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.

How often does render need cleaning?

It depends on aspect and exposure — shaded, north-facing or coastal-exposed elevations tend to need attention more often than sheltered, south-facing ones. Most properties do well with a clean every couple of years, sometimes longer.

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.

Can render cleaning be done in winter?

Yes, as long as it's above freezing and dry enough on the day — biocide needs to dwell on the surface rather than be washed off by rain straight after application.

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.

Safe Render Cleaning for Yarm Homes

Trusted render and brick cleaning in Yarm. Fully insured, biocide trained, soft wash only — protecting your render while it's cleaned properly.

We use soft washing and steam methods instead. A biocide treatment kills the growth at the root, a low-pressure rinse lifts dirt without forcing water behind the render, and the result actually lasts because the problem is gone, not just blasted off the surface for a few months.

A lot of people assume render cleaning means pressure washing, the same as a patio or driveway. It doesn't, and treating render like a hard surface is how cracking, staining and blown coatings happen, especially on thin monocouche and K-rend systems.

We soft wash render and use steam or gentle low-pressure methods on brick, adjusting biocide dwell time and rinse pressure to what the surface can actually take.

How we clean render and brick, step by step

We start with a walk-round survey of the render or brick, checking render type, how established the algae or lichen growth is, and whether there's any cracking or damage worth noting before we start.

Biocide is applied first and left to dwell, breaking down algae, lichen and black streaking at the root rather than just knocking it off the surface. Once it's worked, we rinse at low pressure — or with steam on brick and stubborn black staining — lifting the dead growth away without forcing water behind the render or into old mortar joints.

The biocide we use

We use professional-grade biocide formulated to kill algae, lichen and fungal growth on render and masonry, applied at rates matched to the surface and how established the growth is. We're biocide trained (2024), so it's used correctly rather than sprayed on and rinsed off too soon.

Getting to you

We're based in Washington and cover roughly 45 miles out from there, so Yarm is well within reach — A19 makes it a straightforward run for us with equipment, which keeps travel time, and cost, down.

Render and brick cleaning costs, including common extras

Our quotes are always based on what we actually find on site, not a generic price list — established lichen, difficult access or a full portfolio of buildings all shift the number, so treat the ranges below as a starting point.

Standard soft wash, single storey

typically £180–£280

Two-storey property, all sides

typically £350–£550

Additional steam treatment (heavy staining)

add around £60–£120

Gable end / hard-to-reach elevation

add around £40–£90

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) near Yarm

Homeowners

Low-hassle render and brick cleaning

Most homeowners just want the outside of the house looking clean without having to think about how it's done. You don't need to be in — we soft wash the render and brick, protect windows and planting as we go, and leave the place tidy, usually within a day depending on the size of the property.

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

From Victorian brick terraces to modern K-rend estates, we adjust our soft wash approach to what's actually on the wall. Fully insured, biocide trained (2024), and covering Yarm and the surrounding area.

Soft washing gets to the root of algae, lichen and black streaking rather than just blasting it off, and it's the only method that won't damage K-rend, monocouche, pebbledash or sand-and-cement render. That's the standard we work to on every job across Yarm.

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 Yarm.

Fully insured, properly trained

Fully insured
Public liability cover in place for every job, render or brick, residential or commercial.
Biocide trained (2024)
Correct application rates and dwell times, not guesswork.
Asbestos awareness trained
Know what to look for and how to handle it on older properties.
Spill management trained
Chemicals handled and disposed of properly, not left to run off.

Don't let it get worse

Algae and lichen only get more established the longer they're left — the sooner it's treated, the less work it takes to put right. Book your soft wash now.

Call now Call 07501060609

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Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Yarm — the elevation part-way through treatment, just off the A19

Render & Brick Cleaning (Soft Wash) in Yarm — the finished render drying in the sun, a few minutes from Eaglescliffe