Protect your property’s delicate surfaces with our Pureseal-certified soft washing. Serving Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, and Fermanagh, we provide a safe, low-pressure alternative to jet washing that eradicates Red, Green, and Black Algae at the source. Restore your render and walls without the risk of damage.
Soft washing is the preferred professional method for cleaning delicate exterior surfaces like K-Rend, natural stone, and roofs. Unlike traditional power washing, which relies on high-impact force that can crack or scar sensitive materials, soft washing uses specialized, biodegradable solutions applied at low pressure. These treatments don’t just wash away the surface dirt; they penetrate deep into the substrate to kill the biological spores of moss, lichen, and algae, ensuring the surface stays cleaner for up to four times longer.
As certified biocide specialists, we understand that different types of organic growth require specific chemical concentrations. Whether your property is suffering from the “Red Staining” common in the North West or stubborn “Black Spot” lichen, our process is tailored to the material of your building. This scientific approach ensures that your property is not only visually transformed but also biologically sanitised, preventing the rapid regrowth that often follows a standard water-only clean.
Traditional cleaning often leaves biological spores behind, leading to a "bloom" of regrowth within months. Our biocide treatments sanitise the surface, killing 100% of the organic growth. This means your property stays looking fresh and clean for significantly longer than it would with water alone.
Modern renders (like K-Rend or Monocouche) are porous and can be easily damaged by high-pressure jetting. Soft washing uses a pressure similar to a domestic tap, making it the safest possible way to clean your walls, fences, and roofs without risking costly structural damage or water penetration.
Standard high-pressure washing can often be too aggressive for modern building materials, leading to water ingress, blown render, or stripped paintwork. Soft washing was developed specifically to solve this problem, providing a “chemical clean” that is as gentle as a garden hose but far more effective at removing stubborn organic staining.
By investing in professional soft washing, you are choosing a method that prioritises the long-term structural integrity of your home. High-pressure water often leaves behind the microscopic roots of algae, which act as a sponge for moisture and lead to further staining. Our soft wash process eliminates these roots entirely, protecting your render and masonry from the freeze-thaw cycle damage that occurs when trapped moisture expands in winter.
Established in 2003, North West Exterior Specialists has grown into a leading provider of professional cleaning and maintenance services. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, our reputation is built on a foundation of technical expertise and a small, dedicated team motivated by absolute customer satisfaction. We understand that your property is a significant investment, which is why we approach every project—from residential driveways to large-scale commercial contracts—with the same commitment to precision and care.
To maintain our high standards, we continuously invest in professional training, industry certification, and state-of-the-art equipment. Our team is fully qualified in specialized height access and chemical treatments, holding IPAF, PASMA, and City & Guilds credentials alongside our Pureseal and Biocide certifications. This ensures that whether we are performing delicate soft washing for algae removal or high-reach steam cleaning, we operate with the highest level of safety and technical proficiency. At North West Exterior Specialists, we believe no job is too big or too small, offering bespoke maintenance plans designed to keep your property in peak condition year-round.
Choosing the right team to maintain your property means finding a balance between experience, safety, and results. With over two decades in the industry, North West Exterior Specialists provides a level of expertise that goes beyond a simple clean. We treat every home and business with the utmost respect, using proven techniques and professional-grade equipment to ensure your surfaces are not only restored to their original beauty but also protected for the future.
With a history dating back to 2003, we bring more than two decades of hands-on experience to every project.
Our team holds industry-recognised certifications—including IPAF, PASMA, and City & Guilds—ensuring we are fully qualified to operate high-access machinery.
We believe in using the best tools for the job, which is why we continually invest in the latest equipment, training and certifications.
Operating across Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Fermanagh, we understand the local climate and its impact on exterior surfaces, therefore highly experience in offering suitable resolutions
To ensure the best possible results for your property, we follow a structured, professional approach on every project. We don’t believe in “one size fits all” cleaning; instead, we assess the specific materials and biological growth present to determine the safest and most effective method.
Before any work begins, our team conducts a thorough inspection of the area to identify surface types, levels of organic growth, and any potential access challenges. We prioritize safety by setting up necessary high-access equipment—such as cherry pickers or towers—and ensuring the workspace is secure for both our technicians and your property.
We prepare the site by protecting surrounding landscaping, sensitive fixtures, and drainage points. Depending on the service, this stage may involve manual debris removal or the scraping of heavy moss buildup. This ensures that our cleaning treatments can penetrate deep into the surface for the most effective restoration possible.
Using our advanced steam technology or specialized soft washing systems, we apply the chosen cleaning method with total precision. Whether we are utilizing high-pressure for hard stone or Pureseal-certified biocides for delicate render, we focus on eradicating algae, lichen, and grime at the source to deliver a flawless finish.
Once the cleaning is complete, we perform a final low-pressure rinse to remove any remaining residue and ensure the site is left tidy. We then walk through the project with you to guarantee 100% satisfaction, confirming that the results meet our high standards and providing advice on how to maintain the clean for the long term.
We understand that you may have questions about the best way to maintain your property’s exterior. Whether you are curious about the difference between soft washing and pressure washing or need to know how we handle safety at height, we have compiled the most common inquiries from our clients. Our goal is to provide you with clear, transparent information so you can make the best decision for your home or business. If you don’t see your question answered here, please feel free to reach out to our team directly.
Yes. We take extensive precautions to protect your landscaping. We pre-drench all surrounding foliage with fresh water to prevent chemical absorption and thoroughly rinse the area again after the treatment is complete. Our biocides are biodegradable and safe for your garden when handled by our trained professionals.
While every location is different, soft washing results typically last 2 to 4 years. Because we kill the spores at a biological level, regrowth is significantly delayed compared to standard pressure washing, which only removes the surface layer of the growth.
Absolutely. Those streaks are actually types of algae (Trentepohlia and Gloeocapsa Magma). Our specific chemical treatments are designed to break down these organisms on contact, lifting the stains and restoring your render to its original colour without the need for scrubbing or high pressure.
It depends on the height of the building. We often use long-reach poles to apply treatments from the ground. However, if your property has difficult-to-reach areas, we are fully IPAF and PASMA certified to use cherry pickers or towers to ensure every inch of the surface is treated safely.
Most residential soft washing projects can be completed in a single day. The treatment begins working immediately, though some biocides continue to clean and brighten the surface over the following few weeks as the weather assists in rinsing away the dead organic matter.
Ready to restore your property’s exterior? Whether you have a quick question about our “Man and a Cherry Picker” hire or need a comprehensive maintenance plan for a commercial site, we are here to help. Simply fill out the form below with your details and the services you are interested in, and a member of our dedicated team will get back to you shortly to discuss your requirements.
