Pressure Washing in Wellington Region

High-pressure washing damages most roof coverings — it strips granules from asphalt shingles, cracks and dislodges tiles, and can force water under the covering. Roof cleaning should be done by soft washing or manual moss removal plus a biocide treatment. If a company proposes blasting your roof at full pressure, choose someone else.

A single driveway or small patio takes 1-3 hours. A full house exterior typically takes half a day to a full day depending on size, number of storeys, and how much pre-treatment the surfaces need. Add drying time of a few hours before you walk on sealed or treated surfaces.

Safe at high pressure: concrete, block paving, natural stone (with care), brick in good condition, metal fences and gutter exteriors. Needs low pressure or soft washing: painted surfaces, render, timber decking, vinyl or fibre-cement siding, roofs, and old or repointed brickwork. Never pressure wash: single-glazed windows at close range, electrical fittings, or asbestos-containing materials.

Pressure washing uses high-pressure water and suits hard surfaces: concrete, pavers, brick. Soft washing uses low pressure plus a cleaning solution and is the right method for painted render, siding, roofs, and timber, where high pressure would strip paint, gouge wood, or crack tiles. A good pro will recommend soft washing for delicate surfaces without being asked.

Most residential pros use your outdoor tap and, for electric machines, an outdoor socket. Petrol-powered machines only need water. Some companies carry water tanks for properties without an accessible tap — ask in advance, as tank supply can add to the price. Water usage for a typical driveway job is modest, roughly comparable to a few loads of laundry per hour of cleaning.

NZ's damp, temperate climate grows mould, lichen, and algae on cladding fast, and many paint and cladding warranties require an annual wash to stay valid. A yearly soft wash is cheaper than repainting years early, which is why house washing is a bigger routine market in NZ than in most countries.

A single-storey 3-bedroom house wash typically runs $250-$450, two-storey homes $400-$700. Driveways add roughly $120-$400 depending on size. Auckland and Wellington sit at the top of the range.