The Ranking
Our top 10 pressure washing companies in Houston
Houston is hard on the outside of a house. The city gets close to 50 inches of rain in a typical year, summers stay humid for months, and shade from live oaks and pines keeps north walls and roofs damp long after a storm passes. That is why green algae on brick and siding, black streaks on asphalt shingles, mildew on fences and slick, dark driveways are so common here, and why spring oak pollen leaves a yellow film on every porch and pool deck.
The first question to ask any crew is how it will clean each surface. Pressure washing uses a high pressure stream and a surface cleaner, and it belongs on concrete driveways, sidewalks and pool decks. Soft washing uses low pressure with a cleaning solution that kills algae and mildew at the root, and it is the safer choice for siding, stucco, painted wood, brick and roofs. High pressure on Hardie plank or stucco can push water behind the wall, and on a shingle roof it strips granules. Several companies on this list say plainly that they never put high pressure on a house; that is the answer you want to hear.
Wash water carries detergent, algae and grime, and the City of Houston enforces rules on pollutants that reach its storm sewer system through the Houston Health Department and Houston Public Works, with illicit discharges reported through 311. Ask any company how it keeps runoff out of the street drain, especially when a driveway slopes to the curb. During dry summers, check the city's Drought Contingency Plan stage, since outdoor water use rules tighten as the stages rise.
We could not find a Texas state licence specific to residential pressure washing, so insurance is the main paperwork to ask for. Get a certificate of general liability insurance, ask whether the crew is covered by workers compensation, and get the scope and price in writing, including which surfaces get soft wash and which get pressure. If you live in a townhome community, ask whether the company can name your HOA on the certificate. Finally, check the address: many washers with strong reviews are based in suburbs such as Spring, Cypress, Pearland or Sugar Land, and this list includes only companies with a commercial address inside Houston city limits, including Kingwood.
