From Lake Hickory docks to the historic wood homes in Oakwood-Hillcrest, we match the right wash to every surface. No blasting, no damage, no guesswork.
If you live in Hickory, you already know what the climate does to a house. The humidity rolling off Lake Hickory feeds algae on the north-facing siding, black streaks crawl down shaded roofs in Viewmont and Highland, and the red Carolina clay tracks across every driveway off Springs Road NE. We are Hydro Jet PW, a local crew that runs up the Highway 127 corridor and across I-40 into Catawba County most weeks of the year. We clean the lake houses around Moore's Ferry, the century-old wood homes near Oakwood-Hillcrest and Kenworth, the suburban cul-de-sacs in Mountain View, and the storefronts along Union Square downtown. Hickory built its name on furniture and craftsmanship, and the homes here deserve that same careful hand. We read the surface first, pick soft wash or pressure wash to match it, then protect your landscaping before a drop of water lands. Here is how we handle the specific problems Hickory and the rest of the county throw at us.
Lake Hickory has about 105 miles of shoreline, and every foot of it pumps humidity into the air. That moisture never gives the waterfront a rest. Out at Moore's Ferry, Governors Harbour, Oliver's Landing, and Antler Cove, we see mildew taking hold on lake-house siding within months of the last cleaning, especially on the shaded north elevations that never fully dry out. We soft wash that growth off vinyl, Hardie, and painted wood with a low-pressure solution that kills it at the root instead of just rinsing the surface.
Docks and boathouses are their own job. Composite and pressure-treated decking, pilings, and second-level viewing decks all go slick and green from constant lake spray. We never hit them with hard pressure — that gouges the wood grain and can work fasteners loose over time. A gentle soft wash brings back the color without tearing anything up. We rinse boathouse roofs and metal roofing the same careful way, clearing algae and the gray waterline scum and tannin staining that builds on shaded elevations facing the water.
Because these homes sit on Duke Energy shoreline property, runoff matters. We control and capture our cleaning solution near the water so it does not run straight into the lake. That keeps your dock clean and the shoreline the way it is supposed to be.
Those dark streaks running down your roof are not dirt, and no amount of rain will rinse them away. They are gloeocapsa magma, a cyanobacteria that feeds on the limestone filler baked into asphalt shingles. With Catawba County sitting above 70% humidity for most of May through September, nearly every roof in Hickory is a target. Drive any cul-de-sac in Viewmont or Highland and you will see it spreading roof to roof, because the algae is airborne — once one house has streaks, the neighbors are next.
The only safe way to remove it is a low-pressure soft wash with a mildewcide. That is the method the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association and the shingle makers themselves call for. Blasting a roof with a pressure washer strips the protective granules and voids your shingle warranty, so a contractor who only owns a big machine is exactly the wrong call here. We treat the algae, let it die off, and let the rain carry the streaks away over the following weeks. To slow the comeback, we can talk about zinc or copper ridge strips and a sensible two-to-three-year soft wash cycle so the streaks never get a foothold again.
Northwest of downtown, the streets fill up with Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman homes that have stood for a century or more. The painted clapboard, original wood trim, gingerbread detail, and aged mortar joints on these houses will splinter or blow out under high PSI. We do not bring that anywhere near them. We hand-control a gentle soft wash, working the cleaner in at low pressure to lift mildew off deep porches, columns, and the shaded, tree-lined lots that are so common in Kenworth and the Claremont district.
We also keep the City of Hickory's local historic district guidelines in mind, so our cleaning lifts the grime without altering anything on a protected exterior. On brick and stone foundations, that means a soft, controlled rinse that pulls off years of dirt and algae without etching the soft historic masonry. The goal is a home that looks cared for, not one that looks worked over.
Red Carolina clay is the enemy of clean concrete around here. The iron in it bonds to the surface and leaves rust-colored tire tracks and stains that a garden hose will never touch. We run a flat surface cleaner over driveways and walks, which scrubs the whole slab evenly in passes instead of leaving the zebra-striped wand marks you get from a careless wash. On the long driveways out in Viewmont and Mountain View, that even finish makes a real difference.
We clean paver patios and walkways the same way, and re-sand the joints afterward — something the newer Lake Hickory subdivisions need regularly. After Hickory's heavy spring pine pollen and oak tassel season cakes the front walk yellow, a quick rinse brings the entry back. And if you want the clean to last, we can seal the concrete after cleaning to slow down re-staining from clay, pollen, and mildew.
The planned communities off Springs Road NE and Viewmont Drive send out cleanliness notices, and we get a lot of calls from homeowners trying to beat a deadline. Tell us the date when you call and we will work to get out ahead of it. We bundle a house wash with the driveway and walkways so the whole front of the home reads clean for the inspection, and we wash vinyl, fiber-cement Hardie, and brick veneer each at the right pressure for that material — never one-size-fits-all.
If you are listing or selling, a whole-exterior refresh in these newer Mountain View and Viewmont subdivisions makes the place show better in photos and in person. Plenty of folks just put us on a recurring annual or biennial plan so the HOA letter never shows up again. We can add the fence, deck, and screened porch to round out the curb appeal in one visit.
