FAQs

As busy homeowners, we know you have questions. As expert professionals, we have answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've all experienced businesses that don't keep things clear and concise. Here are a few questions we get asked, and the answers that only MDTH can provide. Call us today with your own questions, or request your free quote. We can't wait to serve you!

What is the cost for exterior home cleaning?

Are you looking for an accurate house washing estimate in Southeast Michigan? At MDTH Services, we believe in transparent, competitive pricing based on the specific needs of your property.

How We Calculate Your Quote

For a standard residential soft wash, our professional cleaning packages begin at $0.28 per living square foot. However, because every home in communities like Novi, Northville, and Bloomfield Hills is unique, we factor in several variables to ensure the most effective and safe cleaning process:

  • Scope of Work: Are we performing a standard vinyl siding cleaning or a full roof-to-curb restoration?

  • Project Size: Total square footage and the number of stories (ranch vs. colonial) impact the equipment and time required.

  • Type of Biological Growth: Removing heavy moss and lichen requires different eco-friendly treatments than light surface dust or algae.

  • Site Access: Consideration for landscaping, water source proximity, and architectural complexity.

Request Your Firm, No-Surprise Quote

While "ballpark" numbers are helpful, we prefer to perform a site visit for every project. This allows our licensed and insured technicians to adequately assess your home’s needs and provide a formal, firm quote.

Our goal is simple: total transparency and professional results with no hidden fees or surprises at the end of the day.

Licensing & Insurance

Our Michigan State Compliance & Certifications

  • EGLE Wash Ground Discharge Permit: In accordance with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), we hold the required permits for mobile pressure washing. This ensures our wastewater management protects Michigan’s local water systems and the Great Lakes.

  • Licensed Pesticide Business: For safe and effective roof cleaning and house soft washing, the Michigan Department of Agriculture requires a Pesticide Business License.

  • Trained Technician: We never send an untrained crew to your property. Every MDTH soft washing project is expertly handled by fully trained technicians.

Comprehensive Insurance for Your Protection

We believe "adequate" isn't enough when it comes to your property. MDTH Services carries premium insurance coverage to ensure absolute peace of mind for our clients in Novi, Northville, Bloomfield Hills, and beyond:

  • General Liability Insurance: Protecting your home or commercial building during the cleaning process.

  • Workers' Compensation: Ensuring our team is covered so you are never held liable for onsite injuries.

  • Commercial Automotive Insurance: Specialized coverage for our commercial cleaning rigs and equipment.

  • Umbrella Coverage: We want to assure adequate coverage, to assure your property and our business are well protected.
Pressure vs. Power vs. Soft Washing

At MDTH Services, we believe in using the right tool for every job. Understanding the difference between these cleaning methods is essential for protecting the structural integrity of your home or business.

1. Professional Pressure Washing

Pressure washing utilizes cold water delivered at high pressure (typically between 2,500 and 5,000 PSI) to forcefully blast away dirt and grime.

  • Best For: Durable, high-strength substrates such as concrete driveways, brick walkways, and stone masonry.

  • A Word of Caution: We never recommend high-pressure washing for any form of siding or roofing, as the force can cause permanent structural damage.

2. Commercial Power Washing

The main difference in power washing is the use of specialized hot water units. The combination of heat and high pressure is a "heavy-duty" solution designed for the toughest jobs.

  • Best For: Commercial and industrial applications, specifically for removing grease, oil stains, and heavy carbon buildup.

  • Common Uses: Power washing is the most effective method for gum removal from sidewalks and cleaning heavy machinery or equipment.

3. Safe Residential Soft Washing (Recommended)

Soft washing is our specialized method for cleaning delicate residential surfaces. Instead of relying on brute force, soft washing uses environmentally friendly soaps and cleaners to do the "heavy lifting." This method treats the root cause of the problem, killing mildew, algae, and moss at the source.

  • Best For: All types of vinyl siding, composite decking, and roof cleaning.

  • Why It’s Superior: By using low-pressure rinsing, we ensure your home is cleaned thoroughly without the risk of water intrusion or surface etching. It is by far the safest way to protect your biggest investment.

Residents & Pets

Professional Safety Protocols

To maintain the highest level of protection, we strictly adhere to the following safety policies on every residential, commercial, and municipal project:

  • Secure Work Zones: We require that all residents, guests, and pets remain clear of the active work area while cleaning is in progress. Only authorized MDTH Services technicians are permitted within the service zone to ensure a controlled and safe environment.

  • Expert Chemical Management: Our team is highly trained in the proper use of all cleaning agents. We follow all manufacturer safety data sheets (SDS) and precautions to the letter.

  • Eco-Friendly Neutralization: Every soap or cleaner we utilize is meticulously diluted and/or neutralized before we complete your project. This ensures that your surfaces are clean and safe for immediate use by your family and pets.

