Not everything should be cleaned the same way, and in South Florida the range of exterior materials on a single property is wider than most people expect. Here's what takes pressure, what needs soft washing, and what shouldn't be touched with either.
Safe for Pressure Washing
Poured concrete. Driveways, walkways, patios. Hard, non-porous enough, and structurally solid. This is what surface cleaners are built for, and it's where high pressure genuinely earns its place.
Brick and concrete pavers. Take pressure well. The one caution is joint sand - aggressive work blows it out, and it needs re-sanding afterwards to keep the pavers stable. Worth asking any contractor whether they re-sand.
Block and masonry walls. Fine, provided the mortar is sound. Crumbling mortar is a reason to soft wash instead.
Soft Wash Only
Roofs - tile and shingle, without exception. Pressure strips granules from shingles and cracks or displaces tile, and it voids most manufacturer warranties. Full explanation here.
Stucco. Porous by design. High pressure forces water into the wall and can blow out sections of the finish outright. Very common on Miami homes and very commonly damaged.
Painted surfaces. Pressure lifts paint. There's no version of this that ends well.
Vinyl and aluminum siding. Pressure can force water behind the panels, where it sits against the sheathing.
Screen enclosures and pool cages. The screen tears and the frame's fasteners don't appreciate the force. Low pressure and solution only.
Wood fences and decks. Wood is the one people most often ruin themselves. Pressure carves out the soft grain between the harder rings, leaving a furry, splintered surface that looks clean for about a week and then weathers badly. It can't be undone.
Natural Stone - Careful Either Way
Travertine, marble, coral stone, limestone. Extremely common on Miami pool decks and extremely easy to damage. These are softer and more porous than concrete, and aggressive pressure leaves permanent pitting and etching that no subsequent cleaning fixes.
They can be cleaned with a surface cleaner at controlled low pressure, but the setting matters, and so does keeping the unit moving. Acidic cleaners must be avoided entirely on limestone-based stone - they etch it chemically.
If a contractor treats your travertine deck the same way they treat your concrete driveway, stop them.
Don't Clean These At All
Roof shingles that are already failing. If granules are gone and edges are curling, cleaning won't help and may accelerate the end. That's a roofer conversation.
Old or damaged window seals. Water gets driven past failed seals and into the wall.
Electrical - panels, outdoor outlets, light fixtures, AC disconnects. Covered and avoided, never sprayed.
Anything with active water intrusion. If there's already a leak, cleaning makes it worse. Fix first.
The Rule Underneath All of It
Match the method to the material, not to the job. A typical Miami property needs pressure washing on the driveway and walkway and soft washing on the roof, stucco, and screen enclosure - in the same visit, with different setups.
The warning sign is anyone who quotes a whole property without asking what it's made of. Travertine, barrel tile, stucco and concrete are four different problems. The person quoting should want to know which ones you have.
Not sure what you've got? Send photos with the quote form and we'll tell you what each surface needs - or just call and ask.