Every pressure washing article on the internet will tell you the difference between soft washing and pressure washing. Low pressure plus chemicals versus high pressure and water. You have read that explanation a dozen times already.
What none of those articles cover is how to price each method differently on the same estimate. And that is where most contractors leave money on the table. Soft wash jobs cost more to perform than straight pressure washing, but too many contractors quote them at the same rate — or worse, lower — because they have never broken down the actual cost difference.
This guide is about the money. You will walk away knowing exactly what each method costs you per square foot, how to set rates that protect your margins, and how to present the price difference to customers without losing the job.
The 60-Second Technical Difference
Before we get into pricing, here is the quick version for anyone who needs it:
- Pressure washing uses high PSI (1,500 to 4,000+) and relies on mechanical force to strip dirt, grime, paint, and stains from hard surfaces. The water does the work.
- Soft washing uses low PSI (60 to 500) combined with a chemical solution — typically sodium hypochlorite (SH), surfactant, and water — to kill organic growth and break down stains. The chemicals do the work.
That distinction matters for pricing because the two methods have completely different cost profiles. Pressure washing is equipment-heavy and chemical-light. Soft washing is chemical-heavy and equipment-light (in terms of wear). If you price them the same, your margins will be wrong on one or both.
Which Surfaces Get Which Method
The surface dictates the method. Get this wrong and you either damage the property or do a poor job. Get it right and you can price accordingly.
| Surface | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle roof | Soft wash only | High pressure destroys shingles and voids warranties |
| Tile or metal roof | Soft wash only | Pressure cracks tile and dents metal; chemicals handle algae safely |
| Vinyl siding | Soft wash or low pressure | High PSI drives water behind siding; SH kills mold at the root |
| Stucco | Soft wash | Pressure gouges and pits stucco; chemical cleaning is the only safe option |
| Painted wood | Soft wash or low pressure | Full pressure strips paint; low pressure with light SH cleans without damage |
| Concrete driveway | Pressure wash | Concrete can handle 3,000+ PSI; a surface cleaner does the job fast |
| Concrete sidewalk/patio | Pressure wash | Same as driveway — hard surface, mechanical cleaning is most efficient |
| Wood deck | Low pressure or soft wash | High PSI furrows wood grain; use 500–800 PSI max with a wood-safe chemical |
| Brick | Pressure wash (lower PSI) or soft wash | Old or soft brick needs chemical; hard modern brick handles moderate pressure |
| Fence (wood) | Low pressure or soft wash | Same as decks — chemical cleaning prevents grain damage |
Notice the pattern: every surface that requires chemicals (soft wash) is a surface where your material cost is higher. That needs to show up in your pricing.
Why Soft Wash Jobs Cost You More to Perform
The reason soft washing should be priced higher than straight pressure washing comes down to three things: chemical cost, batch mix preparation, and application time.
Chemical Cost Breakdown
Your two main chemicals are sodium hypochlorite (SH) and surfactant. Here is what they actually cost:
| Chemical | Cost per Gallon | Usage per 1,000 Sq Ft | Cost per 1,000 Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| SH 12.5% (house wash, ~1.5% applied) | $2.50 – $4.00 | 1.5 – 2.5 gal | $3.75 – $10.00 |
| SH 12.5% (roof wash, ~4% applied) | $2.50 – $4.00 | 3.0 – 5.0 gal | $7.50 – $20.00 |
| Surfactant | $15.00 – $25.00 | 0.05 – 0.10 gal | $0.75 – $2.50 |
| Total — house wash mix | — | — | $4.50 – $12.50 |
| Total — roof wash mix | — | — | $8.25 – $22.50 |
Compare that to a concrete pressure wash where your chemical cost is close to zero — maybe a dollar or two of pre-treat on a heavily stained driveway. The difference is stark. On a 2,000 square-foot roof, your chemical cost alone could be $16 to $45. On a 2,000 square-foot driveway, it is basically nothing.
If you are pricing both at $0.15 per square foot, your roof job margin just got eaten alive by chemical costs. That is why you need separate rates.
Batch Mix Preparation
Soft wash jobs also require you to mix your batch before you start. Depending on your setup, that means filling your batch tank, measuring SH concentration, adding surfactant, and testing the mix on a small area before applying. This takes 10 to 20 minutes of unbillable time that a straight pressure wash job does not require — you just fire up the machine and go.
