Power washing is the single most price-variable trade in the GTA right now. The same 2,000 square foot semi-detached in Mississauga can be quoted at $250 by one operator and $750 by another, and both prices are reasonable for different scopes of work. Most homeowners do not realize they are comparing different services until after the cheap quote leaves the siding visibly streaked or damages the mortar between bricks. This guide breaks down what power washing actually costs in the GTA in 2026 by surface type, where soft washing and pressure washing differ in price and application, and the four common signals of a too-cheap quote that almost always means something is being skipped.
GTA Power Washing Cost at a Glance
2026 GTA pricing for residential power washing falls into a wide range depending on surface, method, and scope:
- House washing (soft wash): $250 to $700 for a typical 1,500 to 2,500 square foot home, depending on siding type and access.
- Driveway pressure washing: $0.15 to $0.50 per square foot, with interlocking carrying the upper-range premium because of post-clean sanding.
- Deck pre-wash (standalone): $150 to $350 for typical residential decks 200 to 500 square feet. Almost always bundled free with a staining contract.
- Patio cleaning: $150 to $400 depending on surface size and material.
- Gutter exterior cleaning: $150 to $300 add-on; interior gutter clean-out $200 to $400 add-on.
- Fence wash (per linear foot): $1.50 to $3.00 depending on height and condition.
Project minimums are common — most reputable GTA operators carry a minimum of $200 to $300 per visit. Below that minimum, the labour and setup cost of arriving on site exceed the value of the work. Combining services on a single visit is the cleanest way to come in well under per-service pricing while staying above the minimum.
Soft Wash vs Pressure Wash Pricing
The biggest price-vs-method confusion in the category is soft wash vs pressure wash. They are different services with different applications and different pricing.
Soft washing. Low-pressure (under 500 PSI) application of cleaning solution that does the cleaning chemically, then a low-pressure rinse. Used for siding, roofs, painted surfaces, and any surface that pressure damage could compromise. Cost: $0.20 to $0.45 per square foot or flat-rate quotes for house washing. Always used on vinyl, aluminum, stucco, and painted brick.
Pressure washing. High-pressure (1,500 to 3,500 PSI) water blast that does the cleaning mechanically. Used for concrete, interlocking, unpainted brick, hard masonry, and wood that will be re-stained afterwards. Cost: $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot. Cheaper per square foot than soft washing because it is faster on hard surfaces.
Soft washing costs slightly more per square foot but is the only correct choice for siding, roofs, and any painted or sealed surface. Operators who pressure-wash siding are almost always producing damage that does not become visible for a year or two — driven moisture behind siding, blown-out caulking, and pitted painted surfaces. The savings of $100 to $200 on initial cost can produce $2,000 to $8,000 of siding or paint damage that surfaces later.
House Washing by Siding Type
House washing is almost always priced by surface type and total area:
- Vinyl siding (most common GTA siding): $0.20 to $0.30 per square foot soft wash. Typical 2,000 sq ft home: $300 to $500.
- Aluminum siding: $0.25 to $0.35 per square foot. Slightly higher because the chalking common on aluminum requires a stronger cleaning solution and longer dwell time.
- Stucco (synthetic and traditional): $0.30 to $0.45 per square foot. Soft wash only — pressure damages stucco surface and forces water into the substrate.
- Painted brick: $0.30 to $0.45 per square foot. Soft wash only.
- Unpainted brick: $0.20 to $0.35 per square foot. Pressure wash acceptable on sound mortar; soft wash safer for older Toronto brick where mortar may be lime-based and easily damaged.
- Cedar shake siding: $0.35 to $0.55 per square foot. Soft wash only; cedar shake can be permanently damaged by pressure washing.
Mixed-siding homes (very common in newer GTA subdivisions — vinyl with brick accents, stucco with stone) are priced as a blended rate. Two-storey homes carry a slight premium over single-storey for ladder time and reach.
Driveway Pricing — Concrete, Interlocking, Asphalt
Driveway pressure washing is priced by surface and condition:
- Concrete: $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot. Typical 500 sq ft driveway: $75 to $150 (often below minimum, so usually bundled).
- Interlocking (paving stones): $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot. Higher because joint sand needs replacement after cleaning — most quotes include polymeric sand application as part of the price, or list it separately at $50 to $150.
- Asphalt: $0.10 to $0.20 per square foot. Lowest of the three; asphalt cleans quickly and does not need post-clean treatment.
- Stamped concrete: $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot. Slightly higher than plain concrete because of the texture; sealer reapplication is often recommended afterwards.
