What's the Best Month to Pressure Wash a House in Fairfield, CA?
Quick answer
For most homes in Fairfield, spring is the best time to wash your house, roughly March through May. The wet months have left their mildew and algae on the siding by then, and a clean house carries you through summer. Early fall, September and October, is the second-best window: our schedule opens up after the summer rush, and you can pair the wash with a gutter cleaning before the rainy season.
How the calendar works for us
I started Exterior Touch during COVID with a $400 pressure washer from Lowe's, after the restaurant I worked at here in Fairfield laid me off. About five years later, the calendar still looks the same every year. Spring and summer are when the phone rings the most. By late August and September, pressure washing and window cleaning slow down, and our crews shift over to gutter cleaning and holiday lighting through December. We still wash houses in the fall. It is just not as busy.
Here in Solano County we get a lot of moisture off the Bay, and there are trees everywhere. That combination grows mold and algae on roofs, siding, and concrete pretty much all year, which is why we see the same green film on homes all over Fairfield whether it is April or October. Your house is going to need a wash at some point. The timing decides how long it stays clean and how easy it is to get on our schedule.
Month by month for a Fairfield house
March to May
Best overall
Winter growth is on the siding, and the house looks new going into summer. This is our busy season, so get your quote early.
June to August
Still a good time
Still peak season for us. The schedule fills up, so reach out early.
September to October
Second-best window
Easier to get on the schedule. Add a gutter cleaning so your gutters are clear before the rains.
November to February
Rainy season
Most of our work through December is gutters and holiday lights. If your house can wait, spring is the better call.
Why spring usually comes out ahead
All of our soft wash services carry a 6-month guarantee that the mold and algae will not grow back. If your home is surrounded by trees, the guarantee is 4 months, because shade and moisture bring growth back faster. A wash in April covers you through the dry season and into fall. Most of our customers tell us a soft wash lasts 2 to 3 years, so the guarantee is the floor.
Fall works well for a different reason. After summer, it is easier to get on the schedule, and a lot of homeowners are already calling us for gutters so they do not get roof leaks or overflow when the rain starts. Doing both on one visit saves you a second appointment.
What house washing costs in Fairfield
We do not do flat rates. Every quote comes from the size of the job, how difficult it is, and how many technicians it takes. For most homes we measure on Google Earth or a realtor 3D model, build the quote, and send it to your phone or email the same day. We aim for competitive prices, and the month you book in does not show up anywhere in that math.
| Service | Rate | Example |
|---|---|---|
| House washing (soft wash) | $0.30 to $0.50 per sq ft | 2,000 sq ft house: $600 to $1,000 |
| Driveways, patios, and flat work | $0.15 to $0.30 per sq ft | 1,000 sq ft driveway: $150 to $300 |
| Roof soft washing | $0.50 to $0.70 per sq ft | 2,000 sq ft roof: $1,000 to $1,400 |
| Gutter cleaning | By the job | Two-story home: $290 to $650 |
What changes the outcome
- Trees and shade. A house tucked under big trees grows back faster. That is why our guarantee drops to 4 months for those homes.
- The surface. Siding, eaves, and roofs get soft washed. Concrete, patios, and steps can take pressure.
- Timing around the rains. Booking in early fall lets you handle the gutters and the house before the wet season.
- Size and difficulty. A two-story house with heavy growth takes more time and more technicians than a single-story with light dirt.
What a house wash includes
- We tape off the exterior electrical outlets before we start.
- We ask you to move cars out of the driveway and clear anything in the way.
- We apply soft wash solution from the eaves down to the base of the walls to kill mildew and algae and lift dirt and cobwebs.
- We rinse the house down once the solution has done its work.
- If you want them on the same visit, we can add gutter and downspout cleaning, windows, or the patio. You can see everything we do on our services page.
Common questions
What is the average cost for power washing?
We price by the square foot, then adjust for how hard the job is and how many technicians it takes. House washing runs about 30 to 50 cents a square foot, driveways and other flat work about 15 to 30 cents, and roof soft washing about 50 to 70 cents. We measure your home and send the exact quote the same day.
What is the average price to pressure wash a 1,000 sq ft driveway?
At 15 to 30 cents a square foot, a 1,000 square foot driveway comes out to roughly $150 to $300. A driveway with heavy buildup or a tricky layout lands toward the top of that range.
How much does it cost to pressure wash a 2,000 sq ft house?
A 2,000 square foot house usually runs about $600 to $1,000 at our house washing rate of 30 to 50 cents a square foot. Two stories or heavy growth push it toward the higher end.
How much does it cost to pressure wash a 1,500 sq ft house?
For a 1,500 square foot house, plan on roughly $450 to $750. The final number depends on the difficulty of the job and how many technicians we need on it.
When should you not power wash your house?
Siding, eaves, and roofs should not get blasted with high pressure. We soft wash those surfaces instead and save the pressure for concrete and flat work. If you are planning a gutter cleaning before the rains, it makes sense to book the house wash on the same visit.
What can you do instead of power washing?
Soft washing. We apply a cleaning solution that kills mold, mildew, and algae at the roots, then rinse it off at low pressure. Every soft wash we do comes with a 6-month guarantee that the growth will not come back.
What's the difference between pressure washing and soft washing?
Pressure washing uses force to strip dirt off hard surfaces like driveways, patios, and steps. Soft washing relies on the cleaning solution to do the work, so it is the right call for siding and roofs. Most house washes we do in Fairfield are soft washes.
How long does a house wash last in Fairfield?
Our guarantee is 6 months, or 4 months if your home is surrounded by trees. Most customers tell us the results last 2 to 3 years. Homes with more shade and tree cover grow back faster because of all the moisture we get off the Bay.
Ready to have your home looking new again?
Call or text us at (707) 400-8468 with your address and what you want cleaned, and we will get your quote to you the same day. We are business licensed and insured with over $2 million in general liability coverage, and we work all over Solano County, from Fairfield to Vacaville, Suisun City, and Vallejo. If you want to hear from your neighbors first, read our customer reviews.
Antonio Ibarra, Exterior Touch Pressure Washing