House washing in Lane Cove
Lane Cove's older houses are mostly post-war brick, weatherboard or rendered homes on sloping blocks, and many have been extended with decks and second storeys. The bush edge near Riverview, Lane Cove West and the reserves along the river keeps the southern and shaded sides damp, so mould, algae and moss settle on render, painted timber and tiled roofs. Gutters near gums block with leaf litter and twigs through winter and spring. Apartment buildings near the village centre and along Longueville Road pick up a grey film of traffic dust that dulls render and balcony soffits. A soft wash of the walls, a roof treatment and a gutter clear are the usual package here.
A vetted tradie starts with the surface. Soft brick, old render and painted weatherboard are washed with low pressure and a cleaning solution rather than blasted, which protects mortar and paint. Roof cleaning on tiles or metal uses fall protection under the WHS Regulation, usually a harness and anchor points or edge rails, with a water-fed pole or treatment from the gutter line where that avoids walking the roof. Run-off never goes down the street gutter, because here it drains straight to the Lane Cove River; it goes onto lawn, into a capture mat or to sewer with Sydney Water's permission. If the tradie suspects fibro eaves or a fibro shed on a pre-1990 house, work stops and they advise you.
Post the job with pictures of the walls, the roof and any trouble spots, and note if the building is a house or a strata block. Vetted, independent tradies who clean exteriors in Lane Cove and the suburbs around it are matched to it, make contact and quote directly. A written quote should set out which surfaces are included and how each will be treated, where the water will go, whether gutters and downpipes are part of it, and how access to the roof will be managed. For apartments, the owners corporation needs to approve exterior washing before it is booked. The matching service is free for homeowners, and you decide who to hire.
Exterior cleaning services you can post
Frequently asked questions
Usually it should be soft washed instead. High pressure can scar acrylic render and force water into cracks. Because the facade is common property, the owners corporation books and approves the job, and the tradie quotes the building as a whole.
A tradie treats the moss with a cleaning solution and rinses at low pressure, working off anchor points or an access platform instead of walking on wet tiles. Clearing the gutters and valleys at the same time stops the debris washing back in.
Late winter and early spring suit most homes, after the heaviest leaf drop and before summer storms, but any dry spell works. Tradies avoid days with strong wind, which carries spray onto neighbours, and heavy rain, which makes roofs dangerous to work on.
Not always. The tradie needs access to taps, power and side gates, and cars should be moved off the driveway. On narrow Lane Cove streets, agree in advance where the van and any water tank will park so the hose run is practical.
