Just got a call from an investor wanting his aluminium siding washed on a home he just bought. I checked it out and there was no algae etc, just oxidation. Since I have never washed a aluminium sided home I'm looking for some direction on what to do. I can go either soft wash or cold power wash.
I tell clients that if oxidation has occurred, I won't brush it till they are ready to paint it, old paint drops off in clots and will leave it blotchy. Do it over composite decking and watch the composite soak up the paint, rinse quick. Oxidation fix is paint. Soft-wash won't hurt it if you don't brush. Hard to reverse neglect.
Oxidation is a breakdown of the protective finish, if you can wipe it off with your hand, all you are doing is removing the paint. Set low expectation. Soft-wash or x-jet is the way to hit it.
Softwash over Xjet, in my opinion. I damaged some siding early in my business with an xjet since it's really not low pressure. The same can be said for vinyl or aluminum, if it's oxidizing, they can't expect a perfect appearance as there is a good possibility that it will be a bit "splotchy" in certain areas that may not be degrading as fast as the rest of the home. I usually let the homeowner know that the home will be clean of any dirt, mold, etc, but I can't guarantee an even look all around the home if oxidation is present.
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