There are two types of bleach. 

1)  Indoor 
2) Outdoor.

Power Wash Seal Of Bergen County uses only the outdoor version as a universal outdoor cleaning solution on just about everything we clean.  Designed not to whiten, it will not remove the pigment from wood or composite wood or siding, roof shingles or pavers when used properly.

The outdoor version is Oxygenated.  It is more expensive than the indoor version as well as other soaps. Designed to serve a different end use than the indoor version, it is safe around  pets, plants etc.

To claifiy:

1)  Bleach for indoors is a germicidal and intended for the laudry room or bathroom.  It is excellent for  for killing germs associated with indoor bacteria-which may come from towels, diapers, or underwear as well as a great whitener. Indoor bleach will also destroy plants, grass and shrubbery. It may also remove color from siding or painted surfaces.

Indoor bleach does not remediate the root system of an outdoor bio pollutant which is in constant search for nutrients and water so it can keep on living, and is not safe or recommended to come in contact with outdoor plantings, pets or painted surfaces..

The indoor version  is less expensive and what most power washing companies will try to use. In addition, hot water does not kill the root system of fungi, but may generate more warmth and create more mold, algae or mildew..

2) Bleach for outdoors, once oxygenated, becomes a fungicidal and is intended  for killing the microscopic root system of outdoor related algae, mold, mildew, lichen & moss.

The indoor version of bleach will make it look clean, but like a dandelion in your lawn, unless you remove or kill the root, it will come back next week.  So, on the surface, all looks good, but in the meantime, the root is still alive and continues to destroy the roof by digging deeper into your shingle searching for nutrients and water until it has enough strength to bloom again on the surface.

Other cleaning products such as Krud Cutter or Simple Green are simply soap or an expensive band aid, cost less  and will not remove the root of the cause.

Soap!!

It's important to understand that you are comparing "two very different" approaches.  Yes, a BMW and a Chevrolet will both get you to point B. One is more expensive, and for good reason.  All cleaners are soap unless they are Germicidals or Fungicidals. Soap, or hot water does neither to eradicate bacteria or fungi.  These products also go under the name of Krud Cutter, Simple Green and Palmolive and QSE and all claim to do the same thing. They clean.. So if you had dirt or soot, then it makes sense!!  

Yes, after Package A in the in between years.. See Package B.

No matter how powerful a powerwasher may be, it can not remove old pigments and stains from the wood and in fact, powerwashing without stripping could actually damage the wood. That's because these stains are oil-based; they're not water-soluble and therefore chemical striping  really is necessary.

There’s just one right way to restore and preserve wood -- and so this is how we do it.  

After the deck sealing is completed, we advise you to stay off the deck for at least four hours and to refrain from putting furniture back on the deck for at least 24 hours as the wood is still moist from the seal.  

 We do not apply sealant when there is 30 percent or greater chance of rain within four hours after application. One rainy day can back up our schedule between two and four days.

Also note: we don't apply sealant on windy days (wind speed above 15 miles per hour) to avoid back spray on your windows, building exterior and shrubbery. We apologize in advance for any delays that unpredictable weather may cause.

It may take only three to four hours for a deck to dry from a drizzle, but 24 to 48 hours for the deck to cure. The window of opportunity remains open until the deck is fully cured. We will proceed with treatment on the next day or as soon as the deck is dry. If there is any migration of pigment, we'll reapply it at our own expense. 

On perfectly flat freshly sanded smooth wood or new wood, you should see some beading when sprayed with a fine mist. Older weathered wood will not bead or bead as much as beading will only occur on a perfectly flat smooth surfaces. The wood is none the less still protected even if its not beading by virtue of the fact that it has been prepared in strict accordance with the authorities at both Wolman and Cabot and then sealed.  The beading concept was borrowed from the car waxing industry to show how a surface beads after waxing..

It's best to hose down your deck regularly, using a high-pressure hose. We recommend a weekly wash begining in early April through the end of September. Also, be sure to remove leaves with a leaf blower (not rake!) before they get wet. Siding should be washed down every four to five weeks.  Your deck and wood siding should be professionally washed annually using a combination of our professional grade cleaning agents. (Please see our package B for details.)

In the early days of powerwashing (late '90s), before auxiliary chemicals were available, hot-water powerwashing was the only option available. Since then, new research has helped to develop "high energy chemicals using low temperature water"  - which works  as well with low temperature water to clean efficiently.  This process saves energy required to heat water, reducing our carbon footprint. Our chemical-based process is also more cost-effective.  Hot water can remove color from siding as well and may increase the chance of more mold and algae since these pollutants proliferate when its warm and moist..

Hot water does not kill algae, mild, mildew, moss or lichen, and is a strong consideration if needed to remove grease or oil.

New local enviromental & federal laws now require Power Washing companies to implement Hot Water reclamation. Fines to the homeowner can exceed $10,000.

With more and more power wash providers offering low cost Hot Water Washes, the DEC (Dept. of Environmental Cleanup) and DGS (Dept of General Services) are cracking down on the implementations of proper water reclamation procedures.                    
Wondering what all the fuss is about? Hot water may lift grease and oil but it doesn't dissolve it, leaving the runoff to feed into and contaminate fresh drinking water supplies and kill aquatic life. In turn, this disturbs the biological balance that keeps water healthy.

The law requires that providers washing with hot water must implement boom caps, sand berms and socks to prevent runoff water from feeding into fresh water supplies. Also a large reclamation vacuum must be used to pick up the water, which is then pumped and carted by a tank truck for delivery to a sewage treatment center. The proper machinery can cost upwards of $6,000.

But trying to get around the law will only cost you more. Service providers and property owners alike are receiving hefty fines up to $15,000.  The department agents state, "We know who doesn't have reclamation equipment and are watching."

Stay in the clear by asking your service provider if they are using hot water and whether they can provide proof of their reclamation process, as well as their current waste water  permit (something expensive to obtain). Most companies who invested in hot water equipment are not familiar with the environmental laws associated with handling effluent waste.

And remember, if you decide to go with a hot water pressure wash provider offering services at a lower rate than the cold water provider, you may want to add on an extra  $15,000 for that next house wash.

 Any time of year when the night temperatures are above 50 degrees F.