October 19th, 2022
Is the exterior of your home looking worse for the wear? If the neighbors are starting to talk, it’s time for you to take action and give your exterior a thorough cleaning.
Why You Need to Clean
Power washing your home on a regular basis will ensure grime, mold and stains don’t take up permanent residence on your siding, which can lower curb appeal and even cause health issues.
Power washing and pressure washing are two methods commonly used to make your home look good as new. Pressure washing uses cold high-pressure water and is less expensive than power washing, which cleans using heated high-pressure water.
The Costs Involved
Since it costs more to heat water, power washing requires more expensive equipment and is the more pricey cleaning option. You do get what you pay for, however, as power washing quickly removes built-up grime and stubborn stains from concrete and similar surfaces.
Power washing is more expensive than pressure washing because the machine used must heat water first before releasing the liquid. The average cost for power washing ranges from $0.35 to $0.77 cents per square foot, while pressure washing costs between $0.08 and $0.20 cents per square foot.
Keep in mind that pressure washing costs go up the harder a technician works to clean your home. Grime buildup, hard-to-access areas, and larger, multi-story homes all impact the final price tag. If your home has an extra stubborn buildup of grime or grease, such as on the driveway, a power washer is your best option. This machine breaks up stains more efficiently, but generally costs more.
Pressure washing typically costs $0.10 to $0.50 cents per square foot, depending on what is being cleaned. Although flat, smaller areas like driveways and patios, can be done more quickly a technician will likely charge you for gas, insurance and other job-related expenses they paid just to come to your house. Pressure washing costs less per square foot the more you give the technician to do.
The cost to clean a two-story house ranges from $400 to $1,400 depending on the size of your home and the difficulty of the project. Expect to pay prices toward the higher end of that range for power washing services. Power washing or pressure washing a one-story dwelling typically costs between $150 and $750.
Where You Live Determines Price
Your geographic location also plays a role in how much you’ll pay. For instance, if you live in New York, the average cost to pressure wash your home is $375. In Phoenix, the average price is $190, and if you live in Portland, expect to shell out around $405. In Baltimore, the average cost is $360.
In fact, where you live also determines how often you will need to clean your exterior. Mold and mildew love warm, humid climates. In colder places, wind and rain can leave a lot of dirt on your home. Sap can build up on houses in areas with lots of trees. City-dwellers will have to deal with soot and pollution. Most experts recommend power washing at least once, maybe twice a year.
Home Exterior Dirty?
If you are ready to deep clean the exterior of your home or deck, the professionals at Peak Power Wash can help. We use a technique called “soft wash”, which uses a much lower amount of pressure and reduces potential harm to surfaces. Contact us at 443-686-WASH or visit our website to request a free estimate.