Soft Wash & Solar Panel Wash — Berry

Keith spent a day out in Berry ticking off two jobs the owner had been putting off: a gentle soft wash of the exterior to lift built-up dirt, grime, mould and organic growth, and a full solar panel wash while we were up there. Both done in one visit, using low-pressure methods that are easy on the surfaces and safe on the panel warranty.

The challenge

Berry is close enough to the coast for salty, humid air and shaded by enough established trees to keep roofs and walls damp long after the rain stops. That is exactly the environment mould, algae and lichen thrive in — dark streaks creep across the roofline and external walls through winter, while solar panels quietly collect pollen, dust and bird droppings. Homeowners usually notice the streaks first and the drop in power second, and neither comes off with a garden hose.

What we did

We soft-washed rather than pressure-washed. An eco-safe, biodegradable solution was applied at low pressure to kill the organic growth at the root, then gently rinsed away — no blasting at tile, brick or paint, and no forcing water into places it shouldn't be. Garden beds, downpipes and vulnerable surfaces were protected before we started. Then we moved onto the solar array: a water-fed pole with a soft brush and deionised water, lifting the film off the glass with no detergents and nothing abrasive that could void a manufacturer's warranty.

• Low-pressure soft wash of the exterior to lift dirt, grime, mould and organic growth
• Eco-safe, biodegradable treatment applied at low pressure, then gently rinsed
• Garden beds, downpipes and vulnerable surfaces protected before we started
• Full solar panel wash with deionised water and a soft brush — no detergents
• Warranty-safe on the glass: no high pressure, no abrasives
• Exterior and solar completed in a single visit

The outcome

The exterior reads noticeably brighter once the streaks and organic growth are gone, and the panels are clean and spot-free going into the sunnier spring and summer months. Because both jobs were carried out on the same visit, the owner only had to arrange access once. And because the growth was killed at the root rather than scoured off the surface, it takes far longer to come back.

"If you're already up on the roof for a clean, it makes sense to sort the panels while you're there. One visit, both jobs done, and nothing blasted that shouldn't be."