing company have, and how do I check that it's real?
A power washing company should carry general liability for property damage and workers' compensation, which Michigan's MCL 418.115 requires at 3…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashHow do I choose a power washing company, and what should I ask before I hire one?
Choose a power washing company by asking which method goes on each surface, what pressure touches your siding, how long the cleaning solution dwells…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashMoss on Cedar Shake and Wood Roofs: Why It's Deadlier There
Moss harms cedar shake roofs faster than asphalt because it keeps the wood wet. Cedar stays sound by drying between rains, and moss holds water…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashWhy One Side of Your House Is Always the Green Side
The green film is algae, and it grows on the side of your house that stays damp longest — almost always the north face, which gets little or no direct…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashVinyl and PVC Fence Cleaning: White Again Without the Damage
Vinyl and PVC fences green faster than house siding because both faces take full weather, the lower rails live in ground splash and sprinkler spray…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashCedar Shake Siding: Soft Washing Without Raising the Grain
Cedar shake siding is best cleaned with a mild, wood-safe cleaner (oxygen bleach is the gentler choice for mildew), given dwell time, then rinsed near…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashJames Hardie and Fiber Cement: Washing It the Way the Warranty Requires
James Hardie's published maintenance guidance calls for cleaning fiber cement with low-pressure water from a garden hose and a soft or medium nylon…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashStucco and Dryvit (EIFS): Why Pressure Cracks the Finish Coat
Dryvit and other EIFS claddings are a thin acrylic finish coat over a fiberglass-mesh base coat and foam insulation board — pressure washing cracks…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashArtillery Fungus: The Black Specks From Mulch That Won't Wash Off
The tiny black dots peppering your siding are spore masses from artillery fungus (Sphaerobolus stellatus), an organism that lives in wood-chip mulch…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashCan Pressure Washing Damage Brick? Yes — Here's How It Happens
Yes, but the brick face is rarely the first casualty. High pressure erodes mortar joints, which are softer than the brick by design, and it can blow…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashDoes Power Washing Use a Lot of Water? Less Than Your Hose
Less than the garden hose it replaces. A hose flows 5–10 gallons per minute; pressure washers run 2–8 GPM and clean several times faster, so total…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashHow to Remove Fish Flies and Spider Webs from Your Siding
Dead fish flies leave a sticky organic film on siding that bonds harder as summer sun bakes it on, can leave shadowing, and feeds mildew. Remove them…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashPower Washing Before Painting: The Prep Step That Decides the Job
Paint bonds only to what it touches — skip the wash and chalk, mildew, and dirt become the layer your new paint peels off with. Pre-paint washing…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashWhat Chemicals Do Power Washing Companies Use?
The core soft-wash chemical is sodium hypochlorite, the same active compound as household bleach, diluted well below household-bleach strength…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashDIY Pressure Washing vs. Hiring a Professional: The Real Costs & Risks
DIY pressure washing makes sense for ground-level concrete, patio furniture and small pads. Siding, second stories, roofs, decks and pavers are safer…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashHot Water vs. Cold Water Pressure Washing: When Heat Matters
Cold water pressure washing handles dirt, algae and mud. Grease, oil, gum and tire marks are bonded by fats and polymers that cold water…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashCan High-Pressure Washing Damage Vinyl Siding?
Yes, it can. High pressure aimed upward forces water behind vinyl panels, where it can grow hidden mold. It can crack siding made brittle by age…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashIs Power Washing Bad for Your House? Only When It's Done Wrong
Power washing is bad for a house when high pressure meets a surface built for weather, not force: siding, roofs, wood, window seals, soft mortar. Done…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashWhat Are Those Black Streaks on My Roof? (And Why You Shouldn't Ignore Them)
Black streaks on a roof are usually Gloeocapsa magma, a blue-green algae widely reported to feed on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It is…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashWhat PSI Do You Need? A Pressure Chart for Every Surface
Concrete takes 3,000–4,000 PSI through a surface cleaner, and concrete pavers less, about 1,500–2,500. Wood decks need 500–1,200 with a wide fan tip…
Read the guide → Washing & Soft WashSoft Washing vs. Power Washing: Which Does Your Home Need?
Soft washing applies a cleaning solution at low pressure, typically 100 to 300 PSI, and the solution kills algae, mold and mildew. Power washing uses…
Read the guide →Concrete & Hardscape
Michigan freeze-thaw cycles are brutal on flatwork. Protecting, restoring and sealing concrete, pavers and stone.
