Exterior Pressure Washing in Sullivan's Island, SC

Salt, Sand and Old Wood on Sullivan's Island

Sullivan's Island sits at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, with the Atlantic on one side and the marsh and Intracoastal Waterway on the other. Wind carries salt spray across the whole island, not just the oceanfront lots. Salt dries into a gray film on windows, siding and screens, and it holds moisture against those surfaces, which helps mildew grow. On porch railings, light fixtures, hinges and fasteners it speeds up rust. Left alone, it builds into a chalky mineral crust that a garden hose will not move. A gentle wash with the right cleaner and a fresh water rinse removes that film before it does lasting damage to paint, screens and metal.

Many of the island's houses date from its long run as a summer retreat. The old Moultrieville area near Fort Moultrie and the Atlanticville blocks to the east are full of frame cottages built on raised brick or wood piers, with deep porches and painted wood siding. The two-story former officers' houses along I'On Avenue and Middle Street are another example. Painted wood and old trim do not handle high pressure well. A pressure washer can lift paint, force water behind boards and gouge soft wood. Soft washing cleans these surfaces at low pressure and lets the cleaning solution do the work.

After Hurricane Hugo in 1989, many small cottages were replaced by larger modern homes, so today the island mixes old painted wood with newer fiber cement, stucco and metal roofs. All of them deal with blowing sand, which collects on decks, steps and parking pads under raised houses and grinds into concrete. The maritime forest on the ocean side of the island, along with the palmettos and wax myrtles in many yards, adds shade and pollen. Houses tucked behind that greenery stay damp longer, so mildew shows up first on north walls, porch ceilings and the lattice under raised homes. Live oak leaves add one more problem: they release tannins that leave brown stains on decks, porch floors and concrete wherever leaves sit after a rain.

Sullivan's Island neighborhoods we serve

We work across Sullivan's Island (29482), including:

• Moultrieville
• Atlanticville
• Fort Moultrie area
• Officers' Row on I'On Avenue
• Middle Street business district
• Sullivan's Island Lighthouse area
• Breach Inlet end

What We Clean in Sullivan's Island

House washing

Older cottages with painted wood siding need a careful hand. We soft wash at low pressure, which clears salt film, mildew and pollen without stripping paint or pushing water behind the boards. Cedar shake gets the same treatment, since high pressure splinters shakes and fuzzes the grain. Newer fiber cement and stucco homes get the same gentle approach. On raised homes we can also clean pilings, lattice and stair stringers, which tend to stay damp and green.

Roof cleaning

Many island homes have metal roofs, and the shingle roofs here still grow Gloeocapsa magma, the algae behind black streaks. We clean both with a soft wash, never high pressure. On metal, that removes salt residue and mildew without harming the finish. On shingles, it kills the algae rather than blasting off the granules that protect the roof.

Driveways and concrete

Parking pads under raised houses, walkways and driveways collect sand, tire marks and mildew from the shade of the house above. We clean concrete and pavers with a rotary surface cleaner for an even result with no stripes. Rust stains from bikes, beach carts and metal furniture can be treated during the same visit.

Porches, decks and screened porches

Porches are the center of island life, and they collect the most salt, sand and pollen. We clean wood, composite and IPE decking at low pressure so the grain stays smooth. Screened porches, painted porch floors and ceilings, railings and outdoor showers get a soft wash so the paint stays put and the screens come out clear. Brown tannin stains from fallen oak leaves come out with a brightener rather than pressure.

Spartan Soft Wash is locally owned, licensed and insured, and has cleaned more than 900 homes and businesses across the Charleston area. Siding and roofs are covered by our soft washing service. We also offer deck cleaning in Sullivan's Island and driveway cleaning in Sullivan's Island.

Next door on the islands, we also offer pressure washing on Isle of Palms, including Wild Dunes and beach rentals.