Before & after
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A completed Code 3 Cleaning job covering house washing on a 2-story home in Lindenhurst, IL. Below is what we found on arrival, how it was cleaned and what the surface looked like afterwards.
What we found on arrival
The surface in question was vinyl siding.
What the property was dealing with:
- Algae
- Mildew
- Mold staining
- Black streaks
- Moss
- Dirt / grime
- Organic buildup
Algae is the green film that takes hold wherever a surface stays damp long enough to support it. In this climate that means the north and east elevations first, and anything shaded by trees or a neighbouring building.
Mildew sits in the same damp conditions as algae but shows up as grey and black speckling rather than a green sheet, and it tends to concentrate under eaves and around window trim where airflow is poorest.
Mould staining goes beyond surface dirt — it has a root structure, which is why rinsing alone brings it back within weeks. It has to be killed rather than blasted off.
Black streaking on a roof is a bacteria that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. It starts at the ridge and runs downward with the rainwater, which is why it always looks like it is dripping.
Moss is the one worth catching early. Unlike staining, it holds water directly against the surface and lifts shingle edges and paver joints as it thickens, so it does structural work rather than just looking bad.
General dirt and road film builds up from traffic, wind and rain splash. On its own it is cosmetic, but it holds moisture against the surface and gives organic growth something to anchor into.
Organic buildup is the broad layer of growth, pollen, spores and airborne debris that accumulates on any exterior surface left alone for a few seasons.
How it was cleaned
This job was done using soft washing, which does the cleaning with solution and dwell time and keeps the rinse pressure low enough that the surface is never at risk.
Vinyl is the most forgiving surface we work on, but it has seams that face upward and will take water behind the panel if pressure is aimed into them. Soft washing cleans it without that risk.
The method follows the material rather than the calendar. Pressure that is right for a driveway will drive water behind siding and lift paint, and that is not something a second cleaning puts right — which is why the surface gets looked at before anything is switched on.
The result
Visible buildup was removed and the surface was left noticeably cleaner.
Work completed by Matt Henby.
Why exterior surfaces here need this
Exterior surfaces in Lindenhurst take the same two things everything in Lake County takes: humidity that keeps shaded elevations damp well into the autumn, and road salt through the winter that settles on the lower few feet of siding, fencing and flatwork. Together they are why a property that looked fine in October looks tired by April.
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