What is one of the most common questions our clients ask us? After asking about the price, most clients ask us, “How long does it take to pressure wash a house?” However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
In this post, H&N Cleaning Services, Winston-Salem’s expert power washing services, explain more about the factors that impact the average pressure washing time like:
- House size
- Surface condition
- House design
- Local weather
- DIY vs. professional service
Winston-Salem’s unique environmental conditions make it hard to keep the exterior of your home clean. You have to deal with the high pollen count and debris from storms and also have to remove the organic growth that thrives in our humid summers.
The house size and cleaning duration are directly related. Depending on the condition and service method, you’re looking at a power washing job length of three to 5.5 hours for the average 1,500-2,000 square foot house in Winston-Salem.
Top Factors That Determine Cleaning Time
Let’s go over the things that will influence your pressure washing time estimate in more detail:
- House Size: The larger your home, the longer the duration for residential pressure washing services. This does, however, depend on your home’s design. A contemporary design is easier to clean than a Victorian design.
- Level of Dirt and Grime: The more algae, mold, and debris build up you have on your exterior siding, the longer it takes to clean.
- House Design and Complexity: Do you have a multi-story home, ornate trim, or odd angles? These take longer to clean.
- DIY vs. Professional: Pros complete the work faster because they have better equipment
- Landscaping: Trees, shrubs, tight spaces add setup and maneuver time
- Weather Conditions: Humid days, cold snaps, or pollen buildup increase the amount of dirt, which means that cleaning takes longer.
- Home’s Condition: Is some paint peeling? If there is pre-existing damage, we have to work more slowly to avoid making it worse.
- Scope of the Job: Do you want us to clean several areas like decks, driveways, or gutters? This adds to the total time it takes but will save you time because you only have to schedule one session.
Pressure Washing Time Estimates by Home Size
How long does it take to pressure wash a house? Your house’s size is one of the main determining factors, but it also depends on the design and level of contamination.
| Home Size | One Story | Multi-Story |
| 1,000 sq. ft. | 2–3 hours | 3–3.5 hours |
| 1,500 sq. ft. | 3–4 hours | 4–4.5 hours |
| 2,000 sq. ft. | 3–5 hours | 4–5.5 hours |
| 2,750 sq. ft. | 5–6 hours | 6+ hours |
| 4,000+ sq. ft. | 7–8+ hours | 9–10 hours |
It takes 30 minutes to three hours to clean the average home in the United States. Winston-Salem homes tend to be larger, and we have a lot more historical properties than most towns, so cleaning services tend to take longer.
Want to know how long your home will take? Our technician will come out to give you a free estimate and discuss this with you. They will carefully assess your exterior surfaces so they can customize their approach.
We’ve had years to hone our processes so we work quickly and efficiently without causing damage.
Why Professionals Are Faster (and Often Better)
How often do you pressure clean your home or its exterior surfaces? If you’re like most people, you might look at doing so once a year. It’s tempting to rent a pressure cleaner and save yourself money.
But is DIY home cleaning worth it? Professionals have the equipment and experience to finish the job in a fraction of the time it will take you and have also already gone through a steep learning curve.
Pressure cleaning looks simple, but you’re dealing with very powerful equipment. If you get caught in the spray or backsplash, you could lacerate your skin. The force can even propel you off a roof if you’re not ready for it.
DIY cleaning also comes with a high risk of property damage. A pressure cleaner on the wrong setting can:
- Scour wood
- Chip concrete
- Crack vinyl
You can counter this by using low settings, but that means that the work takes longer. And, to add insult to injury, you still might not get the desired results because you don’t have industrial-grade equipment.
Professionals pressure clean every day, so they are amazingly quick. We make it look so easy that most people feel they can give it a try, but they don’t realize that it takes years to perfect the technique.
So, how long does it take to pressure wash a house when you compare DIY and pros?
| Task | DIY | Pros |
| Setup Time | 30–60 min. | 5–10 min. |
| Washing Time | 4–6 hours | 2–4 hours |
| Cleanup Time | 30–45 min. | 10–15 min. |
What you have to consider is how much your free time is worth to you. Do you want to give up a Saturday to tackle these mucky tasks, or do you have better things to do?
Winston-Salem’s Weather and Home Types Influence Cleaning Time
Our climate here makes a big difference in how long it takes to clean your house. H&N Cleaning Services understands how our seasonal weather patterns and local conditions affect cleaning. Here are some things that we deal with:
- High humidity increases mold growth, which means it takes longer to clean your exterior surfaces. It also means that you potentially need to clean more often.
- Spring pollen buildup, especially in neighborhoods like Buena Vista or Ardmore, can be difficult to clean off. Sometimes, it gets so bad that your windows start to look foggy.
- Many of the aging homes in the area have brick siding, which takes longer to clean than vinyl because it’s so porous. We let the cleaning solution dwell for double the amount of time so that it soaks in properly, cleaning out every capillary.
What Else Are You Washing? Add This Time
Do you like to save time and money? Of course you do! That’s why we offer bundling discounts. It makes sense to do everything at once, so let’s look at how much extra time each service adds:
- Decks and Patios: Add 45–60 minutes for these quick projects because we can pressure clean the surfaces.
- Gutter Cleaning: Add 30–60 minutes to muck out your gutters and flush out your downspouts.
- Roof Soft Washing: Add 1–2 hours, depending on when you last cleaned your roof. These projects take a little longer because we use low-pressure systems. We have to allow extra time for the detergent to soak in.
- Driveways and Walkways: Add 30–45 minutes, depending on the level of staining. This speeds up the duration of the residential pressure wash because we can use more force.
Get a Fast, Reliable Pressure Washing Estimate in Winston-Salem
How long does it take to pressure wash a house or, more importantly, your home? It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to ten hours depending on surface materials and the condition of your home.
Call H&N Cleaning Services at 336-340-1433 to learn the answer to “How much does it really cost to pressure wash in Winston-Salem?” We will narrow down the timeframe for you and provide you with a no-obligation quote.