House washing in Hunters Hill
Exterior cleaning in Hunters Hill divides neatly by material. Sandstone cottages and villas around Alexandra Street and Ferry Street grow biofilm, lichen and a dark tide line where damp rises; painted render and weatherboard on Federation and interwar houses green over on the south side and under fig trees; slate and terracotta roofs carry moss that holds water against the fixings; and the brick and rendered homes toward Woolwich collect pollen, cobwebs and salt haze off the rivers. Gutters fill with fig and jacaranda litter several times a year. Common jobs are a soft wash of walls and eaves, gentle stone cleaning, roof moss treatment, gutter clearing and pressure cleaning of concrete paths.
A vetted tradie working on a Hunters Hill house tests before cleaning. Stone gets a soft brush, low pressure and a biocide left to do the work; lime-mortared joints are never blasted; painted surfaces are soft washed; concrete and modern brick take pressure. Slate roofs are cleaned from a ladder or under fall protection rather than walked on, since slates crack underfoot. Wash water is bunded and directed to lawn or garden so detergent and biofilm never reach the drains that empty into the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers; letting them in breaches NSW pollution law. Pre-1990 fibro is left alone and flagged for an assessor. Cleaning needs no licence; care and insurance are what the vetting checks.
Post photos of each side of the house and the roof when you book, note any heritage listing, and describe the street parking. We match the job to vetted, independent tradies who wash and clean houses around Hunters Hill, Gladesville and Lane Cove, and they contact you themselves to set up a site visit and quote in writing. Expect the quote to treat stone, paint, roof and paths separately, name the method and products for each, explain how run-off is contained and what access gear is needed on a narrow site. Late winter, before the spring pollen and jacaranda drop, is a good moment for a full clean.
Exterior cleaning services you can post
Frequently asked questions
Yes, by a tradie who uses soft brushes, low pressure and a biocide and who leaves repointing to a mason. Expect a gentle improvement rather than a brand-new look; stripping the patina off old stone is damage, not cleaning.
Cleaning that changes nothing visible is maintenance and generally needs no consent. Repainting in a new colour, replacing roof material or altering stonework may. Check with Hunter's Hill Council if the work goes beyond cleaning.
Carefully. Slates crack under weight, so tradies work from ladders, platforms or roof ladders with fall protection and treat moss with a biocide rather than scrubbing. Loose or slipped slates are reported for a roofer.
If it dates from before 1990, treat it as asbestos cement unless a test says otherwise. It must not be pressure washed or sanded. Vetted tradies leave it alone and point you to a licensed assessor or removalist if it needs attention.
