Preparation service
High-Pressure Washing & Surface Preparation Melbourne
Pre-paint surface preparation using high-pressure washing to remove dirt, flaking paint, mould and chalking — the step that determines how long a paint job actually lasts.
Paint sticks to the surface it touches
Exterior surfaces in Melbourne collect a film of dust, pollution, salt near the bay, mould in shaded areas and chalk from a degraded previous coating. Paint applied over that film bonds to the film, not the substrate, and it releases in sheets in its second or third winter.
Washing is the least glamorous and most decisive step in an exterior repaint. It is also the one most commonly skipped or rushed by cheap quotes, because it costs a day and leaves nothing visible to point at.
What washing removes
- Airborne dirt, dust and traffic pollution film
- Mould, mildew and algae on shaded and south-facing walls
- Chalking from UV-degraded existing paint
- Loose, flaking and blistered coatings
- Salt deposits on bayside and Peninsula properties
- Cobwebs, nests and organic build-up in eaves and gutters
- Moss and lichen on roofs, paths and rendered surfaces
Pressure matched to the substrate
High pressure is a tool, not a setting. Full pressure on soft weatherboard, aged render or a fragile roof tile does real damage — furring timber, opening render and driving water where it should not go. We match pressure and nozzle to the substrate and step it up only where the surface can take it.
Where a surface is too delicate for mechanical pressure, we soft wash instead: a low-pressure application of a cleaning and mould-killing solution, dwell time, then a gentle rinse. It removes more biological growth than blasting does, without the damage.
Drying, scraping and priming after the wash
Washing is the start of preparation, not the whole of it. Surfaces need to dry properly before coating — timber especially, where trapped moisture under a new film causes blistering within months. We allow the drying time the substrate and weather require rather than the time the schedule would prefer.
Once dry, remaining loose coating is scraped and sanded, bare areas are spot-primed, gaps and joints are re-caulked, and any timber or render repairs are completed before the first topcoat goes on.
Our process, start to finish
- 01
On-site inspection
We walk the job with you, measure up, check surface condition and note anything that needs repair before a brush is lifted.
- 02
Written scope and quote
You receive an itemised quote listing surfaces, coats, products and inclusions — so you know exactly what you are paying for.
- 03
Protection and preparation
Floors, fixtures and landscaping are covered. Preparation is the stage that decides how long the finish lasts, so it is never rushed.
- 04
Application
Primers and topcoats applied to manufacturer specification, in the right conditions, with the correct number of coats.
- 05
Quality inspection
We inspect cut-ins, edges and coverage in natural light and correct anything that falls short before we call it finished.
- 06
Final walkthrough
We walk the completed job with you, hand over touch-up paint and colour records, and only invoice once you are happy.
High-Pressure Washing & Prep — indicative pricing
These are indicative price ranges only. Every project is individually quoted after an on-site inspection — scope, condition and access change the number significantly.
| Project | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| House wash, single storey | $350 – $800+ |
| House wash, double storey | $600 – $1,400+ |
| Roof clean and moss treatment | $500 – $1,500+ |
| Driveway and paths | $250 – $700+ |
| Included with exterior repaintWashing is standard in every exterior quote | In scope |
Frequently asked questions
Is pressure washing included in an exterior painting quote?
Yes. Every exterior repaint we quote includes the wash as a standard inclusion, itemised in the scope. We also take standalone washing jobs for owners who just want the property cleaned.
Will high pressure damage my weatherboards or render?
Not the way we do it. Pressure and nozzle are matched to the substrate, and on soft timber, aged render or fragile roofing we soft wash with a cleaning solution and low pressure instead, which removes more mould without furring the surface.
How long after washing before you can paint?
Usually 24 to 48 hours depending on the substrate, the season and the exposure. Timber takes longest. We check the surface is genuinely dry before coating rather than working to a fixed number, because trapped moisture is a leading cause of early blistering.
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