Application and Dwell Time
Soft washing requires you to apply the chemical, let it dwell for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse. Some surfaces need a second application. This means you are on-site longer than a comparable pressure wash job, even though your PSI is lower and the actual spraying goes fast. Time on-site is money.
How to Price Each Method: Rate Table
Here are competitive per-square-foot rates for 2026 that account for the cost differences between soft washing and pressure washing. These are contractor rates — what you charge the customer, not your cost.
| Surface | Method | Price per Sq Ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof (asphalt shingle) | Soft wash | $0.30 – $0.55 | Highest chemical cost; factor in steep-pitch upcharge |
| Roof (tile/metal) | Soft wash | $0.35 – $0.60 | More delicate; slower application |
| House wash (vinyl) | Soft wash | $0.20 – $0.35 | Moderate SH; add 15%+ for 2nd/3rd story |
| House wash (stucco) | Soft wash | $0.25 – $0.40 | Porous surface absorbs more chemical |
| Wood deck | Low pressure / soft wash | $0.30 – $0.50 | May need wood-brightener as a follow-up step |
| Fence (wood) | Low pressure / soft wash | $0.15 – $0.30 | Both sides doubles your surface area |
| Concrete driveway | Pressure wash | $0.10 – $0.20 | Lowest chemical cost; surface cleaner does the work |
| Concrete patio/sidewalk | Pressure wash | $0.10 – $0.20 | Same as driveway; watch for minimum job price |
| Brick (modern/hard) | Pressure wash | $0.15 – $0.25 | Moderate PSI; pre-wet to prevent SH absorption |
| Brick (old/soft) | Soft wash | $0.25 – $0.40 | Chemical-only to protect mortar joints |
Notice the pattern in the numbers. Soft wash surfaces consistently price higher per square foot than pressure wash surfaces. That is not because you are overcharging — it is because your costs are genuinely higher on those surfaces, and your pricing needs to reflect that.
For a deeper dive into per-square-foot pricing across all surface types, see our pressure washing pricing per square foot guide.
How to Explain the Price Difference to Customers
Customers do not know what soft washing is. They called you for “pressure washing” and they expect one price. When your estimate shows the roof at $0.40 per square foot and the driveway at $0.15 per square foot, they are going to ask why.
Here is how to handle it without sounding like you are making excuses:
- Lead with protection. Tell them the roof gets a different process because high pressure would damage the shingles. You are using a professional cleaning solution applied at low pressure that kills mold and algae at the root. Customers care about not damaging their property.
- Mention longevity. A soft-washed roof stays clean for 2 to 3 years. A pressure-washed driveway might need to be redone in 12 to 18 months. The higher price buys a longer-lasting result.
- Explain the material cost. You do not need to give them a chemistry lesson, but saying “the cleaning solution we use on the roof is a professional-grade product that costs significantly more than water” is honest and easy to understand.
- Show the line items. When the estimate is itemized, the customer can see exactly what each surface costs. That transparency builds trust. If you need tips on building clear estimates, check our guide to pricing pressure washing jobs.
Why You Should Always Itemize Soft Wash and Pressure Wash Separately
If a customer wants a roof wash, house wash, and driveway cleaned, your estimate should have at least three line items — not a single “whole property” number. Here is why:
- Margin clarity. You know exactly what each service contributes to the job total. If the customer drops the driveway to save money, you instantly know how it affects your margin.
- Upsell opportunities. When the customer sees the fence listed at $180, they might add it. When everything is buried in a lump sum, there is nothing to add.
- Price defense. If a competitor quotes $200 less, you can point to your line items and show the customer exactly what is included. A lump-sum quote leaves room for the customer to assume the cheaper bid covers the same scope.
- Repeat business. Next year the customer might only want the roof and house wash, not the driveway. If you quoted everything as one number last time, you are starting from scratch. If you itemized, you just resend the relevant lines with updated pricing.
