House washing in Bellingham starts at $399. Siding is soft washed at low pressure rather than pressure washed, which lifts the green and black growth without forcing water behind the boards or stripping paint. Vinyl, Hardie board, cedar, brick and painted timber are all handled. Estimates are free and given before any work begins.
Pacific Northwest siding does not get dirty so much as it grows things. The green film on a north wall and the black speckling under the eaves are living growth feeding on damp and shade, and that is why rinsing does almost nothing to them.
House washing prices in Whatcom and Skagit County
| Job | Starting price | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| House washing (soft wash) | $399 | Full exterior siding, low pressure, cleaned chemically |
| House wash + window cleaning | Quoted as one visit | Windows start at $8 per standard window (approximately two panes) |
| Driveways and walkways | $299 | Pressure washing — a different service |
| Fencing, outbuildings, garages | Quoted on site | Soft washed the same way as siding |
All pricing shown is starting pricing. Final pricing depends on the size, condition, accessibility and scope of work. Free, no-obligation estimates are always provided before work begins. See every starting price we publish.
What changes the price
- Size of the house and number of stories. The main driver. A single-story rambler and a three-story house on a Bellingham hillside are very different jobs.
- How much growth there is. A wall that has been washed in the last two years takes one pass. A north wall untouched for six years may need dwell time and a second application.
- Siding type. Smooth vinyl releases growth easily. Rough cedar, textured Hardie board and brick hold it in the surface and take longer.
- Access. Planting tight to the walls, steep ground, decks and tight side yards all add time and need more protection.
- Landscaping to protect. Beds right under the walls get pre-wet, covered and rinsed, which is part of doing it properly.
Soft washing, and why siding is never pressure washed
This is the part worth understanding, because it is where most of the damage in this industry comes from.
Pressure that shifts algae off concrete will drive water up behind lap siding, past window seals and into wall cavities, where it does not dry out and nobody sees it until there is a problem. On painted timber it strips paint. On cedar it raises the grain permanently. On Hardie board it can force water behind the boards at the joints.
Soft washing does the cleaning chemically instead. A cleaning solution is applied at low pressure, given time to work on the growth, and then rinsed. The wall is not being blasted, it is being treated, and the result lasts longer because the growth is killed rather than knocked off.
What is included at $399
- All siding elevations soft washed
- Eaves, soffits and fascia faces cleaned
- Gutter exteriors washed down — the black streaking on the front face
- Surrounding planting pre-wet, protected and rinsed
- Doors, trim and light fittings worked around
- A free written estimate before anything starts
What is not included
Painting, staining, siding repair and window cleaning are separate. If we find soft boards, failed caulk or gaps where water has been getting in, we photograph it and tell you.
Interior or exterior glass is not part of a house wash, though a lot of people book window cleaning at the same visit because the crew is already there and it saves a second trip.
How often Bellingham homes need it
Every two to three years suits most of the city. North and east-facing walls, and anything shaded by mature Douglas fir, cedar or big-leaf maple, go faster — that is a lot of Edgemoor, South Hill, Alabama Hill and the Lake Whatcom side.
Homes near the water toward Edgemoor and Squalicum also pick up salt haze that dulls paint over time. Open, sunny lots on the north end around Cordata and Barkley can often stretch to four or five years.
The useful test is walking round to the north side. If the wall you never look at is noticeably darker than the one facing the street, it is time.
Does it actually protect the house, or just look better?
Both, but the honest ranking is that appearance is the bigger benefit and protection is real but secondary.
Growth on siding holds moisture against the surface, and on painted timber that shortens the life of the paint. On vinyl and Hardie board the practical damage is slower. What it definitely does is make an eight-year-old paint job look its age about three years early, and a wash is a fraction of the cost of repainting.
What it costs in your town
The starting price is the same across our whole service area, with no separate travel charge. House washing is a single service page rather than a town-by-town set, so see the house washing page for full details, or check your town’s page for everything else we run there:
Bellingham · Ferndale · Lynden · Mount Vernon · Anacortes · and every other town we cover
Common questions about house washing costs
How much does house washing cost in Bellingham?
House washing starts at $399. Final price depends on the size of the house, the number of stories, how much growth there is, the siding type and access around the property. The estimate is free and given before any work begins.
Is house washing the same as pressure washing?
No, and the difference matters. House washing is soft washing: a cleaning solution applied at low pressure, given time to work, then rinsed. Pressure washing uses real pressure and is for concrete. High pressure on siding can drive water behind the boards, strip paint and raise the grain on cedar.
Will it damage my plants?
Not when it is done properly. Beds under the walls are pre-wet before we start, covered where needed, and rinsed afterwards. If you have anything particularly sensitive planted tight to the house, point it out at the estimate and we will take extra care with it.
Can you clean brick and cedar as well as vinyl?
Yes. Vinyl, Hardie board, painted timber, cedar and brick are all handled, though rough surfaces hold growth in the texture and take longer than smooth vinyl, which is reflected in the quote.
How often should a house be washed here?
Every two to three years suits most Bellingham homes. Shaded north and east-facing walls under fir or maple go faster. Open, sunny lots can often stretch to four or five years. If the north wall is noticeably darker than the front, it is time.
Can I get the windows done at the same time?
Yes, and it is a common pairing because it saves a second visit. Window cleaning starts at $8 per standard window (approximately two panes) and is quoted alongside the house wash.
Get a free estimate
King of Kings Window Cleaning is owner-operated by Randy Fee, based in Bellingham and covering Whatcom County, Skagit County and Oak Harbor. Licensed and L&I insured, rated five stars across more than 200 reviews. Ask for a free estimate or call (360) 303-6806.
