Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing – Which is Best for Your Roof and Driveway?
Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing – Which Should You Choose?
When it comes to cleaning roofs, driveways, patios and walls, most people think of pressure washing. It’s fast, powerful, and widely available. But is it always the best option? Increasingly, homeowners and businesses in Surrey and Hampshire are choosing soft washing as a safer and longer-lasting alternative.
In this guide, we’ll compare soft washing and pressure washing, looking at their pros and cons for different surfaces.
What is Pressure Washing?
Pressure washing (or jet washing) uses high-pressure water jets to blast away dirt, moss and algae. It’s very effective for hard, durable surfaces like concrete driveways, but it has downsides:
Can damage delicate surfaces like roof tiles and render
Only removes surface moss/algae, not spores
Regrowth often appears within months
Risk of loosening pointing, grout or jointing on block paving
What is Soft Washing?
Soft washing uses low pressure water combined with specialist cleaning solutions (often followed by biocide treatment) to kill moss, algae and bacteria at the root.
Benefits of soft washing:
Safe for roofs, patios, driveways and walls
Kills spores, preventing fast regrowth
Gentle on surfaces – no risk of erosion
Eco-friendly options available
Results last much longer than pressure washing alone
Roof Cleaning – Soft Wash vs Pressure Wash
Pressure washing a roof: Risky. High pressure can damage tiles, strip protective coatings and force water into roof spaces. Most professionals avoid this method for roofs.
Soft washing a roof: Recommended. Moss is scraped, then biocide and soft wash solutions kill remaining spores, keeping roofs clean for years.
Verdict: Soft washing is safer and more effective for roof cleaning.
Driveway Cleaning – Soft Wash vs Pressure Wash
Pressure washing a driveway: Very effective on concrete and block paving. Can remove oil stains, moss and weeds quickly, but may loosen sand between blocks and encourage faster weed regrowth.
Soft washing a driveway: Gentler, ideal for resin, tarmac and older block paving. With biocide, results last longer.
Verdict: A combination of pressure washing (where safe) and biocide soft washing often works best.
Patio Cleaning – Soft Wash vs Pressure Wash
Pressure Washing a Patio: Removes dirt and grime fast but can erode mortar and make surfaces more porous.
Soft Washing a Patio: Gentle and long-lasting. Ideal for natural stone and older paving.
Verdict: Soft washing is safer for patios, particularly natural stone.
Which Should You Choose?
Roofs: Always soft wash.
Patios: Soft wash for natural stone, low-pressure jet wash + biocide for slabs/paving.
Driveways: Both methods can be used, but biocide aftercare is essential.
Commercial Surfaces: Soft washing ensures safety and longer-lasting results.
For homeowners in Surrey and Hampshire, soft washing is the safer, smarter choice for roof, patio and driveway cleaning. Pressure washing still has its place on certain surfaces, but without biocide, regrowth is inevitable.
Interested in soft washing for your property? Contact us for a free quote today by clicking the button below.
