Softwash and Facade Washing for Commercial Buildings in Greater Victoria
Softwashing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution to lift grime, moss, and organic staining. Pressure washing uses high-pressure water and mechanical force. For most stucco, vinyl, and painted cladding, softwash is the safer choice, and high pressure can drive water behind cladding or strip a coating and put a warranty at risk. On a suitable high-rise facade we deliver the low-pressure clean by water-fed drone. Hard ground-level surfaces like parkades and concrete are washed from the ground.
How the work is done
For facades, we apply a low-pressure clean that suits stucco, vinyl, painted surfaces, and glass, delivered by water-fed drone where the facade allows it so no one works suspended over the building. High-pressure washing is reserved for hard surfaces such as concrete walkways and parkades, which are done from the ground, because mechanical force there will not cause damage. We match the method to your surface, not the other way around.
The safety rules that govern it
Exterior washing done from height would normally fall under WorkSafeBC fall-protection rules. Delivering the facade clean by drone keeps our operators on the ground, and the flight runs under Transport Canada RPAS rules.
WorkSafeBC + Transport Canada: read the source ↗What moves the price
Surface area and cladding type
Total square footage and whether the surface is soft (stucco, vinyl) or hard (concrete, masonry).
Method and access
A flyable facade cleaned by drone, versus ground-level hard surfaces cleaned by high-pressure equipment.
Degree of soiling
Heavy moss, algae, or salt-air staining takes more solution and dwell time.
Wastewater controls
Commercial washing often needs runoff containment to meet local bylaws.
We do not publish a flat rate. A fair number is scoped to your building, not guessed from a template.
Questions to ask before you hire
These arm you against a bad contractor. A company that answers them clearly, in writing, is easier to defend to your board.
- 01Will you softwash or pressure wash our cladding, and why is that safe for our surface?
- 02Which parts of the job are drone-delivered and which are done from the ground?
- 03Could your method affect our cladding or building-envelope warranty?
- 04How do you contain and dispose of wastewater on a commercial site?
Common questions
What is the difference between softwashing and pressure washing, and which one is safer for my building?
Softwashing cleans with low pressure and a solution; pressure washing cleans with high-pressure water. For stucco, vinyl, and painted cladding, softwash is safer, because high pressure can drive water behind the cladding or strip the finish. We deliver the low-pressure facade clean by drone where the surface suits it, and keep high pressure to hard surfaces like concrete and parkades.
Can pressure washing void my cladding warranty?
It can. Many stucco, vinyl, and coating manufacturers specify a maximum cleaning pressure, and washing above it can void the warranty. We confirm the method matches your cladding manufacturer’s cleaning guidance before we start, which is one reason we default to a low-pressure clean on soft facades.
Get a quote for softwash & facade washing
Send your building details and we will scope a drone-cleaning quote for it here in Greater Victoria.
Call (250) 555-0142