Soft Washing in Wellesley

The grain mill in Wellesley village was built in 1856 and still stands, and the downtown has other historic buildings besides. A large brick church was finished at St. Clements two years later. Buildings from that era have weathered for well over a century, and an older house may be a mix of brick, painted wood and, later, vinyl. Soft washing leaves the force out: a cleaning mix does the loosening, and a light rinse takes the growth away. A pressure wand would eat into soft mortar and lift old paint.

Farm and village properties collect their own kind of dirt. Fine field dust settles on siding, and dew turns it into a film that dries hard. Green algae builds on shaded walls, and dark mould gathers under the eaves and around downspouts. Old paint is often thin and chalky, so we test a hidden spot first and lower the strength if any paint moves.

Soft washing starts from $350. A dry day above freezing, any time from spring to fall, is what it needs. On a country property we also ask about outbuildings, since a shed, garage or barn is quoted as its own list of walls. The free written quote names each building, each material and the mix we plan to use.

What we plan for in Wellesley

• Paint test: we test old, chalky paint on a hidden spot first, and lower the strength if any paint lifts.
• Outbuildings: we list every shed, garage and barn to be washed, and note the siding on each so it gets the right mix.
• Dust film: we look for the hard grey film that field dust leaves on siding, and pre-soak it before rinsing.
• Eaves and downspouts: we check under the eaves and beside downspouts, where dark mould gathers first.
• Mortar and joints: we look at brick joints and window sills before we start, and tell you about anything crumbling.

Questions from Wellesley homeowners

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