What is Softwashing?
And why is it better for most jobs than pressure washing?
Lets take a look at painted surfaces...
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The photo on the left is a roof that I pressure washed in December 2024 in preparation for painting as the paint had faded and new solar panels were to be installed shortly.
Everywhere that I pressure washed the oxidized paint came off.
This is a problem from roofs at any stage of their life, oxidization is often caused by the sun breaking down the top layer of paint.
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There are many layers to roof paint and one of the best ways to reduce the life of the paint is to pressure wash it.
Solely because when you pressure wash, you take off the top layer of paint which is the oxidized layer, this layer protects the layer beneath it from the sun.
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No matter what, your roof will be oxidized.
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But pressure washing regularly it means you could be losing 10 or more years of life before needing a repaint.
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(Bear this is mind, however, that if you want your roof pressure washed I am more than happy to do this for you. It's just not in your best interest.)
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So what is the solution??? Softwashing of course!
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Softwashing is when you use chemicals to do the cleaning rather than high pressure.
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The two main chemicals that are used around homes and businesses are Sodium Hypochlorite and Benzalkonium Chloride.
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Sodium Hypochlorite is the only cleaning recommendation from Bluescope Colorbond. See here.
Pressure washing is never mentioned.
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This roof was softwashed early 2024, there were concerns of water entering the home under each tile if it were pressure washed. The roof is also incredibly slippery due to the glaze and the high pitch.​
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High Pressure can remove the glaze!
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This means softwashing is the best method to clean it.
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Softwashing a roof like this can take time.
However, you do not risk damaging the surface.
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The second photo was take 14 months after inital treatment. It was treated for a second time the same day for any living lichen and to help the remaining dead lichen lose their grip from the roof.
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​See a job below for a job that got instant results...​​
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This roof was softwashed early 2024, there were concerns of water entering the home under each tile if it were pressure washed. The roof is also incredibly slippery due to the glaze and the high pitch.​
​
High Pressure can remove the glaze!
​
This means softwashing is the best method to clean it.
​
Softwashing a roof like this can take time.
However, you do not risk damaging the surface.
​
The second photo was take 14 months after inital treatment. It was treated for a second time the same day for any living lichen and to help the remaining dead lichen lose their grip from the roof.
​​
​See a job below for a job that got instant results...​​
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