What exterior cleaning actually costs, and why quotes differ.
The same house gets quoted hundreds apart. That is rarely dishonesty, it is cleaners pricing different methods. Here is roughly where the numbers sit, what moves them, and how we make ours something you can actually compare, surface by surface.
Work out the method, then see the range, in two steps.
First the method aid points you at the honest method for your surface, then the estimator gives an indicative band and decodes what a real quote should itemise. Neither is a quote. Both end in a walkthrough.
Soft wash, high pressure, or treat first?
Tell us the surface and how bad it is, and we will point you at the honest method, so a higher quote stops looking like a rip-off when the surface actually needs it. Not a diagnosis.
Estimate your exterior clean
A few quick inputs return an indicative supply-and-clean band for a Brisbane exterior, and decode what a real quote for that job should itemise. Not a quote.
Exterior cleaning in Brisbane, 2026 (modelled).
| Cheap blast quote (one pressure, no method, no insurance) | $200 – $400 |
| House and render wash (single-storey, soft-washed) | $350 – $650 |
| Roof soft wash (Colorbond or tile, from access) | $500 – $1,200 |
| Driveway and concrete (high-pressure surface clean) | $150 – $450 |
| Whole-home exterior (walls, eaves, paths) | $450 – $900 |
| Full property reset (house, roof, driveway, gutters) | $900 – $2,200+ |
Six things that decide where your quote lands.
Most of them you cannot see from the kerb. All of them decide what you pay, and how long the clean lasts.
Six levers. One honest range.
Surface and method
Soft-wash surfaces like render, paint, roofs and panels take more time and chemistry than concrete that can take high pressure. The method sets the price, not just the area.
Total area
A small courtyard and a big two-storey home are different jobs. We measure the surfaces, we do not guess from a photo.
Growth load
Light dust rinses off. Heavy lichen, mould and black streaking need a treatment pass and dwell time, which is real work and real cost.
Access and height
Single-storey is straightforward. Two-storey, steep roofs and hard access need reach gear and more time, and that moves the number.
Add-ons
Gutters, downpipes, solar panels and fences are each their own line, so you can see the cost and decide.
Water and runoff
Some jobs need containment, tank water or a sediment plan to do it properly and legally. We name that rather than cut it.
Every quote is a Surface and Method Sheet.
So the figure you are comparing is tied to a method you can read, surface by surface, not a single number with nothing behind it.
Seven lines. Every one in writing.
- 01Render and painted walls
- 02Roof, Colorbond and tile
- 03Timber and decking
- 04Concrete, pavers and driveway
- 05Solar panels
- 06Test patch first
- 07Walk-through at the end
“$4,500 the house” by text → seven lines, priced.
- 1 Render and painted walls. Soft wash, low pressure and a named detergent. Never a high-pressure gun that strips paint or gouges render.
- 2 Roof, Colorbond and tile. Soft washed from safe access. No walking and blasting that cracks tiles or forces water under the ridge caps.
- 3 Timber and decking. A gentle wash with the grain at controlled pressure, so we lift the grime without furring the timber.
- 4 Concrete, pavers and driveway. High pressure is safe and right here. Even passes with a surface cleaner, no stripes, oil and rust treated.
- 5 Solar panels. Soft wash and a deionised rinse only. No high pressure near the seals, and the panel warranty stays intact.
- 6 Test patch first. We prove the method on an out-of-the-way spot before the whole job, so you see it is safe before we commit.
- 7 Walk-through at the end. We rinse down, protect your plants, and walk the finished result with you before we pack up.
What you get from us
- ✓A Surface and Method Sheet, per surface
- ✓Soft wash on render, roofs and paint
- ✓A test patch before the whole job
- ✓$20M public liability, certificate on request
- ✓An indicative price up front
- ✓Plants wet down and protected
Cowboy tells
- ✕“One pressure cleans everything”
- ✕A high-pressure gun on render and roofs
- ✕No test patch, straight in
- ✕No insurance certificate
- ✕“$X the whole house” by text
- ✕Stripped paint, etched render, dead garden beds
We will tell you the smaller one if that is the honest answer.
Single surface clean
Just the driveway, just the roof, or the house walls on their own.
Wrong when: the whole exterior has gone green.
Whole-home exterior wash
House walls, eaves, paths and entry, soft-washed and rinsed down.
Wrong when: only one surface is actually dirty.
Full property reset
House, roof, driveway and gutters cleaned in one coordinated visit.
Wrong when: a single surface would do the job.
Treat-first (heavy growth)
A treatment pass and dwell time on heavy lichen, mould or black streaking before the wash.
Wrong when: it is light surface dust and grime only.
Restore (neglected or oxidised)
Multiple passes and the right chemistry on long-neglected or oxidised surfaces.
Wrong when: a normal annual clean is all it needs.
What people ask about exterior-clean pricing.
How much does exterior cleaning cost in Brisbane? +
Why are pressure cleaning quotes so far apart for the same job? +
Do you give fixed quotes or estimates? +
Is the cheapest quote ever the right one? +
Read deeper before you compare quotes
Get your free surface check, the method and pressure for every surface, no surprise number.
Tell us what you need. We’ll book a walkthrough and send a quote with the work itemised, not just a number.