Guide · soft wash or power wash
Soft Wash or Power Wash?
Soft washing uses a cleaning solution at low pressure and lets it kill the growth; power washing uses a high-pressure jet. Drives and concrete get power washed; render, pebbledash, painted walls and soft stone get soft washed.
Which method suits which surface, and why it matters for your walls and paving.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- Low pressuresoft wash: render, stone, painted walls
- High pressurepower wash: concrete, block paving
- €400–€800a two-storey house, soft washed
- €120–€180a two-car drive, power washed
The short answer
Which method for which surface
Is soft washing better than power washing?
Soft washing uses a cleaning solution at low pressure and lets it kill the growth; power washing uses a high-pressure jet. Drives and concrete get power washed; render, pebbledash, painted walls and soft stone get soft washed.
| Surface | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Block paving, concrete | Power wash, rotary cleaner | Takes the pressure; re-sanded after |
| Tarmac | Power wash, gentler setting | Too much pressure loosens chippings |
| Render, pebbledash | Soft wash | A jet cracks render and knocks out stones |
| Sandstone, limestone | Soft wash or low pressure | A strong jet etches soft stone |
| Roof tiles and slate | Soft wash, moss off by hand | A jet drives water under the tiles |
Before and after
Soft washed walls
Jobs shared by the Irish companies that did them. Each says where it was.
Before
After
Before
AfterPrice guide
What power washing costs in Limerick
Typical prices for typical jobs, by size and surface.
| Job | Typical price | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| House walls, soft washed | from €200 a wall, €400–€800 a two-storey house | Height, access and how green the render is |
| Medium driveway, two cars (30–50 m²) | €120–€180 | Block paving needs sand back in the joints after |
| Patio, about 30 m² | €90–€180 | €3–€6 per m². Sandstone and limestone are cleaned gently |
A guide for typical Limerick jobs. Your price is fixed by the company once they've seen the job or your photos. Ask for it in writing, with VAT and re-sanding shown.
What's included
- Weeds and moss cleared out of the joints and edges
- A treatment on green algae and oil marks first
- A rotary surface cleaner over the whole area, so no stripes
- Slurry rinsed away from doors and drains
- On block paving: fresh kiln-dried sand in the joints (ask, it's sometimes extra)
What pushes it up or down
- Up: thick moss, old oil, steps and edges by hand, re-sanding, sealing, no outside tap
- Down: the drive and patio on the same visit, a smaller area, easy access from the road
- Hourly work is about €40–€60 an hour
- VAT on cleaning at a house is the reduced rate, 13.5%
Free quote
Get a power washing price in 4 quick taps
Tell us about the job. It goes to one vetted local power washing company that covers Limerick, and they ring you with a price, usually within one working day.
Questions
Questions we get asked
Is soft washing better than power washing?
Soft washing uses a cleaning solution at low pressure and lets it kill the growth; power washing uses a high-pressure jet. Drives and concrete get power washed; render, pebbledash, painted walls and soft stone get soft washed.
Why does a soft wash last longer?
It kills the algae and lichen at the root instead of stripping the surface, so it takes longer to grow back.
Can render be pressure washed?
Walls are soft washed: a cleaning solution at low pressure, left to kill the algae and lichen, then rinsed. A high-pressure jet can crack render, blow out patches and drive water into the wall.
Do you do both?
Yes. One vetted local power washing company that covers Limerick does drives, patios and walls, and uses the right method on each.
Get a free power washing price
One local company rings you, usually within one working day. Nothing is booked until you say yes.