Cedar Siding & Cedar Shake Cleaning — Long Island
Cedar siding and cedar shake shingles are among the most beautiful exterior materials on Long Island homes — particularly in the Hamptons, North Shore, and older neighborhoods throughout Nassau and Suffolk County. They're also among the most misunderstood when it comes to cleaning.
Cedar requires specialized care. It is not forgiving of high-pressure washing. The wrong cleaning approach doesn't just fail to clean — it actively damages the wood, strips its natural oils, and accelerates the mold and rot problems homeowners are trying to fix.
Best Power Wash LI uses soft washing exclusively for cedar siding and cedar shake — the only method that cleans effectively without causing damage.
⚠️ Never Pressure Wash Cedar Siding
High-pressure washing damages cedar in multiple ways: it strips the natural oils that protect the wood, raises the grain and causes splintering, forces water deep into the wood (accelerating rot), and permanently roughens the surface texture. If a company is quoting you "pressure washing" for cedar — find someone else.
Why Cedar Siding Needs Special Treatment
Cedar is a naturally durable wood, but its durability depends on its natural oils remaining intact. These oils are what make cedar naturally resistant to insects, rot, and moisture. Here's why high pressure destroys that protection:
- Grain damage — water at 2500+ PSI tears wood fibers, creating a roughened surface that traps more dirt and organic material
- Oil stripping — the natural extractives (oils and tannins) that give cedar its color and rot-resistance are removed by aggressive pressure
- Water intrusion — high pressure forces water behind siding panels and into the wall assembly, creating moisture problems that are far worse than the surface staining you started with
- Lap damage — the edges of cedar shakes are particularly vulnerable to pressure damage, causing splitting and fracturing at the tips
Our Cedar Siding Soft Wash Process
Step 1: Assessment
We inspect the cedar thoroughly — identifying areas of active mold, mildew, lichen, algae, weathering, and any sections with pre-existing damage that need different handling. We check the condition of caulk joints, windows, and trim that may need extra protection during cleaning.
Step 2: Solution Application
We apply a wood-safe, biodegradable cleaning solution at very low pressure — typically 60-100 PSI, far below even a standard garden hose. The solution is designed to penetrate cedar's surface and kill organic growth (mold, mildew, algae, lichen) at the cellular level without affecting the wood's natural oils or surface integrity.
Step 3: Dwell Time
The solution needs time to work — typically 15-20 minutes for cedar. This is the critical step that produces lasting results. The cleaning chemistry does the heavy lifting, not water pressure.
Step 4: Gentle Rinse
A careful low-pressure rinse removes the solution and loosened organic material. The result: clean cedar that retains its natural color, grain, and oil content — not stripped, whitened, or surface-damaged wood.
What Cedar Soft Washing Removes
- Black mold and mildew — the most common issue on Long Island cedar, particularly on north-facing walls and under dense tree canopy
- Green algae — common in humid, shaded areas
- Lichen — the crusty, flat growth that embeds into cedar surface; requires solution dwell time to loosen
- Gray weathering — oxidation and UV weathering can be partially addressed with appropriate brightening solutions
- General environmental staining — dirt, pollen, tannin stains, and road grime
After Cleaning: Staining and Sealing Cedar
Cleaning is the essential first step, but cedar's long-term protection comes from proper staining or sealing. After soft washing and allowing the wood to dry completely (minimum 48-72 hours, longer in humid conditions), cedar is in ideal condition to accept stain or sealant.
Never apply stain or sealant over dirty or mold-contaminated cedar. It won't adhere properly, will look uneven, and will fail within months. Clean first — always.
We coordinate with painters and staining contractors if you need a referral after cleaning. Our job is to get the wood clean and ready; your painter's job is to protect it.
Cedar Siding Cleaning Across Long Island
Cedar siding is particularly common in the Hamptons, North Shore communities, older neighborhoods in Nassau County, and throughout Suffolk County's more wooded areas. We provide cedar siding and cedar shake cleaning across the island — Northport, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Smithtown, East Hampton, Southampton, and throughout both counties.
Our house washing service covers all siding types including cedar. If you have a mix of cedar and vinyl siding, we handle both in a single visit with the appropriate method for each material.