Pressure washing and soft washing are not the same thing, and the difference matters a lot when it comes to protecting your surfaces. The right choice depends on the material you are cleaning and the type of contamination you are dealing with. Here is the honest breakdown.
What pressure washing actually is
Pressure washing uses a high-velocity stream of water to physically lift dirt and biological growth off a surface. It is fantastic for tough materials like concrete, granite, dense porcelain and most types of block paving. We use a 200-bar machine with a 20-inch rotary surface cleaner that spreads the pressure across a wider footprint for an even finish.
What soft washing is
Soft washing relies on a chemical biocide to break down algae, moss, lichen and surface mould, followed by a low-pressure rinse to wash the dead material away. It is the right approach for tarmac, render, painted surfaces, soft sandstone and resin bound driveways — anything where high pressure would do more harm than good.
When we combine the two
In practice, most jobs use a bit of both. We will often pre-treat with a biocide (the soft wash element) and then use higher pressure on the bulk of the surface (the pressure wash element). The biocide does the chemical work; the pressure wash does the physical lifting. The combination gives a longer-lasting result than either approach on its own.
The wrong technique on the wrong surface
If you take a domestic jet washer to a tarmac drive at full pressure, you will pit the surface and expose the aggregate. If you try to soft-wash a heavily mossed block-paved drive without any pressure, the dead material will sit there and the moss will be back within months. Matching technique to surface is the whole skill.
Get advice on your surface
Not sure what your driveway or patio needs? Call 07732 187000. We will give you an honest opinion and a free written quote.