Shade, damp springs and close-set houses mean mildew and green growth on north walls across Boston. Washing removes dirt, chalk, mildew and salt so new paint can bond. Old clapboard and cedar shingles are washed at low pressure so water is not driven into the wood, and the wall is left to dry before any coating.
Houses in Boston stand close together, and the walls between them see little sun. Add damp springs and humid summers, and the north and alley sides of a house grow mildew and green algae, while the street side collects soot and road grime. Near the harbor a salt film builds up too. All of it has to come off before painting, because paint applied over dirt or mildew sticks to the dirt, not to the wall.
We set the pressure for the surface. Old clapboard and cedar shingles are washed gently with a wide fan tip and a cleaner that kills mildew, working downward so water is not forced up behind the laps. Vinyl and aluminum siding are rinsed the same careful way. Concrete steps, walks and patios can take more force. Soft old brick and its mortar should not be blasted at all, and we will say so if that is what you have.
On a tight lot the setup matters as much as the washing. Windows and doors are checked and closed, outlets and light fixtures are covered, and plants are wetted down first and rinsed after. We tell you in advance so cars and the neighbor's belongings can be moved out of the spray. If the wash is the first step of a paint job, the wall then needs dry days before any primer goes on.
Power washing in Boston: common questions
Will power washing strip the old paint off my house?
It removes paint that is already loose, but it is not a way to strip a house. Turning the pressure up to remove paint gouges wood and soaks the wall. Scraping and sanding come after the wash.
Is it safe to wash a house that may have lead paint?
Washing sound paint is fine. Where old paint is flaking on a house built before 1978, the chips must be kept out of the soil and off the neighbor's yard, so we wash gently and collect what comes off.
Can you clean my brick front steps and walk?
Yes, in most cases. Concrete and hard modern brick clean up well. Old soft brick and crumbling mortar get low pressure and a cleaner, so the surface is not damaged.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.