A common upsell on interlocking driveway cleaning is sealer application — typically $0.40 to $0.90 per square foot on top of the cleaning cost. This is genuinely worth doing on interlocking driveways every 3 to 5 years; the sealer reduces efflorescence, joint weed growth, and surface fade. On concrete driveways, sealer is optional and usually not needed.
Deck and Patio Pricing
Standalone deck and patio cleaning runs separately from staining work:
- Wood deck (standalone clean, no stain): $150 to $350 for typical residential 200 to 500 sq ft decks. Operators may price per square foot at $0.30 to $0.70.
- Composite deck: $100 to $250 for typical residential composite decks. Easier to clean than wood — lower pricing reflects that.
- Stone or concrete patio: $150 to $400 depending on size and condition.
- Pool deck (any material): 10 to 20 percent premium over standard pricing because of chlorine-affected staining and the need for thorough debris removal.
If a deck pre-wash is being done as preparation for staining, it is almost always bundled into the staining contract at no separate charge. Standalone deck washing is usually a maintenance-only customer — annual cleaning without restaining.
Common Add-Ons
The five most common add-ons that combine well with a power washing visit:
- Gutter exterior cleaning: $150 to $300. Removes the dark streaking that runs down siding from gutter overflow.
- Gutter interior clearing: $200 to $400. Separate service; ladder work on the gutter system itself to remove leaves and debris.
- Walkway cleaning: $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot. Almost always bundled with driveway work.
- Fence wash: $1.50 to $3.00 per linear foot. Often bundled before fence staining.
- Window exterior wash: $100 to $300 for typical homes. Separate trade but commonly offered alongside power washing.
Combining add-ons on a single visit typically gets a 10 to 20 percent discount vs separate visits because the operator avoids the second mobilization cost.
Four Signals of a Too-Cheap Quote
If a power washing quote is significantly below market — under $200 for a full-house wash, under $100 for a typical driveway — one of four things is almost always happening:
- Pressure washing where soft washing is required. The siding gets pressure-washed instead of soft-washed because pressure washing is faster. Damage surfaces 6 to 18 months later as visible streaking, blown-out caulking, or paint failure.
- No cleaning solution used. Plain water rinse with no detergent. Surface looks better for two weeks; biological growth returns within a month because the algae and mildew were not killed.
- Skipped pre-treatment dwell time. Even with cleaning solution, the operator does not wait the required 5 to 15 minutes for the solution to do its work before rinsing. Reduces cleaning effectiveness substantially.
- No insurance or WSIB coverage. The biggest financial risk in the category. An uninsured operator who damages your siding or injures themselves on your property creates liability that lands on your homeowner policy. Always ask for proof of insurance and WSIB clearance before hiring.
A defensible GTA power washing quote should include the cleaning method (soft vs pressure), the surfaces treated, the chemicals used (in general terms — biocidal cleaner, surfactant, brightener), and proof of insurance and WSIB. Quotes missing any of these are usually missing actual service quality alongside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does power washing cost in Toronto?
Toronto residential power washing in 2026 runs $250 to $700 for a typical 1,500 to 2,500 square foot home (soft wash siding only), $0.15 to $0.50 per square foot for driveways depending on surface type, $150 to $350 for standalone deck cleaning, and $150 to $400 for patios. Combining services on a single visit is the most cost-effective approach because most operators carry $200 to $300 visit minimums.
Is soft washing more expensive than pressure washing?
Per square foot, soft washing typically costs $0.05 to $0.15 more than pressure washing. The difference reflects the cleaning solution cost and the longer dwell time required. However, soft washing is the only appropriate method for siding, roofs, painted brick, stucco, and cedar shake — pressure washing those surfaces produces damage that emerges 6 to 18 months later. The $100 to $200 saved by pressure-washing siding can result in $2,000 to $8,000 of damage that surfaces over the following two years.
How often should you power wash a driveway in the GTA?
Concrete and asphalt driveways benefit from cleaning every 2 to 3 years, sooner if visible staining or mildew develops. Interlocking driveways should be cleaned and resanded every 1 to 2 years for best appearance and to prevent weed growth in joints. Stamped concrete driveways are typically cleaned every 3 to 5 years with sealer reapplication at the same time. Annual cleaning is rarely necessary unless the driveway sees heavy oil, leaf staining, or proximity to large trees.
What does it cost to power wash a 2,000 sq ft house in the GTA?
A 2,000 square foot home in the GTA with vinyl siding typically costs $400 to $600 for a full soft wash. Stucco or painted brick on the same size home runs $600 to $850. Mixed siding homes (vinyl with brick or stone accents, common in newer subdivisions) are usually quoted as a blended rate of $500 to $750. Two-storey homes carry a small premium over single-storey for ladder access. Bundling driveway and gutter cleaning on the same visit typically saves 10 to 20 percent vs separate service calls.
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