How Do You Remove Mold From Exterior Siding?

residential siding cleaning in DC metro area

With the records rains of 2018, there has been an increase in mold on all kinds of surfaces; on vinyl siding and sidewalks, on concrete patios and office building facades, on steps and retaining walls, and much more. We had 131 days of rain totaling over 66 inches in 2018, and exterior surfaces have not had a chance to dry out. Whether it’s your home or an office building, the mold is unsightly and must go! The following are tips from the building professionals at KEVCO on how to rid these surfaces and more of mold and mildew.

Identifying Mold

So, what does the “mold” look like? Even though the mold is technically microscopic, there is so much accumulated on surfaces all over that it is hard to miss – it is black in appearance, often streaky, and if you get up close to the surface, it looks like tiny black dots, no bigger than a grain of sand. The mold can occasionally be green, but the darker the mold, the more noticeable it is on the exterior of your home.

Mold usually appears on the shady side of a house or a building. But lately, there has been so much rain that the mold continues to grow and multiply. There are cleaning methods out there that can remove or at least reduce the appearance of mold, mildew, and algae. Probably the best and most well-known method of removal is pressure washing.

Preparing for Mold Removal

Before removing mold from vinyl siding through pressure cleaning, there is a bit of prep work that needs to be done. If chemicals are used in tandem with the pressure cleaning, a pre-wetting of grass and landscaping is often done to prevent any damage to the grass or landscaping. Occasionally, tarps are also used to prevent damage, but the tarps must be the blue tarps; the clear plastic tarps can cause suffocation of the plants and grass. If the contractor you choose uses the clear plastic tarps, go look for another contractor!

Many times, no chemicals or pre-treatment is necessary. Generally, cold-water pressure cleaning can do the trick for homes and office buildings. There are hot water machines available that are used more for industrial settings, but cold-water pressure cleaning, coupled with special jet nozzles with varying angles, are in the professional cleaner’s arsenal of tools to combat mold on any surface.

Check with your contractor on several points before you contract with them. Make sure:

They are licensed and bonded
They have the right pressure cleaning machine for YOUR job
They practice safety first and foremost
They know what they are doing

Choose KEVCO for Pressure Washing in the DC Metro Area

Indeed, there is mold everywhere – and often the surfaces that are cleaned will look brand-new. So, choose your pressure cleaning contractor wisely. Check them out – talk to friends, neighbors, and other companies that may have used their services. Your exterior surfaces will look much brighter when you use a pressure cleaning contractor who has the experience and the know-how to get your job done, and done right!

For a reputable pressure washing company in the DC metro, contact KEVCO today!