Pressure & Soft Washing/Bozeman, Montana
The right pressure for the surface.
Siding, decks, patios, driveways, walkways and fences. High pressure where the surface can take it, soft wash where it cannot — which is most of a house.
What’s included
- House siding — vinyl, painted wood, fiber cement, stucco, log
- Decks, porches and stairs
- Concrete driveways, walkways and patios
- Pavers and flagstone
- Fences — cedar, vinyl, composite
- Garage and shop floors
- Soffits, eaves and gutter exteriors
- Pre-wet and post-rinse of landscaping near the work
How we do it
- Identify the surface, then pick the pressureConcrete and stone take real pressure. Painted siding, cedar, stucco and shingles do not. Getting this wrong is how a wand leaves permanent wand marks in siding or strips a deck to fuzz.
- Protect what is next to itPlants get wet down before and rinsed after. Outlets, light fixtures and vents get covered. Doors and windows get checked for seal.
- Soft wash where it belongsLow pressure plus the right cleaning solution, given time to work. The solution does the cleaning, not the force — that is the whole idea, and it is why soft wash gets organic growth off without damaging the substrate.
- Rinse and inspectFull rinse from the top down, then a walk-around. Streaks and missed lap joints show up after the surface starts drying, so we look then rather than immediately.
What actually builds up on a Bozeman house
Not much mildew — the valley is too dry for the black-streak problem that drives most pressure-washing demand in the Southeast. What we get instead is road film, construction dust, pollen and, on the north side, algae.
Road grime. Anything within a few hundred feet of a gravel road, or along Huffine, Jackrabbit or Frontage, accumulates a gray film that dulls siding a season at a time. Most people do not notice until one section gets washed.
North-side green. The shaded side of a house, and anything under a big spruce, grows algae in the damp band near the ground. High pressure blasts it off and takes paint with it. Soft wash removes it and kills the growth so it stays gone longer.
Deck season is short. A deck wash wants dry weather on both sides of it, and if you plan to stain, the wood needs days to dry all the way through. That points at June and early July, or September.
What we will not pressure wash
Asphalt shingles, aging painted wood that is already failing, and anything with a compromised seal around it. High pressure on a roof strips the granules that protect the shingle, and shortens its life for a cosmetic gain.
If your roof has moss or lichen on it, that is a roof treatment, not a pressure wash. Different chemistry, different pressure, different price — and any contractor who offers to power wash your shingles should be the last one you hire.
What drives the price
We quote every property individually rather than publishing a flat rate, because these six things change the number more than anything else. Nothing on your invoice will differ from the written quote.
- Square footageThe main driver on siding, concrete and decks alike.
- Surface typeA soft wash on painted cedar takes more time and more solution than blasting a concrete driveway of the same size.
- ConditionA yearly wash is quick. Five years of buildup, or heavy algae, needs dwell time and sometimes a second pass.
- Height & accessTwo-story siding, steep grades and tight side yards all add time.
- Staining or sealingWe can wash and prep for stain. The staining itself is quoted separately if we take it on.
- Water sourceWe normally work off your spigot. If there is no water on site, tell us in the quote request.
Common questions
Will pressure washing damage my siding or paint?
Not the way we do it. Painted siding, cedar, stucco and log all get soft washed at low pressure with a cleaning solution doing the work. High pressure is reserved for concrete, stone and masonry.
Do you need to use my water?
Normally yes — we run off an exterior spigot. Let us know in the quote request if the property does not have one working.
Is it safe for my plants?
We wet landscaping before we start and rinse it after, which keeps the solution diluted and off the roots. Anything especially delicate, point it out and we will tarp it.
Can you wash a deck before I stain it?
Yes, and it is the right order. Plan on several dry days between the wash and the stain — wood that looks dry on the surface can still be wet underneath, and stain over damp wood fails early.
Often booked together
Free quote/No obligation
Tell us what needs cleaning.
Most quotes go back out within one business day. If it’s an ice dam, call instead — (406) 404-9963.