There's no universal answer, but there is a useful default for North Georgia: once every 12 to 18 months for a full house soft wash, and every 18 to 24 months for concrete.
What sets the cadence
Three factors drive it more than anything else:
- Tree cover. Shade = moisture = algae. Heavily wooded lots in Cohutta or Varnell usually need 12-month cycles; a sun-exposed ranch in town can go 24 months.
- Which way your house faces. The north and east elevations mildew first. If that's all you see, you can spot-wash those sides annually and do the full house every other year.
- Humidity and rainfall. North Georgia averages 54 inches of rain a year — that's high enough that algae establishes within 8 months on any unwashed siding.
Signs you're overdue
- Green tint visible at 20 feet
- Spiderweb-like black veining in shady corners (mold, not dirt)
- Gutter staining starting to streak down the siding
Signs you don't need it yet
- Surface looks the same color it looked six months ago
- Can't see staining from the sidewalk
- Last wash was within 12 months and the siding was spotless at the time
The maintenance option
For customers who want to stop thinking about it, we run annual or semi-annual contracts at a discounted rate. Book once, and we just show up each spring (and fall, if you want). About a quarter of our residential book runs this way.
Want to set a cadence for your place? Request a quote — we'll tell you honestly whether it needs a wash now or can wait.