Why is there a white crust on my brick that won't brush or wash off?
A white crust on brick that won't brush or wash off is usually lime run or white scum, not efflorescence. Lime run is calcium carbonate left where…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeWhy are weeds growing through my polymeric sand?
Weeds grow through polymeric sand when joints are filled too shallow, never compacted, washed out by pressure or opened by freeze-thaw, or when seeds…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeShould I use a water-based or solvent-based sealer on my concrete patio or pavers?
Choose solvent-based sealer if you want the darker wet look on stamped concrete or pavers and accept a strong odor, high VOCs and flammable fumes…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow do I get polymeric sand haze off my pavers?
Scrub polymeric sand haze off pavers with hot water near 180°F and a nonmetallic brush, or with vinegar, the two methods the Brick Industry…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow do I get leaf and black walnut stains off my concrete patio or driveway?
Get leaf and black walnut stains off concrete with a bleaching cleaner: oxygen bleach mixed to its label or diluted chlorine bleach, kept wet…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow often should a parking garage be pressure washed to remove road salt?
A parking garage should be pressure washed at least once a year, every level including stairways, ideally in late winter or early spring, and twice…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow do I tell what kind of sealer is already on my concrete before I reseal it?
To tell what sealer is on your concrete, test a clean, dry corner. Water beading on a glossy surface points to a film, and beading with no sheen…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow do you clean sealed stamped concrete without damaging the sealer?
Clean sealed stamped concrete with mild dish soap, a soft brush and a full rinse, then treat stains with matched cleaners: a degreaser for oil, mild…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow long should I wait to seal new pavers?
Wait 60 to 90 days before sealing new concrete pavers, and longer if white efflorescence is still blooming, which can last up to a year. Polymeric…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow long does concrete sealer need to dry before it rains?
Plan on at least 12 hours with no rain, dew or sprinkler water after sealing concrete, the American Society of Concrete Contractors' rule, and 24…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeWhy does my new concrete sealer have bubbles, dark blotches or roller marks?
Bubbles in fresh sealer usually mean the coat went on too heavily or onto a hot slab in direct sun, so it skinned over and trapped solvent. Dark…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeIs sealing my paver patio worth it, or is it a waste of money?
Sealing a paver patio in Macomb or Oakland County is worth it where road salt, shade or joint washout hit it: a breathable, joint-stabilizing sealer…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeWhat are the black spots on my patio that pressure washing won't get off?
Round black spots that survive pressure washing are usually lichen, a fungus-and-alga crust anchored in the pores of the concrete or paver. Pressure…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeRetaining Walls and Segmental Block: Cleaning the Yard's Workhorse
Segmental retaining walls clean safely with masonry-appropriate chemistry and moderate, controlled rinsing — efflorescence gets dry-brushed…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeEfflorescence on Brick and Block: The White Haze, Explained
Efflorescence is a white, powdery haze of mineral salts left on brick, block, and mortar when water moves through the masonry, dissolves naturally…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow Much Does Concrete Sealing Cost in Macomb County?
Concrete sealing in Macomb County generally starts around $299 and brick paver restoration around $399, with the final number driven by square…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow to Fix Cloudy, White or Peeling Concrete Sealer
Milky-white clouding is moisture trapped beneath the sealer film, called blushing. Peeling is delamination — the film lost its bond, usually to vapor…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeConcrete Staining vs. Sealing: What's the Difference?
Staining adds permanent color by chemically reacting with or penetrating the concrete. Sealing applies a protective layer that blocks water, salt…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow to Remove Hard Water Stains and Sprinkler Rust from Exterior Brick
Sprinkler rust is iron oxide from well water and needs an acid-based rust remover to dissolve it. Hard water staining is calcium and magnesium scale…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapePenetrating vs. Film-Forming Sealer: Which Does Your Concrete Need?
Penetrating sealers (silane, siloxane) soak into the pore structure, leave no visible film, cannot peel, and are typically resealed every three…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeWhen Should You Reseal Stamped Concrete? (Look for These 3 Signs)
Stamped concrete needs resealing every two to three years in Michigan. Three signs it is due: the color looks flat and dry rather than rich, water…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeExposed Aggregate Concrete: How to Clean and Seal It Without Losing the Stone
Exposed aggregate holds its stones in a thin cement matrix between them. High-pressure washing erodes that matrix and releases aggregate permanently…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeCan Faded Stamped Concrete Color Be Restored?
