Answers · Comparison
Pressure washing uses high water pressure to physically blast dirt off hard surfaces. Soft washing uses low pressure plus a cleaning solution that does the work chemically. Concrete, brick and stone get pressure. Painted siding, stucco, wood, roofs and anything with a coating on it get soft washed. Using high pressure on siding lifts paint and forces water behind the boards, which is the single most expensive DIY exterior mistake there is.
Last reviewed 3 September 2026 by Perfect Shine Home Solutions, Kuna, Idaho. Serving the Treasure Valley since 2016.
Hard, non-porous, non-coated surfaces that can take mechanical force: concrete driveways, walkways, patios, brick, stone and most masonry. Done properly it uses a flat surface cleaner rather than a wand, because a wand leaves visible stripes wherever the passes overlap. If your driveway has zebra stripes on it, someone used a wand.
Anything that pressure would damage: painted lap siding, vinyl siding, stucco, EIFS, wood, shingle roofs, screens and window frames. The pressure is roughly what a garden hose delivers. The cleaning is done by a solution that is applied, allowed to dwell, and rinsed. It kills algae and mould at the root rather than removing the surface layer, which is why soft-washed siding stays clean longer than pressure-washed siding would even if pressure were safe.
High pressure on painted siding looks like it is working. Paint comes off with the dirt, so the first pass looks dramatic. What you cannot see is water driven behind the boards and into the wall cavity, and paint edges lifted so the next winter takes the rest. On an older Boise home with original lap siding this turns a $300 wash into a repaint. There is no version of this where high pressure on siding is the right call.
The usual Treasure Valley job is a soft wash on the house and a pressure wash on the driveway, patio and walkways, on the same visit. Booking them together is cheaper than two trips, and it is why we quote them as one job.
| Surface | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway, walkway, patio | Pressure | Hard, porous, no coating to damage |
| Brick and stone | Pressure, moderated | Durable, but mortar needs care |
| Painted lap siding | Soft wash | Pressure lifts paint and drives water behind boards |
| Vinyl siding | Soft wash | Pressure forces water into seams and behind panels |
| Stucco and EIFS | Soft wash | Pressure erodes the finish coat |
| Shingle roof | Soft wash only | Pressure strips granules and voids most warranties |
| Wood deck and fence | Soft wash or low pressure | High pressure raises and splinters the grain |
Swipe the table sideways →
Two fields and a person from Perfect Shine calls you back, usually within the hour.
Get a free quoteCall (208) 954-4864Perfect Shine prices quoted on this page are our own published prices. Ranges described as typical reflect what Treasure Valley homeowners commonly pay and are not a quote.
You can pressure wash your own driveway. You should not pressure wash your own siding. If you rent a machine, the driveway is a reasonable weekend job; siding needs low pressure and a solution, and the failure mode is expensive and not obvious until months later.
On the surfaces it is meant for, better. Algae, mould and mildew are living organisms with roots into the surface. Pressure removes the visible growth; a soft wash solution kills it, so it takes longer to come back.
Perfect Shine starts at $149, and most Treasure Valley homeowners pay $150 to $500 depending on square footage and whether it is a driveway, a house wash, or both. A house wash and driveway booked together costs less than two separate visits.
Roughly March through late October, while surfaces reliably dry above freezing. Once the first hard freeze arrives, which for Boise has a 50% chance by around 21 October, exterior washing generally waits for spring.
More answers
Straight answers on what things cost here, when to book them, and what is worth paying for.
Family-run in the Treasure Valley since 2016. Priced before we book it.
Get a free quoteCall (208) 954-4864