Updates from David McKay

Getting your house pressure washed before getting it painted is a good idea for many reasons. Painting over anything that is dirty, is like covering up rather than cleaning up. It is like putting clean clothes on a dirty body. The house is still dirty, but it is just dirty with a fresh coat of paint covering up the dirt. Paint has a hard time adhering to dirt and old paint, so choosing to paint instead of washing it just makes a new paint job necessary faster next time. Having a professional pressure washing company wash the house before painting will ensure that everything is clean, mold and mildew are not growing, and provide a clean slate to start painting on.

Doing anything to increase your home value will increase your ability to sell your home faster. Getting your home pressure washed will absolutely add value to your home. I recommend getting your home professionally washed before listing it for sale. One of the first things that home sellers question when they get ready to list their home for sale, is just how much time and money should they put into fixing their home up. The first question they will often ask is if they should get their house pressure washed before they try to sell it. 

According to the National Association of Realtors, 5.34 million existing homes were sold in 2019. That means 5.34 million customers bought homes that were in less than new condition than the 682,000 customers who bought newly constructed homes. Buying a used home can save you a lot of money, but trying to sell a used home can come with a lot of critiquing. Home buyers are leery of the hidden problem areas that used homes may have. Curb appeal absolutely will make a huge difference when people are looking to buy a home as well. It can be the one thing that makes them keep on driving by to the next home or stopping by to take a better look. A dirty, moss/algae, mildew, and mold covered home will certainly not be attractive to home buyers. Home buyers will be looking at several factors of a home before they decide which one to buy. Here are a few things to consider...

Those black streaks are actually roof algae called gloeocapsa magma. You may have heard them referred to as blue-green or black algae. Algae is another form of mold and is a solid deposit of dirt and spores. Roof algae will weaken the shingles over time. 

The algae cells also create a pigment that makes the roof less reflective which cause it to absorb more sunlight. This absorbed sunlight is transferred into the house as heat which can raise your cooling costs. The algae often team up with a fungus to form lichen and then moss follows that. Moss growth can cause the leading edges of the shingles to lift or curl, which increases the risk of the shingles blowing off with higher winds. Severe moss growth can cause moisture damage to the roof deck and can lead to your roof eventually leaking.