A house wash goes over everything that wraps the building: siding, soffits, fascia, trim, entry doors and garage doors. Around Crystal Lake, IL the targets are mostly green algae, mildew and pollen film, fed by lake moisture and tree shade. Rob runs Rob's Exterior Services from Woodstock with no subcontractors and prices each house once a photo reaches (815) 451-0106.
Look closely at the north side of a Crystal Lake house in May. That faint green haze on the lower courses of siding is algae. The gray freckles near the eaves are probably mildew. The fine web in every corner of the soffit is spiders, and the yellow powder on the sills is pollen. None of it is dangerous on its own, but all of it holds moisture against the house and lets the next layer of growth in.
House washing removes the lot in one pass, from the top of the wall to the foundation line. This page looks at what each growth is, why Crystal Lake houses seem to collect it faster than inland ones, and what Rob does to clean without forcing water where it should not go.
Reading the stains: algae, mildew, pollen, rust and dirt
Algae shows as green, sometimes brownish film, thickest on shaded and wet walls. Mildew appears as gray or black speckles, often under eaves and around porches. Pollen is yellow and wipes off, but it feeds the other two when it gets wet. Rust streaks come from fasteners, gutters or air conditioner drip lines and run down the wall in thin orange lines.
Each responds to a slightly different approach, which is why Rob asks for photos in both daylight and shade. Dirt from splashing rain along the base is usually the easiest to remove. The long-form explainer Mold and Algae on Siding: What It Is, Whether It Matters, and How to Clean It walks through how to tell them apart.
Why a lake town grows more of it
Water vapor near the lake keeps the air humid, and humid air plus shade is how algae earns its living. Houses on the water, on the West End or North Shore, or on lots with tall trees nearby may never fully dry on the north and east walls. Tight lot spacing in some neighborhoods blocks sun and airflow too.
That is also why one wash may not last equally on every wall. The sunny south side may stay clean for a couple of seasons while the north returns sooner. Rob will point this out so your expectations match your house.
Siding by siding: how each material is treated
Vinyl dominates the later-built subdivisions in Crystal Lake. It takes a gentle wash very well, but water driven upward behind the laps can soak insulation and wall cavities. Fiber-cement and composite siding clean easily but can chalk if scrubbed. Painted wood, which you may find on older homes, can lose paint if rinsed too hard. Brick and stone need softer handling than you would guess because of aging mortar.
Rob keeps spray angled downward, uses low-pressure application and controls the rinse. Windows, vents, light fixtures and outlets are treated as places where water must not be pushed. He tells you in advance if a particular wall, such as one with peeling paint, may look worse before it is repainted.
What you should do before the day
Close windows, bring in anything light from the porch, move cars from the driveway and cover or point out delicate plants. If you have exterior outlets with pool or patio equipment attached, unplug them. Pets should be indoors while the work is happening.
A tidy approach to the foundation helps too. Trim shrubs touching the wall so Rob can reach the siding behind them. The checklist at How Do You Prepare Your Home for an Exterior Cleaning Visit? goes further.
- Windows and doors closed
- Cars and light furniture moved
- Pets inside
- Delicate plants pointed out
- Shrubs pulled back where possible
After the wash: what pairs well and what to wait on
Gutters should be done first or at the same time, otherwise overflow streaks the clean wall. Windows are best done after the house wash. If the roof has black streaks, roof washing belongs before the siding, since its runoff rides down the walls. A driveway or patio can follow, handled with pressure washing where it suits.
Do not paint or stain right after washing. Give surfaces time to dry fully, which may take longer in damp, shaded spots. Rob can recommend a waiting period based on the material and weather.
House Washing through the year in Crystal Lake
Early spring
Look for growth that survived winter. Plan to wash once nights stay above freezing and before pollen season starts.
Late spring
Once pollen and fluff stop coating damp walls, a wash makes the result last well through summer.
Summer
Lake humidity pushes algae hard. A midsummer wash is possible if growth gets ahead of you, usually done in the cooler morning.
Fall
A strong time before winter. Cleaner surfaces dry faster and resist mold spots through the cold, wet months.
Getting a quote
x Rob most of what he needs. Text (815) 451-0106 with the front, the shaded side and any trouble spots. He replies with his read on what is growing, what it will take and whether anything else on the exterior deserves a look, and when you pick a day, he is the one on site, with no handoff and no stranger at the door.