Most "faded" stamped concrete is not faded — the color is intact beneath worn sealer, algae and embedded grime, and a clean plus reseal brings it…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeThe Ultimate Guide to Restoring Faded Brick Pavers
Most "faded" pavers are not faded at all — the color is hidden under a film of algae, efflorescence and embedded grime. Restoration is three steps…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeHow to Remove Stubborn Oil and Rust Stains from Your Driveway
Oil does not sit on concrete. It soaks into the pore structure, which is why pressure washing alone rarely removes it. Oil needs a degreaser plus hot…
Read the guide → Concrete & HardscapeWhy Michigan Winters Destroy Unsealed Concrete Driveways
Water expands about 9% when it freezes. Southeast Michigan sees dozens of freeze-thaw cycles each winter, and unsealed concrete absorbs water like…
Read the guide →Gutters & Glass
Water management and glass care — the maintenance that quietly prevents four-figure repairs.
Can clogged gutters breed mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus?
A clogged gutter that holds standing water for about a week can breed mosquitoes, including Culex species that spread West Nile virus, because CDC…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassIs it safe to clean my own gutters, or should I hire someone?
Cleaning your own gutters is reasonable on a single-story ranch with reachable runs, firm level ground, a ladder stabilizer and a spotter…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassHow do I get the black streaks off the outside of my gutters?
Black streaks on the outside of gutters, called tiger stripes, are asphalt and pollution residue bonded to the painted aluminum, not algae, so…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassSolar Panel Cleaning: Why Output Drops and What's Safe to Do About It
Most tilted rooftop panels in Michigan lose little output to dust, because rain washes most of it off; a UC San Diego study measured about 0.05% a day…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassStorefront Window Cleaning: The Program Your Glass Needs
Storefront glass needs recurring service matched to traffic: entrance glass at busy retail and food service weekly or every two weeks, most storefront…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassWhy Professional Windows Dry Streak-Free (And Yours Don't)
Streaks are residue: dissolved dirt and cleaner left behind as the water dries. Professionals prevent them two ways: squeegee technique that removes…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassHow Often Should Home Windows Be Professionally Cleaned?
Twice a year fits most Michigan homes: spring service after the pollen drop, and fall service before the closed-window season, roughly November…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassGutter Guard Installation Cost: The Full Breakdown
We install LeafBlaster Pro gutter guards at $9 to $16 per linear foot, or $1,800 to $3,200 for 200 feet of gutter, with the full cleaning included…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassGutter Guard Types Compared: What Works Here
For Michigan's mix of maple seeds, oak catkins, pine needles and shingle grit, micro-mesh guards do the most: fine mesh that holds seeds, needles…
Read the guide → Gutters & Glass7 Signs Your Gutters Need Cleaning (Some From the Ground)
The system tells on itself: water sheeting over the edge in rain, tiger-stripe staining down the gutter face, plants sprouting from the run, birds…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassWhat Gutter Cleaning Costs in Michigan (Real Numbers)
Macomb Power Washing Solutions' gutter cleaning starts at $149 for typical single-story homes and scales with three factors: stories (ladder time)…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassHow Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned in Michigan?
Twice a year is the Michigan baseline: once after the late-spring seed drop (the cleaning that is easiest to forget) and once after the main fall leaf…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassThe Hidden Dangers of Clogged Gutters in Southeast Michigan
A clogged gutter discharges roof runoff directly at the foundation instead of away from it. That saturated soil presses on the basement wall…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassWhy Fall Gutter Cleaning Is Cheap Roof Insurance in Michigan
Ice dams start when attic heat melts roof snow that refreezes at the cold eave. A gutter packed with wet leaves does not cause the dam, but it freezes…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassAre Gutter Guards Worth the Investment?
Gutter guards are worth it under mature maples, oaks or pines, on two-story homes, and when ladder work is no longer safe for you. They cut cleanouts…
Read the guide → Gutters & GlassHow Professional Window Cleaning Protects Your Glass from Etching
Hard water left to dry on glass again and again leaves an alkaline mineral residue that slowly attacks the silica surface, creating permanent etching…
Read the guide →Seasonal & Commercial
Storefronts, dumpster pads, parking lots and holiday lighting — the work that runs on a business calendar.
What is the sticky black film on my deck, patio and car under a tree, and how do I clean it off?
The sticky black film under a tree is honeydew, a sugary waste dropped by sap-feeding insects such as spotted lanternflies, aphids and scale…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialWhat ice melt is safe for concrete, stamped concrete and pavers?
Rock salt (sodium chloride) is the least damaging common ice melt for concrete and concrete pavers, according to the Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialHow much does it cost to run Christmas lights in Michigan?
