Pressure washing vs painter for exterior refresh

Sometimes your siding just needs a wash, not a repaint. Compare pressure washing versus exterior painting — cost, durability, and when each makes sense.

Pressure washing ($0.15–$0.75 per sq ft, or $200–$600 for a typical house) removes dirt, mildew, algae, and oxidation in 2–4 hours with no drying time. The paint underneath stays intact — you're restoring, not replacing. Results last 1–2 years before buildup returns. Exterior painting ($1.50–$4.50 per sq ft, or $3,000–$12,000 for a typical house) takes 3–7 days and includes prep (pressure wash first, scraping, caulking, priming bare spots). New paint lasts 7–10 years on properly prepped surfaces. A painter's prep wash is included in the painting price — you don't hire both separately. The decision tree: if the existing paint is in good condition (no peeling, chalking, or fading) and the house just looks dirty or green, pressure wash. If paint is peeling, chalking, or you want to change the color, paint. Many homeowners pressure wash annually and repaint every 8–10 years.