House Washing in Melbourne, Cocoa and Rockledge: What Is Growing on Your Siding and How to Get It Off

The Four Things We Usually Find on Brevard Homes

• Green algae. This is the most common one. It shows up as a green or slightly slimy coating on the shaded sides of the house, under eaves and around downspouts. It loves moisture, so north-facing walls and homes under mature oaks collect it fastest. Cocoa and Rockledge streets with heavy tree cover see a lot of it.
• Black mold and mildew. Dark streaks and speckling, often along the bottom of the wall, around windows and on stucco texture where moisture lingers. It looks like dirt, but it is living growth, and wiping it with a brush rarely gets it out of the texture.
• Orange rust stains. Irrigation water in many parts of Palm Bay and Melbourne carries minerals that leave orange streaks on siding, driveways and walkways. A regular wash will not always lift these, so they are treated as their own step.
• Nests and webs. Spider webs, mud dauber nests and wasp nests collect under eaves, soffits and around the front entry. They are part of every house wash we do.

Why a Garden Hose Does Not Fix It

A hose rinses the loose dust. It does not break down the algae or mold that has attached itself to the surface, so the stain returns within weeks. Cranking up the pressure is not the answer either. Too much force can drive water behind siding, strip paint and scar softer materials. That is why most stucco, vinyl and painted surfaces are cleaned with a soft wash: a cleaning solution applied at low pressure that works on the growth itself, followed by a rinse. If you want the full comparison, read our guide to soft washing vs. pressure washing.

What a Proper House Wash Looks Like

1. Walk the property. We look at the siding type, the height of the home, the condition of the surfaces and the landscaping around it.
2. Protect what should be protected. On every applicable job, we pre-wet landscaping, control overspray, and rinse afterward. Cameras, lights and outlets are covered before work starts.
3. Apply the cleaning solution. The solution goes on at low pressure and is given time to work on algae, mold and mildew.
4. Treat special problems. Rust stains, heavy buildup and nests get their own attention.
5. Rinse and check. The house is rinsed from the top down, and we look it over for spots that need a second pass.

You can see what this looks like on a real job in our Viera lakefront home soft wash project.

How Often Should You Wash Your House Here?

House washing is generally recommended approximately every 12 months. Homes close to the water, under heavy shade or beside a lake can build up growth faster, so they may need attention sooner. If you are not sure where your house falls, send us a photo and we will tell you what we see.

House Washing by Area

• Melbourne. Humid, storm-heavy and full of older shaded lots as well as newer stucco homes. Algae and mildew are the usual complaints. See our Melbourne pressure washing page.
• Palm Bay. Rust from irrigation water is a common reason people call. See our Palm Bay page.
• Cocoa. Heavy tree cover keeps walls damp, which means green growth. See our Cocoa page.
• Rockledge. Our home base. Riverfront and wooded neighborhoods see the same algae and mildew pattern. See our Rockledge page.
• Titusville. River air and summer storms leave a steady film on siding. See our Titusville page.

What Affects the Quote

The size of the home, the number of stories, the siding type, how heavy the buildup is and how easy it is to reach all play a part. We give a written, property-specific quote after we review those details, and our cost guide explains what moves the number.

Ready for a Clean House?

Our house washing service covers stucco, vinyl, brick, Hardie, wood, eaves, soffits, fascia and gutters. We respond within 24 hours. Same-week scheduling is typically available in priority service areas.