A 100-foot roofline of LED C9 bulbs costs about $3 a season to run in Michigan; the same roofline in 7-watt incandescent C9s costs about $39. Both…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialWhy are bugs covering the sunny side of my house every fall, and how do I get their stains off the siding?
Boxelder bugs and Asian lady beetles cover the sunny side of a house in fall because they are hunting for a sheltered place to spend the winter…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialHow long should I wait to stain my deck after it's been power washed?
After power washing a wood deck, wait two to three dry days, roughly 48 to 72 hours, before staining. On shaded, lakeside or fall decks in Macomb…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialWhat should a property manager require from a commercial pressure washing contractor before they start work?
Before a commercial pressure washing contractor starts in Macomb or Oakland County, a property manager should collect a certificate of insurance…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialPergolas, Patio Furniture and Outdoor Kitchens: Cleaning the Outdoor Room by Material
Clean an outdoor room one material at a time. Wood pergolas take a wood-safe wash and a gentle rinse, vinyl and aluminum take mild detergent at low…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialHoliday Lights and HOA Rules: What Associations Can Ask
Most associations regulate three things about holiday displays: the calendar (typically up after Halloween or Thanksgiving, down by mid-to-late…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialWhen Should Christmas Lights Come Down? A Clear Answer
Tradition ends the Christmas season at Epiphany, January 6, and most neighborhoods have lights down by mid-January. The practical rule matters more…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialCommercial Holiday Lighting: What Businesses Should Know
Commercial holiday lighting rewards early decisions: design and approvals from landlords or property managers settled in August or September…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialHow Christmas Light Installers Measure and Price a House
Installers price from linear feet of lit roofline, adjusted for stories, pitch, and peak count — more footage and more complexity mean more materials…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialHanging Your Own Christmas Lights vs. Hiring It Out
DIY makes sense on a single-story roofline you can reach safely, with time and decent weather. Hiring wins when ladders meet second stories or frozen…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialAre Permanent Christmas Lights Worth It? The Real Math
Permanent lighting pays off through repetition: installed track runs $22 to $34 per linear foot here, a little more than one season of full-service…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialLED vs. Incandescent Holiday Lights: Surviving Michigan Winters
LED holiday lights use about 70% less energy than incandescent strands, per the U.S. Department of Energy, and the gap is wider for large C9 bulbs…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialWhen Is the Best Time to Schedule Professional Holiday Light Installation?
Book in September or early October; installation happens in November. Michigan weather sets the window: once roofs ice over, work at height stops…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialWhat Professional Christmas Light Installation Costs
Our season lease runs $18–32 per foot of roofline with a $595 minimum. It covers design, C9 bulbs, the November install, upkeep and January takedown.
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialParking Lot Striping: ADA Compliance and First Impressions for Businesses
ADA sets specific requirements for accessible parking: at least one accessible space per 25 for lots up to 100 spaces (scaling up per the ADA table…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialDumpster Pad Cleaning: Avoiding Pests, Smells, and Health Code Violations
Dumpster pads accumulate grease, food waste and liquid leachate that soak into porous concrete. That residue draws rodents and insects, produces…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialHow to Prep Your Composite Deck for Summer BBQ Season
Clean a composite deck with a deck cleaner, a soft brush along the grain and a low-pressure rinse. Pressure limits vary by maker: TimberTech allows up…
Read the guide → Seasonal & CommercialHow a Clean Storefront Directly Impacts Retail Foot Traffic
A clean storefront removes a visible reason for shoppers to pass you by. In a 2019 ServiceChannel survey, 64% of shoppers said they had left a store…
Read the guide →Planning & Pricing
What it costs, when to book it, how to get ready and what it's worth — the questions every homeowner asks first.
How much does professional window cleaning cost per window?
Professional window cleaning costs about $10 per standard window, and a typical U.S. visit runs $150 to $302, about $221 on average, per HomeAdvisor…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow much does roof cleaning cost?
Roof cleaning costs about $0.20 to $0.70 per square foot of roof nationally, per This Old House, or roughly $300 to $1,050 for 1,500 square feet…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow much does it cost to clean and stain a deck in Michigan?
Deck cleaning from Macomb Power Washing Solutions costs $1 to $2 per square foot with a $199 starting price, so a 300-square-foot Michigan deck runs…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow do commercial pressure washing companies price their work?
