House Washing Before Holiday Guests: A Practical Checklist

Map each exterior material separately

A single house can combine painted brick, vinyl, fiber cement, wood trim, metal gutters and a different porch finish. Label photographs by side of the building and identify each material if you know it. Include the point where materials meet, because joints and trim can be more vulnerable than the broad wall. CoKo's should assess the surface and its condition before choosing the cleaning approach. A general house-washing request should not imply that every component receives identical pressure or chemistry.

Disclose oxidation and failing finishes

Chalky siding, peeling paint, brittle caulk and previous repair patches deserve close-up photos. Organic staining is different from a finish that is degrading, and washing cannot reverse every type of weathering. Describe whether a mark transfers to clothing or appears only when the wall is wet, but do not scrape or test an unknown coating just to obtain an estimate. If a coating or historic material needs specialist advice, address that before agreeing to a cleaning method.

Show openings and electrical fixtures

Include windows, doors, vents, exterior outlets, light fixtures and mounted equipment in the photo set. Mention known leaks and seals that have failed in heavy rain. Do not assume that a closed window is watertight or that high wall areas can safely be reached from a particular angle. Access and water-entry concerns can change the cleaning sequence. Tell the crew about unusual openings or sensitive equipment before arrival rather than relying on a last-minute warning after setup begins.

Coordinate preparation around people and pets

Choose a temporary place for pets, move portable furniture and decorations as agreed, and identify a usable entrance during cleaning. Keep children away from the work zone, hoses and wet surfaces. Ask which items the customer must move and which preparation the crew handles. A shared side yard or neighbor-facing wall may need additional access arrangements. A calendar date should be confirmed only after those responsibilities are clear, especially when several sides of the house cannot be reached from your own driveway.

Explain what the photograph cannot show

A front elevation does not reveal a narrow rear passage, an enclosed courtyard or an upper wall above a fragile roof. Describe those limitations in the estimate request. Ground-level wide shots are safer and often more helpful than a close photograph taken from a ladder. State the number of stories, approximate access width and any area that must be excluded. If the remaining uncertainty affects method or labor, ask whether an on-site review is needed before the scope is finalized.

Keep cleaning separate from painting preparation

If painters or siding contractors will follow, ask them what preparation they require and who will inspect the surface before the next stage. Removing organic buildup is different from removing failed paint, correcting moisture intrusion or preparing a coating to a particular specification. Tell each contractor about the planned sequence. Confirm drying and access requirements with the provider of the next treatment instead of assuming that a house can be washed one afternoon and coated the following morning.

Evaluate shaded and sunny walls independently

In Greater New Orleans, sheltered walls beneath trees can retain moisture differently from open elevations. Photograph both the worst section and a representative lighter section. Include nearby plants, roof runoff and irrigation where they help explain recurring buildup. The purpose is to identify exposure, not to diagnose every dark mark from a photo. Discuss which changes in appearance are reasonable for the actual finish and whether an ongoing moisture source needs attention outside the cleaning scope.

Document the condition before and after

Save a set of wide photographs and close-ups of pre-existing damage before the visit. After the work, compare the same locations once the surfaces are dry. Weathered paint, repaired masonry and oxidation may still differ in color even when loose contamination has been removed. A useful review names the specific wall or feature and the concern rather than asking for an indiscriminate stronger treatment. Keep the agreed scope with the photographs so included areas and exclusions remain easy to check.