Spring Pressure Washing Checklist for Florida Homeowners
Spring is the best window of the year for exterior cleaning in Northeast Florida. Here is what to work through, in the order that makes sense.
Why spring is the right moment
Cleaning in late winter or early spring means you go into the heavy growth months with surfaces clean rather than already colonised. Humidity has not peaked, the growth cycle is still slow, and a clean done now holds its appearance for longer than the same clean done in August.
It is also the run up to selling season and to the months you actually want to be outside, both of which make it good timing for reasons beyond the algae.
Work top down
Always clean from the roof downward. Anything you rinse off the roof lands on the siding, and anything off the siding lands on the driveway. Doing the driveway first means doing it twice.
The checklist
1. Roof
Check for black streaking, particularly on the north facing slope. If it is there, it is algae and it needs soft washing, never pressure. Roofs are on a two to four year cycle rather than annual, so this may be a look rather than a job.
2. Gutters and soffits
Clear the gutters before the summer storms arrive, which is what they were designed for. Clean the outside of the gutter too, and the soffits, which collect a grey film nobody looks up at.
3. House exterior
Siding, stucco, trim and window frames. Pay particular attention to the shaded elevation, which will look considerably worse than the rest. Soft wash, do not pressure wash.
4. Screen enclosure and lanai
Screens, aluminium frame and the deck are three different surfaces needing three approaches. Get this done before you start using the space in the evenings.
5. Driveway, walkways and patio
concrete cleaning with a flat surface machine. Include the walkway to the front door and the curb strip, which are what visitors and HOAs actually look at.
6. Fence and outdoor furniture
The shaded side of a fence goes green first. Furniture that has sat out all winter usually needs a wash before anyone wants to sit on it.
Most of this list is a single visit when it is bundled. Free quotes across St. Johns and surrounding areas at (904) 506-7656.
A note on pollen
Northeast Florida pollen runs heavy from late February into April. Washing during the peak is a little like mowing in the rain. If pollen is your only complaint, wait until it settles. If you also have algae, staining or roof streaking, do not wait, because those get harder to remove the longer they sit.
While you are out there
- Point irrigation heads at the lawn rather than the house and concrete
- Trim branches back off the roof and away from walls
- Clear debris out of low spots where water sits after storms
- Check for anything that cleaning will not fix and needs a different trade
- Late winter to early spring gives the longest lasting result of the year.
- Always work top down, or you will clean the driveway twice.
- Roofs are on a two to four year cycle, not an annual one.
- If pollen is the only issue, wait. If there is growth, do not.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly is the best time to clean in Florida?
Late winter through early spring gives the most visible benefit for the longest stretch, though you can clean here year round.
Should I wait until pollen season is over?
If pollen is the only complaint, yes. Algae, staining and roof streaking should not wait.
Can all of this be done in one visit?
Most of it, yes, and bundling costs meaningfully less than booking separate visits.
Does the roof need doing every spring?
No. Asphalt roofs are typically on a two to four year cycle, sooner if heavily shaded.
What order should things be cleaned in?
Top down. Roof, then gutters and soffits, then siding, then enclosure, then concrete.
Free quotes across St. Johns, Clay and Duval counties. Call (904) 506-7656 or request a quote online.
