What's the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?

Soft washing uses a biocide treatment to kill algae, lichen and fungal growth, then rinses it away at low pressure. Pressure washing relies on force alone, which is fine on hard surfaces like paving but risky on render and old brick pointing.

Do you clean brickwork as well as render?

Yes, we clean brick alongside render using soft washing and steam, particularly for black streaking and ingrained staining, and we adjust pressure to protect older lime mortar.

What causes the green staining on my walls?

That's usually algae, which establishes on damp, shaded render and brick. It's cosmetic rather than structural, but it does spread if left, which is why we treat the growth with biocide rather than just rinsing the surface.

Will the biocide harm my plants or pets?

We cover or move planting before we start and are spill management trained to handle and dispose of chemicals properly, minimising any risk to plants, pets or the surrounding area.

Why has the render on one side of my house gone green and not the others?

Shade and moisture are usually the reason — north or west-facing walls that stay damp longer after rain are more likely to develop algae and lichen than sunnier elevations.

Do you clean commercial and industrial premises?

Yes, we clean render, brick and block on shops, offices and industrial units, usually scheduling around opening hours so it doesn't disrupt business.

Soft Wash Render Cleaning, Durham

Render and brick cleaning for homes and businesses in Durham. Biocide soft washing and steam methods, fully insured, with before-and-after photos.

Durham County Council · DH1 · 8.8 miles south of our Washington base

Knowing which wall is doing the damage lets us treat it properly: a biocide soft wash that gets into the texture of the render rather than just wetting the surface, followed by a low-pressure rinse that leaves the coating intact.

We check the render system before we touch it, then treat Durham properties with biocide soft washing and steam where it's needed, so the finish comes back clean without putting the coating itself at risk.

Render cleaning only works long-term if the method matches the surface, so on K-rend, monocouche, pebbledash and sand-and-cement render in Durham we soft wash — biocide applied at low pressure, given time to work into the growth, then rinsed off gently.

Access on site

Most render and brick cleaning jobs just need reasonable access to an outside tap or our own water supply, and enough room to set up equipment near the elevation being cleaned — tight side passages or gated access are worth mentioning when you book so we can plan for it.

Why local coverage matters for render cleaning

Knowing the area helps with more than just travel time — we've seen the render types, growth patterns and exposure common to Durham and the places around it, like Brandon and Ushaw Moor, which means fewer surprises once we're on site.

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) near Durham

Trained in the method that actually matters

Biocide trained (2024)
The core skill behind a proper soft wash — knowing what to apply and for how long.
Never pressure washing render
Soft wash and steam only on render and brick, every time.
Fully insured
Covered for peace of mind on every job we do.

Protecting what's around the property

Before any biocide goes on, we cover or move planting, garden furniture and anything nearby that shouldn't come into contact with it. We're spill management trained, so runoff and unused product are handled and disposed of properly, not left to find their way into drains or beds.

What we do — and never do — on render

We do: soft wash with biocide, use steam or low pressure on brickwork, protect windows, doors and planting before we start, and match dwell time to how established the growth is.

We don't: use a pressure washer directly on render, rush the biocide dwell time, or treat old lime-pointed brick the same way as modern cement pointing — the mortar itself needs a gentler approach. That distinction is what keeps render cleaning from turning into a render repair job.

Homes & businesses

Render and brick cleaning for commercial premises

A rendered or brick shopfront near Belmont Industrial Estate that's streaked or algae-stained sends the wrong message before a customer's even through the door. We soft wash commercial elevations to bring the finish back to a clean, presentable standard, working around opening hours so trade isn't disrupted.

Render and brick on Victorian terraces

Historic city centre little changed in 200 years, with Georgian buildings. means a fair few properties in Durham still have original lime-mortared brickwork, sometimes with rendered sections added later — and it's the lime mortar that needs the most care, since it's softer than modern cement pointing and won't take pressure washing without eroding.

Black streaking on brick chimneys and sooted-looking render on old repairs are both common on streets like this, and both respond well to a soft wash and biocide treatment without touching the mortar joints.

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Durham — common questions

Based in Washington and covering the area around Durham, we bring a soft wash and steam approach to render and brick cleaning built around not damaging the surface we're cleaning. Call Trevor on 07501 060609 to book.

Algae, lichen and black streaking don't need a pressure washer to shift — they need the right biocide treatment and a bit of patience. That's what we bring to every render and brick job in Durham.

We look after you and your property

Send a few photos or call Trevor on 07501 060609 for a render and brick cleaning quote.

Request a quote Call 07501060609

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Durham — the elevation part-way through treatment, on a DH1 property

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Durham — the finished render drying in the sun, just off the A1(M)