Downtown businesses have a different set of problems. Along Main Avenue around Union Square and City Walk, sidewalks, storefronts, and awnings collect gum, grease, and foot-traffic grime that builds up fast. We clear it off so the block looks sharp, and we time it around your hours — early morning or after close — so we never block a doorway or a customer. Before peak weekends like Oktoberfest, restaurant patios and entryways get the same treatment.
Out along the Hickory Furniture Mart corridor and the retail strips, we degrease dumpster pads, drive-thru lanes, and parking aprons that take a beating from road grime and diesel soot. We also wash building exteriors and clean brick on the offices and showrooms near Lenoir-Rhyne University and the depot district. The painted metal and masonry on those big buildings comes back bright without hard pressure doing damage.
We cover all of Hickory's ZIP codes, plus Conover and Newton next door, and on up to Granite Falls and Hudson. Lake Hickory clients on the Alexander and Caldwell County shorelines are in our range too. Routing along Highway 127, US 70, and I-40 lets us reach most jobs the same week you call. We are a licensed and insured local crew, and because we work these neighborhoods every week, we know the staining and tree cover that make a Kenworth lot different from a Viewmont cul-de-sac.
So whether it is gloeocapsa streaks on the roof, red clay on the driveway, lake film on the dock, or an HOA letter on the counter, you do not have to guess at who to call. We will give you an honest, free written quote, and we are happy to show before-and-after photos from real addresses right here in Hickory. Call or text Hydro Jet PW at +1 (351) 242-0666 — serving Hickory and Catawba County — and let's get your exterior clean the right way.
Low pressure + detergent
Kills algae, mildew, and lichen at the root, then rinses gently. The safe choice for anything pressure could damage.
Controlled high pressure
Mechanical cleaning for hard, non-porous surfaces — with a rotary surface cleaner for even, streak-free results.
Gentle soft wash house washing that strips algae, mildew, and pollen off your siding without ever blasting it.
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Low-pressure cleaning that kills algae and mildew at the root and leaves siding, roofs, and stucco clean without the blast.
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Shingle-safe soft wash that erases black streaks, algae, and moss without ever blasting your roof.
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Red clay, rust, tire marks, and algae lifted off your concrete with an even, stripe-free clean.
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Gentle, wide-fan deck cleaning that strips gray oxidation and mildew without gouging your boards.
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We clear the clogs, flush the downspouts, and scrub off the tiger stripes — so your gutters actually move water again.
Learn MoreThe same careful, surface-matched process on every job — here's what to expect from the crew.
Call, text, or fill out the form. We get you a firm, upfront price — no surprises.
We walk the property with a surface thermometer and moisture meter, checking each material and noting the red clay, algae, and stains we're dealing with.
We match the method to the material — soft wash where pressure would damage, pressure where it's right.
We protect your landscaping, then clean with the right detergent dwell time and technique.
We rinse your plants again, roll the hoses, clear every bit of debris, and walk the results with you — we don't leave until you've signed off.
Licensed & Insured
Dedicated pressure-washing coverage — COI on request.
Written Guarantee
Growth back in 30–90 days? We re-treat free.
No-Damage Soft Wash
Method matched to the surface, every time.
5.0★ · 78 Reviews
Local & family-owned since 2015.
Yes. Lake humidity leaves docks, boathouse decks, and railings slick and green year-round. We soft wash them with a low-pressure solution that kills the algae and mildew, then rinse it clean. No gouged wood, no torn screens. We protect the shoreline plants and waterline before we start, every time.
Not the way we do it. The Victorian and Colonial Revival homes in Oakwood-Hillcrest and Kenworth have aged, painted wood that high pressure would chew up. We soft wash instead, using low pressure and a gentle cleaner that lifts algae and grime without stripping paint or splintering boards.
Easy. Call or text us at +1 (351) 242-0666 and tell us what needs washing, whether it is siding, a roof, a driveway, or a dock. We will give you an honest free estimate, no pressure. Hickory is part of our real service area, about 23 miles from our Lincolnton base, so we are out your way often.
Yes. Those black streaks are gloeocapsa magma algae, common on shaded roofs in our humid lake climate. We never blast a roof, that strips granules and voids warranties. We soft wash it with a solution that kills the algae and lets the rain rinse the streaks away over the following weeks.
We do. Hickory is the furniture capital, and those big showrooms, factory walls, and loading-dock aprons take a beating from road grime, diesel soot, and algae. We soft wash the painted metal and brick, then run a surface cleaner over the concrete. We work before you open or after you close, so the wash never slows your floor down.
We hear that a lot from the planned communities around Lake Hickory and Viewmont. Tell us your deadline when you call and we'll work to beat it, usually within a few days. We soft wash the siding so the algae and green streaks come off at the root, not just the surface, and your home reads clean for the inspection.
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Soft WashingA straight-talking Lincolnton guide to pressure washing vs soft washing, including which method is safe for your siding, roof, brick, and deck, plus what it really costs.
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Seasonal MaintenanceMost Lincolnton homes need a soft wash once a year, with shaded, wooded, and lakefront homes closer to twice a year. Here's the local schedule.
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Whether your siding is green, your driveway is stained with red clay, or your roof has black streaks, Hydro Jet PW is ready to help. Free estimates, fast scheduling, and a crew that treats your home like its own.
