The ACM Pros Exteriors
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Pressure and Soft Washingin North Alabama

Pressure washing and soft washing for siding, roofs, concrete and wood, with the pressure matched to the surface rather than to the machine.

The pressure matched to the surface, not to the machine.

Soft washing for siding and roofs, real pressure for concrete. Clean surfaces without the damage a heavy wand can do.

Quick answer

In North Alabama, roofs, siding and painted surfaces should be soft washed, cleaned with a solution at about garden-hose pressure, while concrete driveways, walkways and patios get real pressure. The ACM Pros match the method to each surface on homes and businesses across Huntsville, Madison and nearby towns, and we never put pressure on shingles.

At a glance

Soft washing
Roofs, siding, soffit, fascia, trim and painted wood
Pressure washing
Driveways, walkways, patios and hard masonry
Shingles
Never pressure washed
Plants
Wetted first, protected and rinsed afterward
Commercial
Shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, apartments and a church
Estimate
Free, with a written line-item scope

Pressure and soft washing: choose what you need

Soft washing vs pressure washing: which surface gets which

Soft washing vs pressure washing: which surface gets which
What mattersSoft washingPressure washing
How it cleansA cleaning solution at about garden-hose pressure kills the growth, then a rinse carries it awayHigh-pressure water removes dirt and stains by force
SurfacesShingle roofs, vinyl and fiber cement siding, soffit, fascia, trim, painted wood and screensConcrete driveways, walkways, patios and hard masonry
WhyMost grime on these surfaces is alive and has to be killed, and the surfaces cannot take forcePoured and laid surfaces are dense enough to take it, and their stains are ground in
How long it lastsLonger, because the growth is killed at the rootOn living growth, not long, because the roots stay behind
On the wrong surfaceOn concrete it under-delivers and stains remainStrips shingle granules, drives water behind siding, wears coatings and furs up wood
Middle groundWood decks and fences: the solution does the work and pressure stays lowPavers: pressure across the field, less at the joints to keep the sand in

The details

Warm, humid and shaded: ideal for growth

The black streaks on north-facing roof slopes are a colony of cyanobacteria, a tiny organism related to algae, feeding on the limestone filler in shingles. It is alive, it is common across this region, and pressure does not remove it. The right treatment is a cleaning solution applied at low pressure.

On siding, the same conditions grow mildew and algae on shaded walls. High pressure strips the growth and drives water behind the siding at the same time, which is why we soft wash walls.

Concrete and masonry are different. They can take real pressure, and driveways, patios and walkways are where a pressure washer belongs.

Pressure is a tool, not a service

The name of this trade is misleading. Most of what we do is low-pressure washing, where a cleaning solution does the work and water only carries it and rinses it away.

Concrete gets real pressure. Roofs, siding, soffits, painted wood and screens do not. Using one setting on a whole property is faster, and it is how surfaces get damaged.

If someone quotes a whole house at one price with no difference between the roof, the walls and the driveway, they are describing one pressure setting.

How we protect your property

Plants and landscaping
Plants are wetted down first and rinsed afterward. Cleaning solutions are mixed to the right strength and neutralized where needed.
Water getting in
Openings, vents, light fixtures and screens are checked and protected before we start. We spray siding at a downward angle, never up under a lap.
Pressure setting
Set to the surface. Shingles, vinyl, painted wood and concrete each get a different approach, and we never use one setting just to move faster.
Runoff
Steered away from planting beds and, on commercial sites, away from storm drains.

How often to wash in this climate

Most homes here want a house wash every one to two years. North-facing and shaded walls grow back first, and heavy tree cover shortens the interval.

A soft-washed roof usually stays clean for several years, because the growth is killed rather than just removed. Nobody can honestly promise a fixed interval. It depends on shade, trees and which way the roof faces, and it varies from house to house on the same street. We will tell you what to expect for yours.

