Two soft washing quotes for the same house can differ a lot, and the gap usually comes from scope, not from one crew being sharper. Follow the scope ladder from walls only to a full exterior, see where low quotes come from and learn which savings are safe and which corners should never be cut.
In This Article
Read a price as a scope first
D&D publishes a starting price of $350 for soft washing on typical Kitchener-Waterloo homes. That is a floor for a straightforward house, not a rate you can multiply. Your number moves with wall height, how much growth there is, how easily a crew can reach everything and what you ask them to include.
So a price on its own says little. Line up three quotes for the same house and the cheapest is often the one doing the least, or skipping steps you cannot see from the driveway. The highest may include extras you never asked for, and the middle one is not automatically right either. Only the written scope tells you which is which, so the question to ask of any quote is what the money covers.
The scope ladder: what each level usually buys
| Level | Usually included | Usually left out | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walls only | Siding on the walls you name | Trim details, soffits, garage door, fences, roof, windows | A small, sunny house, or a first wash to see how it responds |
| House wash | Walls plus trim, fascia, soffits, garage door and entry door | Fences, decks, roof, windows | Most typical homes, since dark trim beside clean siding looks unfinished |
| Full exterior | House wash plus fences, decks or patios as agreed, with windows and eavestrough cleaning booked alongside | Roof cleaning, which is quoted separately after assessment | Pre-sale prep, or an overdue property |
Windows and gutters are separate services with their own starting prices, from $125 each, and hard surfaces such as driveways fall under pressure washing, which starts from $350. Bundling helps mostly by sharing travel and setup time.
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Where a low quote usually comes from
Some reasons for a lower number are perfectly fair.
- The scope is smaller: fewer walls, no trim, no extras.
- The house is single storey, open and easy to reach.
- The growth is light, so no second pass is needed.
- You have done the prep, so the crew is not moving planters or cutting back shrubs.
Others are warning signs.
- No plant protection, which saves time and puts your garden at risk.
- A hurried rinse, which leaves residue that streaks and scorches leaves.
- A one-strength mix for every surface, instead of a product matched to the material.
- No liability insurance or WSIB coverage, so any damage or injury lands on you.
- Nothing in writing, or a scope so vague it cannot be checked afterwards.
A quote far below the others deserves a direct question: what is left out, and how is the job done for that price?
Ways to spend less, and corners never to cut
Safe ways to bring the number down
- Trim shrubs back from the walls, move furniture and planters, and show the crew a working outdoor tap.
- Ask for the shaded walls and trim to be quoted separately from sunny walls that stay cleaner, then decide line by line.
- Book windows and gutter cleaning on the same visit and ask whether the quote reflects shared setup.
- Skip cosmetic extras, such as a long fence, until the house itself is done.
- Catch growth early. A light green film is quicker to treat than a coated wall.
Corners never to cut
- Liability insurance and WSIB coverage.
- Plant protection and a generous rinse.
- Low pressure on siding, with a cleaner chosen for the material and used as its label directs.
- A written scope that names the walls, the trim and the exclusions.
Questions that show what is inside a quote
- Which walls, trim, soffits and doors are included, and what is not?
- What pressure is used on the siding, and which product?
- How are plants protected and rinsed, and where does the runoff go?
- What insurance do you carry, and do you have WSIB coverage? For reference, D&D's general liability cover is $2 million.
- If the growth turns out heavier than described, does the price change, and will that be agreed in writing first?
Compare the answers before comparing totals. The guide to spotting a bad exterior cleaning contractor adds more warning signs, and exterior cleaning costs in Waterloo Region shows how other services fit the same picture. When you are ready, soft washing quotes are free, and the pricing page lists every published starting price.
Key Takeaways
- D&D's published starting price for soft washing is $350, but a quote is really a scope, so ask what the money covers.
- Walls only, a full house wash with trim and soffits, and a full exterior are different jobs, and their totals should not be compared directly.
- Fair reasons for a low quote are smaller scope, easy access and light growth, while missing plant protection, insurance or a written scope are warning signs.
- Save money with prep, clear scope lines and early action, and never cut insurance, plant protection, low pressure or the written scope.
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