pressure-washing

How Much Does Pressure Washing Cost in Portland, OR? (2026 Prices for Moss, Mildew, and Everything Else)

Pressure washing cost in Portland, OR for 2026: driveway, siding, deck, and roof moss prices, why tree cover raises the bill, and hiring tips.

How Much Does Pressure Washing Cost in Portland, OR? (2026 Prices for Moss, Mildew, and Everything Else)

Pressure washing in Portland, OR costs $200 to $450 for a driveway, $300 to $700 for the siding on a typical two-story house, $250 to $600 for a deck, and $400 to $1,000 for a roof moss treatment. A full exterior package that covers siding, driveway, walkways, and gutters runs $700 to $1,600 for most homes in the city and its close-in suburbs.

The reason those numbers run above the national average is not labor rates alone. Portland gets about 36 inches of rain a year, most of it between October and May, and the moss, algae, and mildew that grow in that wet shade take more chemistry and more time to remove than the dust and grime a crew in Phoenix deals with.

North-facing walls, shaded decks, and roofs under Douglas firs are the recurring problem. A house in Southwest Portland under a canopy of firs and bigleaf maples needs a wash every year, while one on an open lot in Happy Valley or Beaverton can often go two.

Portland Prices by Surface

Driveways run $200 to $450 depending on size and how much moss and tire grime has built up. A single-car concrete driveway in Sellwood or Montavilla sits at the low end, and a long double driveway with a black algae film in Lake Oswego sits at the top.

Siding is priced per square foot of wall, generally $0.15 to $0.35 for vinyl and fiber cement and $0.25 to $0.50 for wood. That puts a 2,000 square foot house at $300 to $700, with the higher figures going to two-story homes, cedar siding, and houses with heavy green algae on the north side.

Decks run $250 to $600 for cleaning and $500 to $1,200 if the job includes brightening and a new coat of stain. Portland decks under tree cover go black and slick by March, and most companies recommend a low-pressure wash with a wood cleaner followed by a stain within a week of drying.

Roofs are a separate service and a separate conversation. A moss treatment with a zinc or sodium hypochlorite application and a gentle rinse runs $400 to $1,000, while a full roof cleaning on a composition roof thick with moss can pass $1,500.

Minimum charges apply at most companies. Expect a $150 to $250 minimum for a single small job like a front walkway, which is why most Portland homeowners bundle two or three surfaces into one visit.

Gutters, Fences, and Patios

Gutter cleaning is often bundled at $125 to $250 for a typical house, and gutter brightening to remove the black streaks on the outside runs $150 to $300 more. Fences run $2 to $4 per linear foot, and a 150-foot cedar fence lands at $300 to $600.

Patios, walkways, and retaining walls are priced per square foot at $0.25 to $0.50, with a typical set of front walkways and a back patio running $150 to $350. Pavers in Bethany and Tualatin subdivisions often need re-sanding after a wash, which adds $100 to $300.

Why Moss Changes the Job in Portland

Moss on a composition roof holds water against the shingles, lifts the edges, and shortens roof life, and it is the main reason Portland homeowners call a pressure washing company in the first place. It also cannot be pressure washed off without destroying the shingles, so the process is chemical.

The standard approach is a zinc sulfate or sodium hypochlorite treatment applied to the roof in fall or early spring, followed by a wait of several weeks while the moss dies, and then a gentle brushing or rinse. Some companies do a single treatment and let rain do the rest, which is cheaper and slower.

Siding and decks get a soft wash for the same reason. Sodium hypochlorite with a surfactant kills the algae and mildew at low pressure, and the rinse removes the residue, which is gentler on cedar siding and old fir decks than a high-pressure blast.

Timing the treatment matters. A roof treated in late September before the rains start has all winter for the moss to die and wash away, while one treated in May has to compete with the growing season.

Gutters full of fir needles feed the problem. Overflowing gutters keep the fascia and the top of the siding wet all winter, and a house that gets its gutters cleaned in November usually needs less siding work in April.

What Moves the Price in the Portland Area

Tree cover is the biggest variable. Homes in the West Hills, Forest Park neighborhoods, Multnomah Village, and the wooded parts of Lake Oswego and West Linn get more moss and algae than homes in Gresham, Hillsboro, or Oregon City, and they pay more per wash and wash more often.

House height and access matter. Portland's older neighborhoods have tall two-and-a-half-story Craftsman and Foursquare homes on narrow lots, and reaching the upper walls of a house in Irvington or Laurelhurst takes ladders or a lift that a ranch in Milwaukie does not need.

Siding type moves the rate. Cedar shingle and lap siding, common in Portland's pre-war neighborhoods, needs a careful low-pressure wash and often a brightener, and it costs 30% to 60% more than vinyl or fiber cement.

Distance and traffic play a role. Companies based in Portland proper charge a travel fee for jobs in Sherwood, Camas, or Estacada, and some set a higher minimum for the west side suburbs to cover the drive over the hills.

Hiring a Pressure Washing Company in Portland

Oregon does not license pressure washing companies, though anyone who also seals, stains, or repairs surfaces should hold a Construction Contractors Board license. For pure cleaning, insurance is your protection, and any established company will send a liability certificate on request.

Ask what pressure and what chemistry they plan to use on each surface. A company that plans to run 3,000 PSI on cedar siding or on a composition roof is going to damage it, and the right answer involves soft washing for anything that is not concrete.

Ask how they handle runoff. Portland and the surrounding cities have stormwater rules that prohibit sending cleaning solution into storm drains, and a careful company diverts runoff to a landscaped area or captures it.

Ask about plant protection. Sodium hypochlorite kills rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and ferns, which is most of a Portland yard, and a crew that wets the beds before, covers sensitive plants, and rinses after is a crew that has done this before. You can compare the pressure washing companies listed for the Portland area when you are ready for quotes, and there are more Oregon home maintenance guides on our blog.

Timing and Frequency in the Willamette Valley

Late spring after the rains taper off is the busiest season, and prices and wait times are highest from May through July. Early fall is the second peak as homeowners prepare for winter, and a roof treatment in September or October is the smartest single job on the calendar.

Winter work is possible and cheaper. Companies discount 10% to 20% from December through February to fill their schedules, and a dry week in January works fine for concrete and siding, though decks and anything that needs staining should wait for warm weather.

Annual washing is the norm for shaded homes on the west side and in the wooded suburbs, and every two years works for open lots east of the river and in the newer subdivisions. Roofs need a moss treatment every one to two years under trees and every three to four in the open.

Book a few weeks ahead in spring. The established companies in the metro fill their May and June calendars by mid-April, and a call in late May often means a July date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to pressure wash a house in Portland, OR?

Siding on a typical two-story house runs $300 to $700, and a full exterior package with driveway, walkways, and gutters runs $700 to $1,600. Cedar siding and homes under heavy tree cover sit at the top of those ranges.

How much does roof moss removal cost in Portland?

A moss treatment with a zinc or bleach-based application and a gentle rinse runs $400 to $1,000 for most homes. Roofs thick with moss that need brushing and multiple treatments can reach $1,500.

Can you pressure wash a roof in Portland?

No, and no reputable company will. Composition shingles are cleaned with a chemical treatment and a low-pressure rinse, since high pressure strips the granules and shortens the roof's life.

How often should I pressure wash my house in Portland?

Every year for homes under tree cover or on north-facing slopes, and every two years for open lots. Roof moss treatments run every one to two years in shaded areas.

When is the cheapest time to hire pressure washing in Portland?

December through February, when many companies discount 10% to 20%. Concrete and siding can be washed in a dry winter week, while deck staining should wait for spring.