Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of of the questions we get asked a lot!
What is included in a standard exterior house wash?
Our standard Exterior House Wash is from the outside gutters to the ground level, including exterior walls, gutters/spouting, downpipes, eaves/soffits, entrance alcoves and joinery. It does not include the roof or any attached raw (unpainted) timber decks. All of these areas can be cleaned but are priced separately!
Will pressure washing damage my paint?
Pressure washing on its own? Yes. However, our process involves applying a mixture of three cleaning agents—a salt-based product to kill mould and algae spores, a citrus solution to cut through grease, and an environmentally friendly neutral detergent that breaks down dirt and grime. Once these products are applied, we soft wash your home with one of our custom water pressure washing units.
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Our pressure washing rigs have been built to purpose and modified in our factory and, among other modifications, have had special wide nozzles fitted to the ends of the wands, enabling water to cascade out in a soft fan shape. The water is gentle enough to run your hand over and will certainly not damage your home's paint! The House & Building Wash Company annually cleans historically protected homes in some of Auckland's oldest suburbs, including Remuera, Parnell, Ponsonby, and Onehunga, to keep them in pristine shape. You can be sure that your home is in good hands with us!
Will your cleaning products affect my plants, my pets, or me?
No, not at our dilution ratio. The salt-based cleaning product we use is the same substance put into reservoir drinking water to reduce algae growth and make it safer for consumption (we're all drinking it already!) and turns back into salt after about eight hours under sunlight.
Will my paint really last longer if I wash my home regularly?
Yes! But, we know what you're thinking, and you're right—we're a little biased! So why don't you ask someone who isn't? Like your local paint manufacturer! Most paint companies claim that if you wash the paint on your home once a year, you will increase the paint's life expectancy by 20–25%. It's definitely cheaper to wash regularly than to repaint! In fact, interestingly, many roofing companies will not honour their product's warranty unless you have the surface regularly cleaned or treated.
How much water do you use?
This is dependent upon the size of your home. A typical, medium-sized home of about 200 to 250 square metres requires around 2000 litres of water to wash. This is two cubic metres of water at $1.50 per cubic metre, which is $3.00 total. This does not include the cost of waste water, which is a fixed rate for some areas and $3.00 per cubic metre for others (suburb-dependent).
Is it really better to clean my home in the winter?
Yes, it is! Most people are unaware that if we clean a house after it has rained steadily for some time (i.e., in winter), the rain and moisture soften the grime and dirt, which means we can provide an "extra-soft wash", which is even gentler on paint. Think of it like soaking a pan in the sink before putting it into the dishwasher!
Can you really quote accurately over the phone/email?
Yes, most of the time we can provide an immediate free telephone quote with a fixed price simply by asking a few questions. We have access to property records and satellite photos along with aerial measuring software (remember—we've been doing this for 27 years and have cleaned over 80,000 properties). On the rare occasions when we are unable to accurately quote over the phone, we will let you know and arrange a free home visit to give you a quote.
When/how do I pay you?
The invoice will be emailed to you upon completion of the job and payment will be due on the day the invoice is received. Payment may be completed through the provided link using credit or debit card (with a 2% surcharge) or internet banking (no surcharge). We do not collect on-site payment via EFTPOS, credit or debit card, or cheque; however, cash payments will be accepted on-site if preferred.