Why moss grows back faster on south-facing Wellington roofs
Sun, prevailing wind direction, and roof valley geometry all conspire. Plus what you can do about it.
Blog
Wellington exterior cleaning, demystified.
Practical guides from 25 years of cleaning Wellington homes, what works, what doesn't, when to call someone, and when to just give it a hose-down yourself.
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Recent posts
How to Remove Lichen from a Roof in NZ, The Right Way
Roof lichen in Wellington? What actually works: a roof-safe biocide, 4–6 weeks dwell time, no water blasting. Full guide for NZ homeowners.
Read article →Wellington gutter cleaning: how often, how much, and what happens if you don't
Wellington's most-requested exterior service, and most-neglected. The full guide: schedule, cost, DIY risks, what happens if you skip it.
Read article →Is water blasting safe for paint? The straight answer.
Short answer: no, not on a painted house. Long answer involves PSI, paint age, paint type and what soft washing does instead. The full guide for Wellington homeowners.
Read article →The Wellington homeowner's pre-sale exterior checklist
Real-estate agents agree on one thing: a clean exterior lifts offers. Here's the exact pre-sale checklist for Wellington homes, what to do, when to book it, and what to skip.
Read article →House washing in Wellington's coastal suburbs, Lyall Bay, Kilbirnie, Seatoun, Island Bay and Miramar
Why coastal Wellington homes age twice as fast, and what to do about it. A practical guide to salt-spray, southerly exposure and the cleaning regime that actually works.
Read article →Soft wash vs water blasting: which does your house actually need?
Same trade, two very different tools. Soft wash protects painted surfaces; water blasting strips them. Knowing the difference matters.
Read article →How often should you wash your home in Wellington?
The short answer is every 12–18 months. The longer answer involves which way your house faces, how close you are to the coast, and what era of paint you're working with.
Read article →Eastern Wellington house washing guide, Miramar, Seatoun, Lyall Bay, Hataitai
Eastern Wellington's split: salt-coast homes need neutralising chemistry; heritage-ridge homes need soft wash only. Miramar, Seatoun, Hataitai, Roseneath, Lyall Bay.
Read article →Kapiti Coast house washing guide, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Raumati, Otaki
The Kapiti Coast is brutal on house exteriors, salt spray reaches further inland than you'd expect. The full regional guide for Paraparaumu, Waikanae and Otaki.
Read article →Hutt Valley house washing guide, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and the Eastern Bays
Why Hutt Valley homes need a different wash approach. Microclimate, 1940s state-housing cladding, coastal vs inland variation, the regional guide.
Read article →New Build Warranty Wash, What It Is, Why Skipping Voids Your Cladding Warranty
Most NZ new builds require annual exterior cleaning to keep cladding warranties valid. Skipping can void warranties worth $10k+. Here's what you need to know.
Read article →Body Corp & Apartment Block Exterior Cleaning in Wellington
Body-corp exterior cleaning is different from residential, scaffold or pole work, resident coordination, approval thresholds, and cost-sharing for AGM presentation.
Read article →Exterior Washing for Wellington Rental Properties, A Guide for Landlords
End-of-tenancy, pre-listing, annual maintenance. How exterior washing works for Wellington rental stock, documentation, tenant coordination, and what gets neglected.
Read article →Wellington Central House Washing, Thorndon, Mt Victoria, Aro Valley, Te Aro Guide
Heritage timber territory, dense streets, tight access. Soft wash and careful staging across Wellington Central's seven suburbs. What makes each different.
Read article →Washing a Heritage Villa or Weatherboard in Wellington, What's Safe, What's Not
Heritage timber needs soft wash only, no high pressure on painted weatherboard. What damages old paint, how soft wash works, and the lead-paint consideration.
Read article →Honest House Washing Prices in Wellington, A 2026 Cost Guide
Wellington-only pricing for house washing, driveways, roofs and gutters in 2026. Suburb-level context, bundle math, and what cheap quotes leave out.
Read article →Why spring is the right time for a Wellington house wash
Spring sits in the sweet spot for Wellington exterior cleaning, past the worst of winter mould, before summer hosts and weddings. Here's why, and how to book it right.
Read article →5 DIY house-washing mistakes we see all the time in Wellington
DIY house washing is fine for the right property. These 5 mistakes turn a $200 weekend job into a $5,000 paint repair.
Read article →Wellington spider season: why your eaves are full of webs (and what to do)
Autumn and spring are the worst Wellington spider months. Eaves, soffits and fence corners get coated. The honest answer on whether to spray, scrub, or both.
Read article →How to hire a water blaster in Wellington (without getting a bad job)
The 7 questions to ask before booking a Wellington water blaster, and what the right answers sound like. Pick a contractor who won't strip your paint.
Read article →Coming soon
In the queue
More Wellington-specific guides on the way. Got a question you want answered? Send it through, if it's something other homeowners are wondering, it'll likely turn into a post.
Coastal mould in Wellington homes, what's actually growing on your walls
Aspergillus, Cladosporium, salt-tolerant lichens. A field guide for Wellington homeowners.
Driveway cleaning before selling, does it actually lift offers?
Real-estate agents have opinions. The numbers are more interesting than you'd expect.
When NOT to high-pressure-wash, 7 surfaces you'll regret blasting
Painted weatherboard, terracotta roofing, old mortar, asbestos, recently-sealed concrete, and two more.
Follow the work
See every job as it happens.
Wellington's exterior-cleaning before-and-afters land on social before they land anywhere else. Pick the platform that suits.
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Real conversations with Wellington customers
James posts before-and-after photos from most jobs. Locals tag friends, ask questions, recommend the next person up the street.
71+ recommendations · 100% recommended See the reviews on Facebook InstagramVisual job diary, Wellington-wide
Photo-first. Driveway transformations, roof close-ups, the worst-before / best-after shots that don't fit anywhere else. Tag your suburb to find local jobs.
Updated regularly · @clear_water_blasting Follow on Instagram LinkedInFor property managers and body corps
Commercial-side updates, body corp washes, school grounds, retail frontages, pre-paint preps. The right channel if you manage Wellington property.
Commercial portfolio · property managers welcome Connect on LinkedInGot an exterior-cleaning question?
Ask James, if it's something other Wellington homeowners are wondering, it'll likely turn into a blog post.