House wash vs roof soft wash: pricing and what to quote when

A house wash cleans siding at roughly $0.12 to $0.20 per square foot. A roof soft wash removes algae and moss from shingles at $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot, priced higher for height, pitch, and risk. They are two different services and belong on separate line items.

New operators often treat "wash the house" as one job. Experienced operators know it is at least two, sometimes three, and that the roof is the one most likely to make or break the quote. House washing and roof soft washing use similar chemistry but carry very different time, risk, and price. Quoting them correctly is the difference between a clean profit and a callback you dread.

This guide breaks down what each service actually is, how to price it, and how to figure out which one the customer in front of you needs.

What a house wash is

A house wash is a soft wash of the siding and exterior walls: vinyl, stucco, brick, fiber cement, or wood. "Soft wash" means low pressure and the right cleaning solution do the work, not a high-pressure blast that would drive water behind the siding or etch the surface. You apply a mix, let it dwell, and rinse. The goal is to kill and remove organic growth, dirt, and oxidation without damaging the surface or the plants below it.

House washing is the bread and butter of exterior cleaning. It is relatively fast, the risk is moderate, and homeowners see a dramatic before-and-after that sells the next neighbor. Typical rates run $0.12 to $0.20 per square foot of wall area in 2026, with the higher end for delicate surfaces or heavy staining. For the full rate picture across surfaces, see our 2026 pricing guide.

What a roof soft wash is

A roof soft wash removes the black streaks (usually a hardy algae called Gloeocapsa magma), moss, and lichen from asphalt shingles, tile, or metal. It is emphatically not a pressure wash. High pressure strips the granules off shingles and voids warranties. A roof soft wash uses a chemical solution and low pressure, then lets nature and light rinsing finish the job.

Roofs cost more per square foot for three honest reasons: more risk, more time, and more consequence if you get it wrong. You are working at height, on a pitched surface, with chemicals that must not run onto plants or pool on the roof. Rates commonly run $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot of roof area, climbing with pitch and growth.

The modifiers that change a roof price

A roof is where your modifiers earn their keep.

• Pitch. A walkable roof and a steep roof are different jobs. Steep pitch means rope access, harnesses, and slower, safer work. Price steep roofs at the top of your range or higher.
• Growth level. A light streak is one application. A roof carpeted in moss and lichen may need heavier solution and a second pass. Charge for the buildup.
• Access. Landscaping, fragile plants, screened porches, and tight lot lines all add setup and protection time.

Apply these in a consistent order every time so your quotes stay predictable: pitch, then growth, then access. Predictable pricing is what makes customers trust your number.

How to figure out what to quote

Customers rarely ask for the right service by name. They say "the house looks dirty" or "there are black streaks up there." Your job is to translate.

Look at the walls

Green or gray film, dirt, cobwebs, and general grime on the siding means a house wash. If the customer is bothered by how the walls look up close, that is your primary service.

Look up

Black streaks running down from the ridge, dark patches, or fuzzy green clumps mean the roof needs a soft wash. Many customers do not even notice the roof until you point at it. When you do, you have found an upsell that often exceeds the house wash itself.

Look at the flatwork

While you are there, the driveway, walkways, and patio are almost always dirtier than the customer realizes. Concrete cleaning is a natural add-on that rides along on a trip you are already making.

The best quotes bundle the obvious request with the surfaces the customer had not considered. You are not upselling for its own sake. You are cleaning the whole picture so the finished result actually looks finished. A freshly washed house under a streaked roof looks half done, and telling the customer that honestly usually books the roof.

Quote them as separate line items

Whatever you do, do not bury a house wash and a roof soft wash in a single lump price. Itemize them. A quote that reads "Exterior cleaning: $900" invites haggling and confusion. A quote that reads:

• House soft wash, 2,400 sq ft: $384
• Roof soft wash, 1,800 sq ft: $630
• Driveway, 700 sq ft: $140

lets the customer see exactly what they are buying and choose. Some will take all three. Some will start with the roof. Either way, itemized quotes close better and protect you from the "I thought that was included" conversation later. Attaching before-and-after photos to each line makes the value impossible to argue with.

Protect the surface, protect your name

The pricing only matters if the work holds up. A house wash done with too much pressure leaves streaks and driven-in water. A roof "cleaned" with a pressure washer looks great for a week and then sheds granules for a year. The soft wash approach exists because it is the correct way to clean these surfaces, and doing it right is what earns the referral that makes your next quote easier.

Charge for the risk you take and the care you bring. A customer who understands why the roof costs more than the walls is a customer who trusts your pricing on everything else.

How often each service is needed

Customers almost always ask, and a confident answer builds trust and repeat work.

A house wash is typically an annual service in most US climates, and twice a year on north-facing walls in damp regions like the Pacific Northwest or the humid Southeast. Dirt, pollen, and light organic film build up faster than people expect.

A roof soft wash lasts considerably longer, generally three to five years depending on tree cover, shade, and humidity. That gap matters when you quote: the roof is a bigger ticket but a rarer repeat, while the house wash is the service that brings you back to the property every year. Say so out loud. Customers appreciate being told the roof does not need doing annually, and that honesty is what earns you the annual house wash and the referral to the neighbor.

Protecting plants, pets, and the property

Soft washing uses cleaning solution, and how you handle it around landscaping is part of the job you are being paid for.

Pre-wet plants and shrubs before you start, rinse them again as you go, and rinse thoroughly when you finish. Bag or tarp anything especially delicate. Ask the customer to keep pets inside during the visit and for the duration of drying. On a roof, plan where the runoff goes before you spray, because gravity will find the customer's prize hydrangeas if you do not.

Mention this protection work in your quote terms. It costs you a few minutes and it is the difference between a clean job and a callback about dead landscaping.

What to disclose before you start

Two disclosures save more arguments than anything else in exterior cleaning.

Oxidation. Chalky, sun-faded vinyl or aluminum will look better after a wash but will not return to new. If the siding is heavily oxidized, say so before you quote, because the customer expecting a factory finish will be disappointed no matter how good your work is.

Permanent staining. Rust bleed, artillery fungus, and deep organic staining on porous surfaces may lighten rather than disappear. Photograph these areas before you begin and point them out. A one-line note in the quote ("existing rust staining on the north wall may lighten but is unlikely to clear fully") protects you and reads as professionalism, not excuse-making.

Make the quote effortless

House wash, roof soft wash, and flatwork each have their own rate, their own minimum, and their own modifiers. Keeping all of that straight in your head on a driveway, in the sun, with a customer waiting, is genuinely hard. That is the entire reason RinseQuote exists: enter the measurements, tap the surfaces, and the quote comes out itemized and priced correctly, ready to send with photos and accept on the customer's phone.

Want to see it work on a real house-and-roof job? Start a free 14-day trial and price your next one in four minutes.