Shaded north walls in Providence grow mildew, and salt, soot and pollen settle on everything else. Washing clears it and is the first step before any exterior paint or stain. Old wood clapboard and cedar shingles need low pressure, and peeling paint on a pre-1978 house should not be blasted off.
Houses in Providence get dirty in a particular way. Big street trees and close neighbors keep the north walls shaded, and green mildew grows on the clapboard there. Soot and road dust settle on the sides that face busy streets. Pollen coats everything in spring. Vinyl and aluminum siding show it most, and aluminum also turns chalky with age. Washing clears all of this. It is a job on its own, and it is also the first step before any exterior paint or stain.
Pressure has to match the surface. Old wood clapboard and cedar shingles are soft, and a strong jet tears the grain and drives water behind the boards. On those we use low pressure and a cleaner that kills mildew, then rinse. Concrete walks, steps and brick can take more. Windows, light fixtures and plants are protected or rinsed. We do not blast peeling paint off a house built before 1978, because that can spread lead paint chips across the yard.
After washing, wood needs time to dry before paint or stain goes on. In a humid Rhode Island summer that can be a couple of dry days, and longer in shade. So washing is booked ahead of the painting, not on the same morning. Washing is outdoor work for the warmer months, since water must not freeze on walls or steps. Your quote says which surfaces are washed and whether it is a stand-alone clean or part of a paint job.
Power washing in Providence: common questions
Will power washing damage my old wood siding?
It can if the pressure is too high or the tip is held too close. That is why old clapboard and shingles are washed at low pressure with a cleaner doing most of the work. Done that way, washing is safe for sound wood.
Can you wash off the green growth on the shaded side of my house?
Yes. That green or black film is mildew or algae. A cleaner made to kill it is applied, left to work and rinsed off. It tends to come back on shaded walls, so trimming shrubs away from the siding helps.
How long after washing can the house be painted?
When the wood is dry, which is usually a day or two of dry weather and longer on shaded walls. Painting over damp wood is a common cause of peeling, so we wait.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.