Pressure washing
Soft Washing Cost Calculator
Prices soft washing, which is a different method rather than a gentler version of the same thing.
Result
A planning estimate, not a quote. Access, the age of the equipment, what is found once it is opened up and local labour rates all move the real figure, sometimes a long way.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Hours times crew times rate, plus chemicals and the call-out, by area. Soft washing applies a cleaning solution, usually hypochlorite with a surfactant, at low pressure, lets it dwell long enough to kill and release organic growth, and then rinses. The cleaning is biological and chemical rather than mechanical, which is why it works on surfaces that pressure would destroy, and why the labour profile is application and waiting rather than continuous effort.
What moves the number
- Area and the number of surfaces, since each needs its own application.
- Solution strength and dwell time, which depend on how heavy the growth is.
- Protection required for plants, paving and anything in the runoff path.
- Whether a rinse is needed or the method leaves it to weather.
Where this one goes wrong
Soft washing is the correct method for roofs, siding, stucco, painted surfaces and anything organic, and treating it as a budget alternative to pressure washing gets the relationship backwards: it cleans those surfaces better and it does not damage them. Chemical handling is the responsibility that comes with it. Hypochlorite solutions bleach fabric, kill planting, damage some metals and finishes, and are hazardous to eyes and skin, so dilution, protective equipment, pre-wetting plants and thorough rinsing are part of the work rather than precautions. Runoff is a discharge, and where detergents and biocides are involved that is worth checking locally.
Before you quote
- Use soft washing for roofs, siding, stucco and painted surfaces as the correct method.
- Pre-wet and rinse planting, and protect metals and fabrics from the solution.
- Use appropriate protective equipment when mixing and applying.
- Check local rules on where runoff may go.
Where the rules come from
Questions
About this calculator
What is the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?
Soft washing cleans with chemistry at low pressure, letting a solution kill and release organic growth before rinsing. Pressure washing cleans mechanically with force. For roofs, siding, stucco and painted surfaces, soft washing both cleans better and avoids the damage pressure causes.
Is soft washing less effective?
On organic growth it is more effective, because it kills the algae and lichen rather than blasting the surface layer off, so results last longer. Pressure is better on hard surfaces with ground-in dirt, like concrete. They are different methods for different surfaces rather than one being weaker.
Are the chemicals safe around plants and pets?
They need managing. Hypochlorite solutions bleach fabric, damage planting and are hazardous to eyes and skin, so plants are pre-wetted and rinsed, surfaces are protected, pets are kept away, and the applicator uses protective equipment. Handled properly it is routine; handled carelessly it causes real damage.
The formula
total = hours x people x rate + parts + call-out, then sales tax
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How to use this calculator
- Hours on site (h). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 3 h.
- People needed. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Parts and materials ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $35.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Sales tax (%). Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to estimated total, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours on site | 3 h |
| People needed | 1 |
| Labour rate charged | $95 |
| Parts and materials | $35 |
| Call-out or diagnostic fee | $95 |
| Sales tax | 0% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated total main result | $415 |
| Labour | $285 |
| Before tax | $415 |
| Sales tax | $0 |
About $415: $285 of labour, $35 of parts and a $95 call-out.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only labour rate charged, this is what happens to estimated total. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Labour rate charged ($) | Estimated total |
|---|---|
| $48 | $274 |
| $71 | $343 |
| $95 example above | $415 |
| $143 | $559 |
| $190 | $700 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Hours on site (h)
- Measured in h, between 0 and 400, starting at 3 h.
- People needed
- A number, between 0 and 40, starting at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Parts and materials ($)
- A money amount, starting at $35.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Sales tax (%)
- Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Estimated total | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Labour | A money figure. |
| Before tax | A money figure. |
| Sales tax | A money figure. |
Estimating is the easy part
The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.