Power Washing in Burlington, VT: A Homeowner's Hiring Guide

If you're hiring for power washing in Burlington, VT, look for a crew that uses low pressure and a cleaning solution on siding, real pressure only on concrete and stone, and has a plan for the wash water. Burlington's storm drains lead toward Lake Champlain, and humid summers grow mildew on shaded siding all over the Chittenden County area. Get a written quote, ask about insurance, and ask which surfaces will be pressure washed and which will be soft washed.

We're a small crew based in Rutland and we take jobs in Burlington. This is the same advice we'd give a friend hiring anyone, including us.

What Burlington homeowners usually need washed

Most calls fall into a few groups:

• Siding with green or black streaks, usually on the north side or under trees. This is a soft wash job, not a pressure job.
• Driveways and walkways with winter grime and growth along the shady edges.
• Decks and porches that have gone gray or slick. Wood needs low pressure.
• Patios made of pavers, bluestone or concrete.
• Rental and multi-unit buildings that need a refresh between tenants or before listing.

Why lake-area siding grows mildew

Vermont summers are humid, and many Burlington neighborhoods have mature trees close to the houses. Walls that sit in shade stay damp long after a rain or a heavy dew. That steady moisture is what mildew and algae need, so the north and shaded sides of a house often go green while the sunny side stays clean.

Blasting that growth off with high pressure removes the visible layer, but it can damage the siding and doesn't kill what's left in the seams. A soft wash uses low pressure and a cleaning solution that kills the growth, then a gentle rinse. Our soft washing page explains the process, and soft washing vs. power washing goes surface by surface.

Power washing near Lake Champlain: where the water goes

This is the part most homeowners never think about. When you wash a driveway, a deck or a house, the water picks up dirt, oil, leaf debris and whatever cleaner was used, then heads for the lowest point. On a lot of properties that's the street, and then a storm drain.

The Lake Champlain Basin Program explains that rain falling on roofs, driveways and sidewalks flows into the storm drain system and on to the nearest waterway, carrying sediment, nutrients and other pollutants with it on the way to the lake (Lake Champlain Basin Program, "Reduce Runoff"). Wash water takes the same path. The EPA describes stormwater runoff the same way, as water that collects oils, chemicals and dirt from hard surfaces and carries them into lakes and streams (EPA NPDES Stormwater Program).

A careful contractor will think about this before starting: which way the yard drains, where the nearest drain is, how much cleaning solution is really needed, and how to keep wash water from running straight into a storm drain. For our bin cleaning, all of the wastewater goes into a tank on the truck. For washing a house or driveway, ask any company, including us, how they'll handle runoff on your property.

Questions to ask a power washer before you hire

1. Are you insured? Ask for proof of liability insurance. A wand in the wrong spot can break a window or force water into a wall.
2. How will you handle the wash water? You want a specific answer about your property, not "it's just water."
3. Which surfaces will you pressure wash, and which will you soft wash? Concrete and stone can take pressure. Vinyl siding, painted wood, and shingle roofs should not get high pressure.
4. What pressure will you use on my siding? If you have the siding manufacturer's care instructions, compare. Some manufacturers limit or advise against pressure washing.
5. What cleaning solution do you use, and how do you protect plants?
6. What's included? Gutters' outsides, window frames, the deck stairs? Get the list in writing.
7. Can I see photos or reviews of similar jobs? Ours are on the testimonials page.

Which method for which surface

When to schedule power washing in Burlington

Burlington's season is about the same as the rest of Vermont's. Late spring, once nights stay above freezing, is the most useful time: winter grime comes off the driveway and walks, and the growth that started in the thaw comes off the siding before summer humidity speeds it up. Summer works well for decks and patios you're about to use. Early fall is a good second chance before leaves and snow cover everything.

Late fall and winter are mostly off the table. Water that sits in cracks or behind trim and freezes overnight does damage, so a careful crew watches the forecast and waits for a better week rather than forcing a job into a cold snap.

Red flags when hiring a power washer

Most people doing this work are honest. A few signs suggest you should keep looking:

• A price given over the phone for "the whole house" without seeing it or any photos.
• Plans to pressure wash the roof.
• No answer, or a shrug, when you ask where the wash water goes.
• No proof of insurance, or "I'll get it to you later."
• Pressure to decide today because of a "special" that ends tonight.

Getting your property ready for power washing day

A little prep makes the job faster and safer:

1. Close every window and door, including basement windows and the garage.
2. Move cars off the driveway and away from the house.
3. Clear the deck and patio. Furniture, grills, planters and doormats.
4. Bring pets inside and tell the crew if any animals are on the property.
5. Point out problem spots: loose siding, a cracked window, an outdoor outlet, a plant you care about.
6. Let neighbors know if you share a driveway or a fence line.

What drives the cost of a Burlington power washing job

We quote every job individually, for free. The main factors are the size of the area, the surface type, how heavy the staining or growth is, how easy the area is to reach (a third-floor wall is not a front walk), and whether you're combining several surfaces in one visit. Photos sent through the contact page help us give you a realistic number faster.

Burlington and the towns around it

Our Burlington page covers what we do in the city. We also work in Middlebury and back down Route 7 toward Rutland, and you can see all of our power washing services in one place.

Get a quote

Send a few photos and your address through the contact page, or call (802) 558-3533, Monday through Saturday, 7am to 5pm. We'll tell you what method each surface needs and what it will cost before any water gets sprayed.