Commercial pressure washing is priced by scope: flatwork by the square foot, about $0.08 to $0.40 in Housecall Pro's contractor guide, storefronts…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow often should an apartment complex be pressure washed, and what should the schedule include?
An apartment complex in Michigan is usually washed on a split schedule: walkways, breezeways and stairs each spring after salt season and each fall…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingDoes Power Washing Increase Home Value? What It Really Buys
Not the way an addition does. What a wash buys is sale performance: curb appeal that sets the showing's tone, listing photos that compete online…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow Long Does Power Washing Take? Real Times by Job
A typical two-story house wash takes 2–4 hours; a two-car driveway 45–90 minutes; a roof treatment 1–3 hours; a full house-plus-concrete-plus-gutters…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow to Prepare for Power Washing Day: A 10-Minute Checklist
Ten minutes covers it: close windows tightly, move vehicles off the driveway, clear the walls by a few feet (furniture, grills, toys), unlock…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow Often Should You Power Wash Your House?
Every two to three years suits most Michigan homes, because a proper soft wash kills the growth instead of only rinsing it off. Heavy shade, lakeside…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingThe Best Time of Year to Power Wash a House in Michigan
Any frost-free month works — the practical Michigan season runs April through October. The two strategic windows are late spring, which clears…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow Much Does It Cost to Pressure Wash a Driveway?
A standard two-car concrete driveway in Southeast Michigan starts around $149 to clean professionally, with larger or heavily stained drives priced up…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingHow Much Does It Cost to Power Wash a House in Michigan?
In Macomb and Oakland counties, a professional house wash from Macomb Power Washing Solutions starts at $349 for an average two-story home. The number…
Read the guide → Planning & PricingCan You Pressure Wash in the Winter? Where the Line Is
Technically possible above freezing; practically wrong for most residential work below about 40°F. Soft-wash chemistry slows to ineffective, rinse…
Read the guide →City Field Notes
What our crews see in each community — one specific problem per city, from lake humidity to lime mortar, and exactly what fixes it.
Condo Power Washing: Who's Responsible for What?
In most attached Michigan condo and townhome associations, building exteriors, shared walks, and common-area concrete are the association's washing…
Read the guide → City Field NotesThe Right Way to Wash a House Built Before 1930
Century homes are washed by protocol, not pressure: test the mortar (older lime-rich mortar erodes under blasting), assume lead-era paint and work wet…
Read the guide → City Field NotesDocks, Lake Decks, and the Wet-Dry Cycle That Eats Them
Waterfront wood fails from cycling, not water: soak-and-dry rounds open the grain, UV weathers the exposed surface gray and fuzzy, and rot follows…
Read the guide → City Field NotesCanal-Front Homes Age Differently. Here's the Pattern.
Canal homes weather in horizontal bands: a splash zone on seawalls and lower walls, a humidity band of algae on siding above it, and rust bleed around…
Read the guide → City Field NotesSap, Pollen, and Tannin: What Trees Put on Your House
Trees deposit three unrelated stains: sap (a sticky resin that needs a mild cleaner, dwell time and patience, not scraping), pollen (a film that…
Read the guide → City Field NotesWhy Homes Near the Water Grow Mildew So Much Faster
Lake proximity accelerates mildew through drying hours, not splash: humid air and morning fog keep surfaces damp longer after every dew and rain…
Read the guide → City Field NotesGarage Doors: The Most-Seen Surface Nobody Washes
Garage doors face the street, sit at road-spray height, and get skipped in most wash routines. Steel doors want mild detergent, a soft sponge…
Read the guide → City Field NotesAluminum Siding: Wash It, Paint It, or Replace It?
Work the ladder in order: wash first, because professional cleaning restores more oxidized aluminum than owners believe, for a few hundred dollars…
Read the guide → City Field NotesAn Exterior Calendar for Homes Under Mature Trees
A wooded lot runs on the trees' schedule, not the calendar's: gutters after the seed drop in late spring and again after leaf fall, siding washed…
Read the guide → City Field NotesGot an HOA Exterior Notice? Here's How to Clear It Fast
Treat an HOA exterior notice as a paperwork problem with a washing step: confirm the cited surface and deadline, book a professional wash…
Read the guide → City Field NotesThe Black Film on Homes Near Busy Roads, Explained
That gray-black dinge on road-facing walls is traffic film: diesel soot, tire-wear particles, and brake dust, bound together with enough oil to shrug…
Read the guide → City Field NotesWhen Does a Brand-New House Need Its First Wash?
Most new-construction homes need their first professional wash in year two or three — earlier than owners expect. Construction dust, mortar film…
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