Low-pressure house washing that removes green algae, black streaks and grime from vinyl, aluminum and wood siding in every St. Catharines neighbourhood, from Port Dalhousie to Merritton.
St. Catharines sits on the Lake Ontario shoreline, with Twelve Mile Creek and the Welland Canal running through the city. The air stays humid from spring to fall, and humidity is what algae and mildew need to grow. Spores land on every home. On siding that stays damp, they take hold and spread into the green and black streaks you see running down the panels.
The north-facing walls are almost always the worst. They get the least sun and stay wet longest after rain. Homes under the mature maples and oaks in Merritton and the North End get the same problem on the shaded sides. In Port Dalhousie and along the Lakeshore Road corridor, wind off the lake adds a layer of fine grime that holds moisture against the siding even longer.
Newer homes in Grantham and the west end aren't immune either. Builders often place landscaping and irrigation tight to the foundation, and that constant splash keeps the bottom courses of siding damp all season.
High pressure on siding is one of the most common ways homeowners damage their own homes. A pressure washer can drive water up behind the panels and into the wall cavity, where insulation and sheathing sit. That trapped moisture leads to mould and rot that you won't see until it's expensive. High pressure can also crack or dent vinyl and strip paint from trim and window frames.
Soft washing works differently. We apply a professional-grade, biodegradable cleaning solution at low pressure, similar to a garden hose. We let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills algae and mildew at the root and lifts grime and oxidation. Because the growth is killed rather than blasted off, it comes back much more slowly. A soft-washed home usually stays clean for one to two years, compared with months after a pressure wash.
Many homes in the older parts of St. Catharines, including downtown, Fairview and the North End, have vinyl or aluminum siding that is 15 years old or more. If you run your hand across it and it leaves a chalky film, that's oxidation, UV breaking down the surface colour. Pressure washing makes it look streaky. A soft wash with the right solution removes the loose chalk evenly, and the colour often looks noticeably richer afterward.
Spring is the busiest time, after a winter of road salt, dirt and damp. Fall works well too, cleaning off a summer of pollen and growth before winter sets in. A wash at either time stops algae from settling in over the off-season. Many St. Catharines customers pair a soft wash with window cleaning and gutter cleaning the same day, so the whole exterior is done in one visit.
Siding soft washing starts from $400. Your final price depends on the size of the home, the number of storeys, how heavy the growth is, and any add-ons such as soffits or gutter faces. We always give a firm written quote before any work starts. HST extra.
Port Dalhousie, Merritton, Grantham, the North End, downtown, Lakeshore, Fairview and every neighbourhood in between. We also serve nearby Thorold, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls.
Get your free, no-obligation estimate for siding soft washing.