Real-World Example: Multi-Surface Job
Here is what a properly itemized estimate looks like for a job that combines both methods. The customer has a 2,500 square-foot shingle roof, 2,200 square feet of vinyl siding (two-story), and an 800 square-foot concrete driveway.
| Line Item | Method | Sq Ft | Rate | Line Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roof soft wash (asphalt shingle) | Soft wash | 2,500 | $0.40/sq ft | $1,000 |
| House wash (vinyl, 2-story) | Soft wash | 2,200 | $0.28/sq ft + 15% | $708 |
| Driveway (concrete) | Pressure wash | 800 | $0.15/sq ft | $120 |
| Subtotal | $1,828 | |||
| Overhead ($50/job) | $50 | |||
| Profit margin (40%) | $1,878 / 0.60 | |||
| Final Quote | $3,130 | |||
Look at the breakdown. The roof and house wash — both soft wash services — make up $1,708 of the $1,828 subtotal. The driveway pressure wash is only $120. If you had quoted this entire property at a flat $0.20 per square foot regardless of method, your total would be $1,100 before overhead and margin. You would be leaving over $700 on the table.
That is the cost of not differentiating your pricing by method.
Adjusting for Your Market
The rates in this article are national averages. Your local market will shift them. Contractors in the Southeast tend to price roof soft wash slightly lower because the volume of work is higher (more humidity means more algae means more demand). Contractors in the Northeast and Midwest often price higher because the season is shorter and every job needs to count.
Regardless of your market, the ratio between soft wash and pressure wash pricing should hold. If your concrete rate is $0.12 per square foot, your roof soft wash should still be two to three times that, not the same number. The cost difference between the two methods does not change by geography.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does soft washing cost more than pressure washing?+
Soft washing uses chemical solutions — primarily sodium hypochlorite and surfactant — that add a direct material cost to every job. A pressure wash on concrete relies mostly on water and high PSI, so chemical expense is minimal. The SH alone can add $0.02 to $0.05 per square foot, and surfactant adds another $0.005 to $0.01. On a large roof or house wash, those cents per square foot add up to real money that needs to be reflected in the price.
Can I use the same price per square foot for soft wash and pressure wash?+
You should not. Your cost structure is different for each method. Pressure washing concrete has low chemical cost but higher equipment wear from running at full PSI. Soft washing has higher chemical cost but lower equipment wear. If you use one flat rate, you will either overprice your flatwork or underprice your soft wash work — both hurt your business.
How do I explain the price difference to a customer?+
Be straightforward. Tell them soft washing uses professional-grade cleaning solutions that kill algae, mold, and mildew at the root instead of just blasting the surface clean. Mention that the chemicals cost more but produce a longer-lasting result — typically 2 to 3 years versus the few months a pressure wash might last on siding or a roof. Most customers understand paying more for something that lasts longer.
Should I list soft wash and pressure wash as separate line items?+
Absolutely. Always itemize them separately on the estimate. When a customer sees a single lump sum, they have no idea what they are paying for. When they see the driveway priced at $0.15 per square foot and the house wash at $0.30 per square foot, they understand why the total is what it is. It also makes it easy for them to add or remove services without you having to rebuild the entire quote.
What PSI is considered soft washing versus pressure washing?+
Soft washing typically uses 60 to 500 PSI — basically just enough pressure to deliver the chemical solution to the surface. Pressure washing starts around 1,500 PSI and goes up to 4,000 PSI or more for heavy concrete work. The gray area is 500 to 1,500 PSI, sometimes called low-pressure washing, which is used for surfaces like vinyl siding or painted wood that need more rinse force than a soft wash but would be damaged by full pressure.
How much sodium hypochlorite do I need per job?+
It depends on the concentration and the surface. For a standard house wash using a 1% to 1.5% SH solution, plan on roughly 1 gallon of 12.5% SH per 500 to 800 square feet of siding. For a roof soft wash at 3% to 5% solution strength, you will use 1 gallon of 12.5% SH per 200 to 400 square feet. These are approximate — your actual usage depends on your proportioner settings, surface porosity, and how much rinsing you do.
Do I need separate equipment for soft washing?+
You need a way to apply chemical at low pressure, which means either a dedicated soft wash system with a 12-volt pump or a downstream injector on your pressure washer. Many contractors use both — the downstream injector for house washes and a dedicated soft wash rig for roofs where you need higher SH concentration. The equipment cost is not huge, but factor it into your overhead when setting prices.