How Long Does Pressure Cleaning Take? (By Job)
As a guide, a standard driveway takes 1 to 2 hours, a single-storey house soft wash 2 to 4 hours, a roof soft wash 3 to 5 hours, and a full exterior package most of a day. Soft washing takes longer than it looks because the cleaning solution needs time to dwell and kill the growth before rinsing. Access, the size of the surface, how dirty it is and the amount of prep all change the timing, so treat these as indicative rather than fixed.
Key takeaways
- Driveway: 1 to 2 hours. Single-storey house soft wash: 2 to 4 hours.
- Roof soft wash: 3 to 5 hours. Full exterior package: most of a day.
- Soft washing needs dwell time, so it is not slow by accident.
- Access, surface size, dirt level and prep all move the timing.
- For a firm time and price on your job, we send up to 3 free quotes from vetted operators.
Driveways and paths
A standard Adelaide driveway typically takes 1 to 2 hours with high pressure. A simple, moderately dirty concrete drive is at the quick end. Add heavy oil staining, moss-filled paver joints or a large area and it climbs toward the top or beyond.
If the paver joints need re-sanding afterwards, allow extra time for that. It is worth doing, because it locks the surface back together and slows the return of weeds and growth.
House soft washes
A single-storey house soft wash usually takes 2 to 4 hours. The operator applies the cleaning solution, lets it dwell, then rinses, and that dwell time is built into the job. It is not wasted time, it is the solution killing the algae and mould so the clean lasts.
Double-storey homes take longer, often 4 to 6 hours or more, because of the extra height, the reach gear and the larger wall area. Difficult access, such as a tight courtyard or a steep block, adds time again.
Roofs and the dwell-time factor
A roof soft wash generally runs 3 to 5 hours. Roofs are always soft washed, and the treatment needs to dwell to kill the moss and lichen properly. Rushing the dwell time gives a poorer, shorter-lived result.
The size and pitch of the roof, the amount of growth and the access all affect the timing. A heavily mossed roof in a damp hills suburb takes longer than a lightly soiled roof on a flat block.
- Driveway: 1 to 2 hours.
- Single-storey house soft wash: 2 to 4 hours.
- Double-storey house soft wash: 4 to 6 hours or more.
- Roof soft wash: 3 to 5 hours.
- Full exterior package: most of a day.
What makes a job take longer
Four things drive the timing more than anything else: access, surface area, how dirty the surface is, and how much prep is involved. A double-storey wall you can only reach with extension gear takes far longer than the same wall at ground level.
Neglected surfaces with years of buildup need more passes and more dwell time. Prep like moving furniture, protecting plants and pre-treating stubborn stains adds up too. When you book through us, the operators we refer will give you a realistic time estimate alongside the quote. Get up to 3 free quotes below.