Pressure Washing · Nashville, TN
The Nashville homeowner's guide to pressure washing
What the work involves, what drives the price, what your options are, and what a bad job looks like — written so you can judge any pressure washing company in Middle Tennessee, including us.
Warning signs
How to know you need us
If you recognize any of these, it is worth having somebody look before it becomes a larger job.
- Green or black streaking on siding, particularly on the shaded north side
- Dark streaks running down from the roof ridge, which is algae rather than dirt
- A driveway or walkway noticeably darker than where a planter has been sitting
- A deck that has gone gray and slippery
- Mold or mildew on fencing, soffit or a screened porch
- Preparing to list, or getting a surface ready to be sealed or painted
Your options
More than one right answer.
A pressure washing company who only ever recommends the most expensive option is not giving you advice. Here is the honest range.
Soft wash for the house
Low pressure with the right solution. The correct and only safe way to clean siding, soffit and painted surfaces.
Surface cleaning for flatwork
A rotary surface cleaner on driveways, patios and walks gives an even result without the stripes a wand leaves.
Roof soft wash
Removes the algae that causes black streaking on shingles. High pressure on a roof destroys it, so this is a chemistry job.
Deck and fence cleaning
Gentle wash and brightening before sealing or staining, at a pressure that does not raise the wood grain.
What it costs
What actually drives the price.
We do not quote pressure washing over the phone, because an honest number needs somebody to look at the job. These are the things that move it.
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Surface area and type
House washing, driveways, decks and roofs are priced differently because they take different pressure, different chemistry and different time.
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Method required
Siding and roofs need soft washing — low pressure and the correct cleaning solution. Concrete takes surface cleaning at pressure. They are not interchangeable.
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Degree of soiling
Light seasonal grime rinses off. Years of algae, moss, rust or oil staining needs dwell time and repeat passes.
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Access and height
Two and three-story elevations, steep roofs and difficult side yards all add time and equipment.
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Water source and containment
Some jobs need water brought in or run-off contained, and both belong in the quote rather than in a surprise.
Every estimate is free, written and carries no obligation — including the parts we would find only after starting, which are priced up front rather than left open.
What happens
From your call to the finished job.
Walk-around and quote
Surfaces identified and priced individually, with the method for each named so you know what you are buying.
Preparation
Plants wetted and protected, fixtures and outlets covered, and windows and doors checked closed.
The work
Most houses and driveways are a single visit of a few hours. Roof washing takes longer because dwell time cannot be rushed.
Rinse and check
Full rinse-down including landscaping, and a walk-round with you before we pack up.
Done badly
What goes wrong, and why it matters.
These are the shortcuts that make a quote look cheaper and cost you more later. Ask anyone you are considering about them.
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Pressure washing a roof
It strips granules off shingles and voids the roof warranty. Roofs are soft washed, never pressured.
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High pressure on siding
It drives water behind the cladding and into the wall, and can cut the surface of soft materials outright.
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Wand-striping concrete
A wand leaves visible arcs on flatwork. A surface cleaner is what gives an even finish.
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No plant protection
The solutions used are effective and they will damage landscaping that has not been wetted down and rinsed.
Before you hire anyone
Six questions worth asking any pressure washing company.
Including us. If a contractor cannot answer these easily, that is the answer.
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Are you licensed for pressure washing and can I see the certificate?
A licensed and insured contractor will have this to hand and will not be irritated by the question.
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Is the estimate written, itemized and free?
A verbal number is not an estimate. Itemized means you can compare two quotes on the same basis.
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What happens if you find something once you start?
The honest answer names a rate and a process. The answer to worry about is that it never happens.
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Who is actually doing the work?
Employee crew or subcontractor is not a wrong answer either way, but you should know which, and who carries the insurance.
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What is the workmanship warranty, and is it in writing?
Materials carry a manufacturer warranty. Workmanship is the contractor, and it should be written down.
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Will you pull the permit?
For permitted work, a contractor who suggests skipping it is telling you something important about the rest of the job.
FAQ
Choosing a pressure washing company in Nashville
How do I choose a pressure washing company in Nashville?
Check the license and the insurance certificate, get the estimate in writing and itemized so you can compare quotes on the same basis, and ask what happens if something is found once work starts. A contractor who cannot answer those easily has told you what you need to know.
Should I get more than one quote for pressure washing?
Yes, and compare what is in them rather than the number at the bottom. The cheapest quote is often cheapest because it leaves something out, and on pressure washing the thing left out is usually the preparation that decides how long the work lasts.
Is the cheapest pressure washing quote usually a bad idea?
Not automatically — but an unusually low number is information. Ask specifically what is included, what grade of material is quoted, who is doing the work and what the workmanship warranty is. If all four answers are good, the low quote is a good quote.
Do I need a permit for pressure washing in Nashville?
It depends on the scope. Metro Nashville and the surrounding counties permit and inspect a good deal of this work, and a contractor suggesting you skip a required permit is telling you something about how they approach the rest of the job. We pull the permits our work requires.
How far in advance should I book pressure washing?
A few weeks where you can. Booking in the quiet season usually means better scheduling and sometimes better pricing than booking in the rush, and it gives you time to make the selections properly.
Free estimate
Need a pressure washing company in Nashville today?
Tell us what is going on and we will get you a free estimate from a local pressure washing company. No obligation, no pressure.