House Wash NZ · Homeowner guide
Soft washing vs water blasting in Auckland
Your weatherboards and your driveway need different care. Here’s what to check before booking an exterior clean.
Soft washing and water blasting: what changes?
Been quoted for a soft wash by one company and water blasting by another? Before comparing the price, check whether they are quoting the same surfaces and the same work.
Soft washing
Soft washing generally uses a suitable cleaning treatment with low-pressure application and rinsing. It does not rely on water pressure alone. At House Wash NZ, we consider the cladding and its condition before choosing the approach for an exterior house wash.
Water blasting
Water blasting, also called pressure washing, uses pressurised water to clean a surface. It can suit firmer materials, but the pressure and technique still matter. A concrete path and a painted timber wall should not automatically get the same treatment.
A useful quote should explain what will be cleaned and how. “We’ll water blast everything” leaves too much unanswered.
Which method suits your property?
Use this as a guide to the questions worth asking, rather than a set of DIY pressure settings. Product and material care instructions take priority.
| Surface | What to discuss |
|---|---|
| Painted walls and weatherboards | A suitable low-pressure method, paint condition, gaps and vulnerable joinery. |
| Timber or composite decking | The boards, their coating and the manufacturer’s permitted cleaning method. |
| Concrete and paving | Controlled pressure where suitable, with care around sealers, worn surfaces and joints. |
| Roof surfaces | A separate assessment of the roof material, condition, treatment options and access. |
Swipe the table sideways to read both columns.
Can you water blast weatherboards?
Not as a blanket approach. Older paint, timber condition and the areas around windows need a closer look before the work is agreed.
Resene’s waterblasting guidance warns that inappropriate use can damage timber and force water beneath weatherboards. It also notes that waterblasting alone does not kill moss and mould.
Point out flaking paint, gaps or a previous leak when you enquire. Washing can remove suitable surface build-up; it cannot repair a damaged exterior. When preparing to repaint, agree the required preparation with your painter rather than assume a maintenance wash covers it.
What about decks and driveways?
A timber deck is not a concrete slab
The timber, stain or coating needs to be considered before cleaning. Composite boards can also have specific care instructions. Tell us what the deck is made from and whether you plan to recoat it.
See our deck and fence cleaning service for the areas we can assess.
Concrete needs its own assessment
Controlled pressure washing can suit sound concrete. Worn areas, loose paving joints, sealers and stains need individual attention. Ask us to include the paths or driveway in the same enquiry, with the work separately listed.
Current Auckland offer
House washing prices: our current special
Single-storey, three-bedroom house up to 200 m².
Exterior house wash from the external gutter line down.
For qualifying properties. Price may vary with access, exterior condition and the work required. We confirm eligibility, scope and the final price before booking. Roof cleaning, clearing inside gutters, detailed window-glass cleaning, decks and driveways are separate unless included in your quote. This is our offer, not an Auckland-wide average price.
What should your house-washing quote include?
Start with the areas you actually want cleaned. A quote for the walls alone is not directly comparable with one that also covers the eaves, spouting faces and a separate deck clean.
Our Auckland house washing service sets out the agreed exterior areas. Ask for the following to be clear before choosing a booking:
- The surfaces: walls, eaves, soffits, frames and outside gutter faces, as agreed.
- The extras: any roof work, internal gutter clearing, driveway, deck or detailed window-glass cleaning.
- The total: GST treatment, exclusions and how any additional work will be approved.
Cleaning the outside of a gutter is different from removing leaves and debris inside it. Ask for internal gutter clearing specifically when that is what you need.
A few photos make the quote more useful
You do not need to choose the cleaning method before contacting us. Show us the property and tell us what needs attention.
-
Send your address and property details. Include the number of storeys and approximate house size.
-
Show the whole area and the problem spots. Take photos from the ground; there is no need to climb onto the roof.
-
Mention access and timing. Tell us about narrow passages, delicate surfaces and any date for painting, listing photos or a tenancy change.
Questions before you book
Is soft washing always safe for painted cladding?
No cleaning method should be treated as automatically safe for every finish. Loose paint, damaged cladding and vulnerable joinery need assessment first. Tell us about the coating and any defects so the approach can be discussed before work is agreed.
Can the house and driveway be cleaned in one booking?
Ask for both when you enquire. We can assess the areas together and quote them separately. Whether they can be completed during the same visit depends on the job, access and conditions.
Does the $299 + GST special include the roof or inside gutters?
No. It is an exterior house wash from the external gutter line down for qualifying single-storey, three-bedroom homes up to 200 m². Roof cleaning or treatment and clearing debris from inside gutters are separately quoted. Eligibility and the final price are confirmed before booking.
How often should a house be washed?
Start with the care instructions for your cladding and paint finish. Shade, coastal exposure and the condition of the exterior are useful details to discuss when arranging a maintenance plan. There is no single interval that suits every property.
Is soft washing cheaper than water blasting?
The method name alone does not determine the price. Compare the same surfaces, access requirements, scope and GST-inclusive total. Our special provides a price for qualifying homes; larger properties and additional work need their own quote.
House Wash NZ · Auckland
Tell us what needs cleaning.
The house, the deck, the driveway—or a few areas together. Send the details and we’ll help you decide what to include, then quote the agreed work.