What we clean

Houses
Siding, soffit, fascia and trim, soft washed to kill mildew and algae.
Roofs
Asphalt shingles soft washed to remove black streaks, moss and lichen.
Driveways, walkways and patios
Pressure washed with a surface cleaner for an even finish.
Decks and fences
Washed at low pressure and readied for stain or sealer.
Businesses
Storefronts, walkways, drive-thru lanes, breezeways, dumpster pads and building exteriors.

What to check before you hire

  • Will they soft wash the roof, or put pressure on it? Pressure on shingles is a reason to decline.
  • How will they protect your plants and beds?
  • Will they use a surface cleaner on the driveway, or a hand wand?
  • Do they treat the roof, walls and concrete as separate jobs with separate methods?
  • Are they insured? We carry insurance for residential and commercial work.

What affects the price

We price after measuring, line by line, with the materials named. These are the things that move the number.

  • Which surfaces are included: roof, walls, concrete or decks
  • Size of the house and number of stories
  • How heavy the growth or staining is
  • Access, slopes and how much landscaping needs protecting
  • Whether several surfaces are done on the same visit

How a job works

  1. Step 1: Free in-home estimate

    We walk your exterior, measure, and show you the options. There is no charge and no pressure.

  2. Step 2: Choose your materials

    You get a written scope with every line and material named. Then we order for your home.

  3. Step 3: Installed and cleaned up

    Cut, fitted, trimmed, cleaned up and hauled away the same day. You never look at a pile of old frames.

From our recent jobs

Real ACM job photos. Every photo marked “ACM job photo” is from one of our own jobs.

See more of our work
  • Before and after: grey vinyl siding streaked with mildew, then clean after a soft washACM job photo

    Soft wash on vinyl siding

    Mildew and grime removed from vinyl siding at low pressure, so the siding and trim were not damaged.

  • Before and after: a stained concrete walkway outside an apartment building, then cleanACM job photo

    Walkway cleaning

    Concrete walkways at an apartment building pressure washed back to clean, even concrete.

  • A freshly cleaned street apron in front of a brick home, with ACM written in the cleaned concreteACM job photo

    Driveway and curb cleaning

    Driveway and curb concrete cleaned at a brick home, with ACM spelled out in the concrete partway through the clean.

Questions people ask

Will pressure washing damage my roof?

Pressure washing will. That is exactly why we do not do it. Asphalt shingles are cleaned with a soft wash, low pressure and the right solution. If anyone proposes putting real pressure on your shingles, that is a reason to decline.

How long before the black streaks come back?

It depends on shade, tree cover and which way the roof faces. North-facing slopes under heavy trees grow back soonest. We will tell you what to expect for your roof rather than quote a blanket interval.

Is house washing safe for my plants?

With the right mix, plants wetted first and rinsed afterward, yes. Plant damage from house washing is a process failure, not an unavoidable cost.

Do you do commercial work?

Yes. We have cleaned shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes and a church. Commercial work happens outside business hours, has to be dry and safe before doors open, and usually works best on a schedule, because busy entrances get dirty much faster than homes.

What is the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?

Soft washing uses a cleaning solution at about garden-hose pressure to kill growth, then rinses it away. Pressure washing uses high-pressure water to remove dirt by force. Soft washing is for roofs, siding and painted surfaces, and pressure washing is for concrete and hard masonry.

Can you wash my roof, house and driveway on the same visit?

Yes. Many jobs combine all three. Each surface still gets its own method, so the visit takes a little longer than a one-setting job, and the results last longer too.

What should I do before you arrive?

Close windows and doors, move cars off the driveway, and bring in light outdoor furniture, pet bowls and toys. Tell us about any plants you are especially fond of or any window that is known to leak.

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Areas we serve

We're based in Madison and work across North Alabama, providing pressure and soft washing in every area below. We do not work in Tennessee.

All areas and towns
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Let's get your home looking its best.

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  • No pressure to sign, ever
  • Alabama license #307601, licensed and insured
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