Exterior cleaning questions, answered honestly.

Two ways, whichever suits you. Send your postcode and a few photographs of the surface by phone, email or the contact form and we'll come back with a fixed written price — we aim to reply within 24 hours. Or book a short in-person visit if the job is complex, if there is damage to assess, or if you would simply rather someone looked at it properly first.

Estimates are free either way, and there is no obligation attached to either option.

It depends on the surface, the area, the condition and the access — which is why we don't publish a price list that would be wrong for most properties. Every job is quoted individually in writing before any work begins, and the figure you agree is the figure you pay.

Quotes are valid for 30 days from the date we issue them.

No. You pay on completion, once you have seen the finished work and are happy with it.

By bank transfer. Details are on the invoice, which is issued on completion. We don't take card payments.

Let us know as early as you can and we'll re-book. A £50 cancellation fee applies to late cancellations — the full terms are set out on our terms and conditions page.

Most jobs are scheduled within the same week. Smaller work such as gutters, fascias or a single path is often available sooner, and Havant, Emsworth and Hayling Island are frequently next-day. Weather affects the diary, and we would rather move a booking than clean badly in the wrong conditions.

Soft washing cleans with chemistry rather than force. A biocide and detergent solution is applied at low pressure, given time to break down algae, moss and lichen at the root, then rinsed gently away.

It matters because roofs, render, uPVC, painted surfaces and historic brick are all damaged by high-pressure water. Soft washing removes the growth without removing the surface with it — and because the biological growth is killed rather than blasted off, it stays clear noticeably longer.

Not when it's done properly. We use enclosed rotary surface cleaners that spread pressure evenly across the slab, which is what avoids the tiger-striping and etching left by a hand-held lance held too close.

Pressure is calibrated to the substrate, joints are re-sanded where needed, and delicate surfaces such as soft sandstone, porcelain and imprinted concrete get a lower-pressure approach with more chemical dwell time.

No. Roofs are soft-washed. High-pressure water strips the protective granular surface off concrete tiles, forces water under the laps and shortens the life of the roof considerably. Tiles are treated with a biocide and cleaned at low pressure only.

Yes — render is a soft-wash job. Silicone, monocouche and traditional renders are cleaned at low pressure with chemistry matched to the finish. High pressure on render breaks the surface open and drives water into the substrate behind it.

These are cleaned by soft wash only, and sometimes we will advise against cleaning at all if the fabric is fragile. Pressure blows lime mortar out of joints and spalls the face of soft historic brick permanently — a common sight on older properties in Emsworth, Petersfield and central Chichester.

We mask and protect planting, cover drains and air bricks, and rinse surrounding areas down as we go. Keep pets indoors while we're working and off the treated surface until it has dried, and there is no issue.

Usually an outside tap is helpful, and we'll always ask before connecting to anything. We carry our own equipment and can work from our own water supply where necessary — mention it when you request a quote.

Not necessarily, as long as we have access to the areas being cleaned and any water supply we've agreed. We'll photograph the work throughout and send the before-and-after images either way.

Soft-wash roof cleans carry a 12-month guarantee. For other surfaces, longevity depends heavily on aspect, tree cover and exposure, so we give you a realistic view of how long the result should hold rather than a blanket promise.

Expect up to a year from a sealer before it needs looking at again, depending on traffic, exposure and the surface itself. Anyone quoting five years on a driveway sealer is quoting the tin, not the British weather.

Biological growth — algae, moss, lichen, black spot — clears almost always. Oil, rust, paint, tannin and some chemical stains may lighten rather than disappear entirely, and years of ingrained staining in porous stone can be permanent. Send a photograph and we'll tell you honestly what to expect before you book.

Re-sanding is an optional add-on rather than an automatic inclusion, and it's priced clearly in the quote. On block paving it is usually worth doing, because joint sand is what stops blocks moving under vehicle weight.

As a general guide: driveways and patios every one to three years, roofs and render every three to five, gutters annually, and conservatory roofs annually. Shaded, north-facing and heavily tree-covered properties need attention more often, as do coastal properties on Hayling Island and the Solent shore.

Yes — before-and-after photographs of your own property, not stock images. For roofs, gutters and conservatory roofs this is the only way most customers can actually see what was done.

Edward Tomlin, the founder, and the small team he works with. EasyClean Exteriors is family-run — you deal with the same people from quote to completion, and the person who priced the job is the person doing it.

Edward brings four years of hands-on exterior cleaning experience across every surface we offer, from soft-wash roof work to block paving restoration and re-grouting.

Yes — public liability insurance up to £5 million. Documentation can be sent to you, a letting agent, a managing agent or your insurer before any work starts.

Hampshire and West Sussex. Regular coverage includes Havant, Hayling Island, Emsworth, Portsmouth, Waterlooville, Fareham, Gosport, Petersfield, Southampton, Chichester and Bognor Regis. If you're nearby but not listed, send your postcode and we'll confirm.

Yes. Business premises, managing agents, letting agents and private landlords are all welcome — car parks, forecourts, frontages, communal areas and end-of-tenancy exterior cleans.

On our reviews page, which links through to our Trustpilot profile and social pages so you can read them at source rather than taking our word for it.