Frequently asked questions.

Soft washing is a gentle cleaning method that uses low water pressure — around 150 to 180 PSI, similar to a garden hose — combined with biodegradable cleaning solutions to remove dirt, mould, algae and grime from a home's exterior. Unlike pressure washing, it kills organic growth at the root rather than blasting it away, so results last four to six times longer and delicate surfaces like render, painted timber and roof tiles are not damaged.

Professional house washing in Sydney typically costs between $300 and $600 for a standard residential property. A two-bedroom home is usually $250 to $400 and a three-bedroom home $300 to $600. The final price depends on square metreage, the level of organic growth, access, and whether you add services like driveway or window cleaning. Every quote is free and given in writing before work starts.

Big Deal Exterior Cleaning services Greater Sydney, including the North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, the Hills District, the Sutherland Shire, the Northern District around Ryde and Epping, and Western Sydney through Parramatta and Penrith. Enter your suburb in the quote form and we will confirm availability for your address.

No. We can complete the work while you are away — we simply ask that you close your windows and doors on the service day and provide access to an outdoor water tap. You will receive a message when our technician is on the way, and before-and-after photos when the job is complete.

Yes. All our cleaning solutions are biodegradable and designed to be safe around family, pets and gardens. We pre-wet plants before treatment and flush them thoroughly afterwards. The low-pressure application means chemicals are applied in controlled amounts and rinsed away, leaving no harmful residue once surfaces are dry.

We specialise in soft washing rather than defaulting to high pressure on every surface. That means we clean more thoroughly while protecting your property from the paint stripping, render damage and cracked roof tiles that high-pressure cleaning commonly causes. We are fully insured, quote in writing with no call-out fee, and guarantee satisfaction on every job.

A typical house wash takes two to four hours, gutter cleaning one to three hours, a driveway two to five hours, and roof cleaning three to six hours. Larger or heavily soiled properties take longer. We quote realistic timeframes upfront rather than rushing a job to fit a schedule.

Most Sydney homes benefit from a professional house wash every 12 to 18 months. Homes in shaded streets, close to the coast, or surrounded by trees accumulate mould and algae faster and are better served every 6 to 12 months. We will recommend a realistic schedule for your specific property and aspect.

Quotes are completely free and there is no obligation. Requesting a quote through the form or over the phone does not book a service — we confirm scope, access and timing with you first, then provide a fixed written price. You decide from there.

Yes. Big Deal Exterior Cleaning is fully licensed and carries public liability insurance covering every residential and commercial job, including work at height on roofs and solar arrays. Certificates of currency are available on request, which strata managers and commercial clients commonly need.

Yes. We work with strata managers, body corporates, offices, retail sites and civil operators across Sydney, covering building washdowns, commercial window cleaning, car park and hardstand pressure cleaning, and scheduled heavy machinery washing. Recurring maintenance schedules are priced below ad hoc rates.

We accept bank transfer and card payment, with invoices issued on completion for residential work. Commercial and strata clients can be set up on standard account terms. Payment is never required to receive a quote.

High-pressure washing can damage a roof. On concrete tiles it strips the protective surface granules, which accelerates deterioration. On any tiled roof it can crack tiles and force water under the laps, leading to leaks. A low-pressure soft wash achieves the same visual result without those risks, which is why it is our default method.

The black streaks are a blue-green algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It travels by air, settles on the roof and feeds on the limestone filler used in concrete tiles. It is most visible on north and west-facing slopes and in humid, shaded Sydney suburbs. It is a living organism, so it must be killed rather than simply washed off.

Most Sydney roofs benefit from a clean every 18 to 24 months. Homes surrounded by gum trees, in shaded valleys or close to the coast can need attention every 12 months because moisture lingers longer and organic growth returns faster.

We always clear the gutters first so runoff from the roof has somewhere to go, and we include a full gutter clean with roof cleaning at a reduced combined rate. Cleaning a roof over blocked gutters simply pushes debris into the downpipes.

No. We mask and protect solar panels before treating the roof, and we can clean the panels themselves at the same time. Telling us about panels when you request a quote lets us allow the right time and protection for them.

Yes. We clean both sides as standard, along with frames, sills, tracks and flyscreens. If you only need exterior glass — common for tenanted and commercial properties — we price that separately and it costs less.

Every three to six months suits most Sydney homes. Within a few streets of the water, every two to three months is better because airborne salt bonds to glass quickly and can etch it permanently if it is left to build up.

Yes. We use water-fed pole systems that reach upper-level glass safely from the ground, which avoids resting ladders on garden beds and soft soil. For genuinely high or difficult access we assess the site and quote the right equipment for it.

Yes, and it is included in a standard residential window clean. Screens are removed, washed, dried and refitted. Cleaning glass behind a dirty screen simply puts dust straight back onto the pane.

Yes. Dirty panels typically lose 15 to 25 percent of their output, and in dusty or coastal locations losses can be higher. Rain does not clean panels properly — it leaves a mineral film as it dries, and it cannot shift bird droppings or lichen growing along the frame edge.

Most Sydney systems recover between 10 and 25 percent of generation after a clean, depending on how long it has been and how much salt, dust and bird mess has accumulated. Systems with significant bird dropping coverage often recover more, because a single dropping can shut down a whole cell string.

Not when it is done correctly. Warranties are typically voided by pressure washing, abrasive pads or harsh detergents. We use deionised water and soft brushes only, which is the method solar manufacturers specify. We are also fully insured for work at height on your roof.

Once every six to twelve months suits most Sydney systems. Clean every six months if you are near the coast, under trees, close to construction, or if you can see visible soiling or bird activity around the array.