This is the story of a 1990s brick veneer home in Maitland, NSW — a property that hadn't been professionally cleaned in over 10 years. The owners were preparing to sell and wanted to know if the exterior could be restored without repainting. Here's what we found, what we did, and the result.
The Property
A three-bedroom brick veneer home in East Maitland, built in the early 1990s. The home had original paintwork on the eaves and fascia boards, Colorbond gutters, and a concrete tile roof. The property backed onto a greenbelt, meaning the rear and south-facing walls received minimal direct sunlight — ideal conditions for mould and algae growth.
What We Found
The south and west-facing walls had significant black mould and green algae growth, particularly in the mortar joints between bricks. The eaves and fascia boards had heavy mould staining. The concrete tile roof had extensive moss and lichen growth across approximately 60% of its surface. The gutters were partially blocked with organic debris from the roof. The driveway had algae growth and several oil stains from a leaking vehicle.
The Treatment Plan
We recommended a full exterior package: soft wash house wash to treat the walls, eaves, and fascia; roof soft wash with biocide treatment for the moss and lichen; gutter clean; and driveway pressure wash with degreaser for the oil stains. The owners approved the full package. Total job time: approximately 6 hours for a two-person team.
The Process
We began with the roof, applying a biocide solution and allowing it to dwell for 20 minutes before rinsing. The moss and lichen responded well — approximately 80% was removed in the first treatment, with residual dead growth to wash away naturally over the following weeks. The walls were treated with our soft wash system — biodegradable cleaning solution applied at low pressure, dwelled for 15 minutes, then rinsed. The mould and algae on the brick came away cleanly. The eaves and fascia required a second pass in the most heavily affected areas. The driveway was pre-treated with degreaser on the oil stains, then pressure washed at 3,000 PSI.
The Result
The transformation was significant. The brick walls were restored to their original colour — the mould and algae that had made them appear almost black were completely removed. The eaves and fascia looked freshly painted. The roof was approximately 80% cleaner immediately, with the remaining dead growth expected to wash away within 4–6 weeks. The driveway oil stains were reduced by approximately 85%. The owners were delighted — and subsequently sold the property within three weeks of listing, at the top of their price range.
What This Job Cost
The full exterior package for this Maitland property — house wash, roof clean, gutter clean, and driveway wash — was $895. The owners' real estate agent estimated the clean added $5,000–$8,000 to the sale price and significantly reduced time on market. If you're in Maitland or anywhere in Hunter Valley and want a free quote, call WSI Cleaning on 0481 275 740.
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We service all of Hunter Valley — Cessnock, Maitland, Newcastle, Rutherford, Kurri Kurri, Abermain, Greta, Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, and Port Stephens.