If you've searched "how much does pressure washing cost" or "how much does it cost to pressure wash a house," you've probably seen wildly different numbers — $99 specials on one page and $1,500 estimates on another. Both can be technically accurate; they're just describing very different jobs. This guide walks through the honest ranges for Central Valley homes, what changes the price, and how to budget realistically for professional exterior cleaning.
All ranges below reflect professionally performed work using commercial soft-wash and surface-cleaner equipment — not DIY rentals. Every quote is built for the specific home in front of us rather than a per-square-foot formula.
Typical Central Valley price ranges
Every standalone service visit starts at $297 — this covers professional mobilization, commercial equipment, and insured, photo-verified work.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| House wash — 1 story | $297 – $900 |
| House wash — 2 story | $340 – $1,035 |
| Roof soft wash | $500 – $1,300Shingle, tile, metal, and slate price differently; steep pitch and heavy moss add cost. |
| Driveway (2-car) | From $297 standalone · from $120 as an add-on |
| Patio or deck cleaning | From $297 standalone · from $120 as an add-on |
| Gutter clean & flush | From $297 standalone · $162 – $320 as an add-on |
| Gutter exterior brightening | $297 – $370 |
| Window cleaning (exterior) | From $297 standalone · typical homes $120 – $280 as an add-on |
| Solar panel cleaning | From $297 standalone · typical arrays $225 – $480 as an add-on (less when bundled with a house wash) |
Launch special: through February 2027, house washing, window cleaning, and solar panel cleaning are 10% off the standard rates above.
Ranges reflect typical jobs in our base service area; your exact quote reflects your specific home and location. Homes over ~2,800 sq ft are quoted on-site and typically range $950 – $1,300 for a house wash.
Our most popular packages
Curb Appeal
$447
House wash + driveway
Refresh Plus
$597
House wash + driveway + windows
Total Exterior
$1,197
House wash + roof + driveway + gutters
Six factors that shape your quote
Surface type
Concrete, stucco, wood, vinyl, LP siding, and painted trim each need different pressure and detergent. Concrete driveways use high-pressure surface cleaners; siding and roofing use low-pressure soft washing. The mix of surfaces on your property is the single biggest price driver.
Square footage & height
Larger homes take longer and use more detergent. Two-story homes require extended reach equipment and more careful rinsing, which adds time. A 3,000 sq ft two-story house wash is not simply double a 1,500 sq ft ranch — expect roughly 1.4×–1.7× the price.
Condition & staining
A home cleaned every 12 months takes far less time than one that hasn't been washed in 5 years. Heavy algae on north-facing walls, rust stains from sprinklers, and oil on driveways all add dwell time and specialty treatments.
Access
Tight side yards, second-story balconies over landscaping, gated backyards, and long hose runs from the nearest spigot all add labor. Homes with easy front-and-back access typically price at the lower end of the range.
Water & site setup
Professional soft washing directs runoff responsibly and protects landscaping. Some jobs need extra setup — long hose runs, water staging, or careful containment near storm inlets — which is folded into the quote when it applies.
Bundling
The mobilization cost — arriving on site, setting up, and packing down — is the same whether we clean one surface or four. Combining house wash + driveway + patio on the same visit typically saves 10–23% versus booking them separately.
Concrete vs. siding: why the methods (and prices) differ
Concrete driveways and walkways are cleaned with a rotating surface cleaner at 3,000–4,000 PSI. That equipment lifts embedded dirt and tire marks evenly without leaving streaks. It's fast on flat concrete but slow on decorative or stamped surfaces where pressure has to be dialed back.
Siding is the opposite. Stucco, LP, vinyl, and painted wood should be soft washed — low pressure (roughly the pressure of a garden hose) paired with a biodegradable detergent that actually kills the algae and mildew causing the staining. High pressure on siding tends to force water behind seams and can strip paint, which is why "cheap" house-wash quotes that advertise heavy pressure usually cost more in the long run.
Roofs — asphalt shingle, tile, metal, or slate — are always soft washed. Walking or pressure-washing a roof voids most manufacturer warranties and shortens its life. That's why roof cleaning sits at the higher end of the price table: the equipment, safety setup, and detergent dwell time are meaningfully more involved than a driveway pass.
Property size: budgeting by home footprint
- Under 1,500 sq ft, single story — house wash typically $297–$525. Curb Appeal bundle from $447.
- 1,500–2,500 sq ft, single story — typically $400–$900 depending on siding material (Hardie board prices lowest, stucco and brick highest).
- Two-story, 2,000–3,000 sq ft — typically $500–$1,035.
- Larger custom homes (2,800+ sq ft or complex rooflines) — quoted on-site, commonly $950–$1,300.
Where the value shows up
Professional exterior cleaning isn't just about the finished look on the day of service. It's a maintenance investment: removing algae, mildew, and oxidation now prevents siding replacement, roof staining, and slippery walkways later. A house wash every 12–18 months is dramatically cheaper than a $6,000–$12,000 paint job pulled forward by five years.
That's the honest case for hiring a professional over renting a machine: the right method, the right detergent, and photo-verified results — with a single accountable point of contact.
Frequently asked questions
How much does pressure washing cost on average?
Most single-service visits with Exterior Prime run $297–$1,035, while bundles that combine multiple surfaces on the same trip run $447–$1,197. The exact number depends on the surfaces, size, access, and condition of your home.
How much does it cost to pressure wash a house?
A single-story house wash in Manteca, Tracy, Ripon, Lathrop, Salida, or Escalon typically runs $297–$900. Two-story homes are usually $340–$1,035. Stucco, LP siding, and vinyl each need different pressure and detergent settings, which is factored into the quote.
Is soft washing cheaper than pressure washing?
Soft washing and pressure washing usually cost about the same per visit — the price is driven by surface area, access, and prep time, not by which method is used. What soft washing saves you is repair cost: high pressure on siding, roofing, or painted wood can strip finishes and force expensive touch-ups. For anything above ground level, soft washing is the safer value.
Why are online 'per square foot' prices so different from real quotes?
Per-square-foot numbers you see online usually ignore access, height, water source, and the actual surface type. A 1,500 sq ft ranch home with easy hose access is a very different job from a 1,500 sq ft two-story with landscaping tight to the walls. A real quote prices the job in front of us, not a national average.
Does professional-grade equipment really matter?
Yes — and it's the biggest reason DIY rentals disappoint. Commercial soft-wash systems apply detergent at low pressure and rinse evenly, which is what actually removes algae, mildew, and oxidation without damaging siding or paint. Consumer machines are strong enough to gouge concrete and strip stain, but too weak to lift the biological growth that causes most of the staining you see.
How often should I schedule exterior cleaning?
In the Central Valley, most homes benefit from a full house wash every 12–18 months, driveways and walkways every 12 months, and roofs every 2–4 years depending on tree cover. Homes near orchards, under heavy shade, or with north-facing walls tend to need cleaning more often because algae and mildew return faster.
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