Cladding always dirties from the bottom up and along the shadow line under each board, because that is where splash-back and slow drying meet.
The bottom two boards
Rain splashing off a path or drive throws grit and organic matter onto the lowest boards. On most clad houses those boards are twice as dirty as the rest of the elevation.
This guide sits under our Wall Cleaning & Softwash work, covering 20-mile radius of Plymouth.
Material limits
Timber needs low pressure and grain-aware work. Composite tolerates more but marks under abrasives. Fibre cement is stable but its coating can be dulled by aggressive chemistry.
Behind and between
Ventilation gaps behind cladding must not be flooded. That means controlling volume and direction, which is another reason a lance is the wrong tool here.
Questions we get on this
- Will cleaning strip the timber oil?
- A correct softwash will not, but an already-failing finish may lift. We will point out where the coating is due.
- Can you reach high gable cladding?
- Yes, using reach systems in most cases without scaffolding.
- How often should cladding be washed?
- Annually for the bottom boards, less for the rest.
Related reading
- Why render turns green - and how to clear it for good
- Black streaks running down walls: what causes them
- Moss on roof tiles: when it matters and when it does not
- Lichen on roofs and copings: the slow damage nobody sees