Pressure wash vs soft wash in Jacksonville — when to use which

Jacksonville houses get a film of mildew, pollen, and dirt that never quite rinses off in a rainstorm. By late summer the north side of a ranch looks gray, the driveway has tire tracks of algae, and the HOA starts sending polite notes. The fix is a wash — but pressure and soft wash are not the same tool, and using the wrong one on the wrong surface is how paint gets etched and plants get burned.

Here is how we choose the right method for homes across Duval, St. Johns, and Clay counties.

Pressure washing: concrete, pavers, most driveways

Higher force is right when the surface can take it. Concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios, and many pavers hold onto black algae and tire film that a garden hose will not move. A pressure washer cuts that film without soaking the house in cleaner. It is also the usual choice for a wood fence that is still sound but looks tired — as long as you keep distance and do not dig into soft spots.

What pressure wash is not for: thin or chalky paint on siding, soft stucco, and anything next to delicate landscaping if you are blasting at close range. Force without judgment is how you create a paint job you did not budget for.

Soft wash: painted siding, stucco, near plants

Soft wash uses lower pressure and a cleaner mix that sits on the surface, kills mildew, then rinses. That is the method for vinyl, fiber cement, painted wood, and most stucco in this climate. Plants get protected or rinsed; you are not etching the finish off a wall that still has good paint underneath the green film.

In Jacksonville shade and humidity, soft wash is what most house washes actually need. The driveway can still get pressure the same visit. One crew, two methods, surfaces matched.

Before exterior paint

If you are painting soon, wash first. New coats stick better on clean substrate, and washing shows which boards or fascia are soft so you fix wood before you coat it. Soft wash on the house, pressure on hardscape if it is in the scope — then paint when everything is dry.

House soft washing often starts around $299; driveways starting around $149. Photos of the sides that bother you get you a clear price before the truck shows up.

What to send when you ask for a quote

Text or call with the address, the surfaces involved (house, driveway, patio, or fence), and a couple of photos. Let us know if painting is next. We will recommend pressure washing, soft washing, or both and explain anything outside the project scope.