  • Plant & Landscaping Protection: We take specialized care to pre-wet and rinse surrounding vegetation to ensure your beautiful Michigan landscaping remains healthy and vibrant.

Trust the Licensed Professionals

Because we use environmentally friendly products and industry-leading soft wash techniques, you can book with confidence. We combine our expert knowledge of chemistry with a disciplined safety process to protect your biggest investment without compromising the well-being of your loved ones.

Landscaping & Property

Meticulous Plant & Property Protection Protocols

At MDTH Services, we treat your property with the same respect we give our own. We understand that your landscaping and exterior fixtures are significant investments. That is why we utilize a rigorous, multi-step protection process to ensure your home and garden remain safe and vibrant throughout the cleaning process.

Professional Landscape Safeguards

We are highly skilled in plant protection and property safety. Unlike standard cleaning crews, we follow a proactive "Pre-Drench and Neutralize" system:

  • Hydration Protection: We thoroughly water all landscaping and vegetation prior to applying any cleaners, creating a protective barrier for the roots and leaves.

  • Continuous Rinsing: We continue to rinse your plants while soaps are applied and perform a final, deep-rinse and neutralization after the project is complete.

  • Eco-Friendly Dilution: All soaps and cleaners are meticulously diluted and neutralized to ensure they are safe for your lawn and gardens.

Advanced Property & Electrical Safety

Water intrusion and equipment hazards are risks we take seriously. We exhaust every protective measure to safeguard your home’s infrastructure:

  • Electrical & Security Protection: All outdoor electrical outlets are completely taped off, and security systems (cameras, doorbells, and sensors) are covered to prevent water intrusion or electrical shorts.

  • Hose & Equipment Management: We manage all hoses neatly to avoid damaging flower beds and utilize high-visibility safety cones to identify potential hazards and maintain a clean, organized job site.

  • Meticulous Movement: Our technicians are trained to move through your property with care, ensuring that equipment never disrupts your landscaping or outdoor decor.

Your Trusted, Detail-Oriented Choice

While no exterior cleaning process is entirely without risk, MDTH Services is dedicated to mitigating every possibility of damage. Our disciplined approach to property protection is one of the many reasons we are the preferred choice for residential and commercial clients in Novi, Northville, and across Southeast Michigan.

Soaps & Cleaners

High-Performance, Eco-Friendly Exterior Cleaning Solutions

At MDTH Services, we don’t believe in a "one-size-fits-all" approach to cleaning. We use a curated selection of professional-grade soaps and cleaners specifically formulated to target the exact contaminants on your property. Our team has spent years researching and testing the highest quality products to ensure exceptional results that are safe for your home and the environment.

Professional Soft Wash Chemistry for Organic Growth

To eliminate organic stains like algae, moss, and mildew, we utilize a specialized soft wash solution.

  • The Formula: Our primary active ingredient is a professional-grade sodium hypochlorite (SH) solution, which is the industry standard for killing organic growth at the root.

  • Enhanced Performance: We combine this with a high-viscosity surfactant designed specifically for exterior cleaning. This allows the cleaner to "cling" to vertical surfaces like vinyl siding and roofs for a deeper, more effective clean.

  • Safety First: All solutions are meticulously diluted and neutralized to ensure the absolute safety of your family, pets, and Michigan landscaping.

Specialized Cleaners for Inorganic Stains

Different stains require different chemistry. For non-organic disturbances, we utilize a variety of advanced acidic and caustic cleaners engineered for:

  • Irrigation Rust Stain Removal: Safely lifting orange iron stains from siding and concrete.

  • Efflorescence Treatment: Removing white, chalky salt deposits from brick and stone.

  • Oxidation Removal: Restoring the finish on faded vinyl or metal surfaces.

  • Oil & Grease Degreasing: Heavy-duty cleaning for commercial drive-thrus and parking areas.

Complete Transparency & Safety (SDS Available)

We are committed to the safety of your property and our environment. We are happy to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every product used on your project upon request. By choosing MDTH Services, you are choosing a team that understands the science of clean, ensuring your residential, commercial, or municipal investment is protected and restored.

Equipment

Professional-Grade Equipment for Superior Results

At MDTH Services, we invest in the industry's most advanced technology to ensure your property receives a deep, safe, and long-lasting clean. Whether we are tackling heavy-duty commercial concrete or delicate residential siding, we utilize specialized equipment tailored to the unique needs of your project.

High-Pressure Surface Cleaning Systems

For durable substrates, we use professional-grade high-pressure washing equipment designed to deliver consistent power without damaging your masonry.

  • Concrete & Masonry: We utilize industrial surface cleaners that provide a uniform clean for driveways, patios, and walkways—eliminating the "striping" effect often seen with DIY rental units.

  • Commercial & Equipment Cleaning: Our high-PSI units are capable of removing stubborn grime, grease, and carbon buildup from masonry, heavy machinery, and industrial equipment.

Dedicated Low-Pressure Soft Wash Systems

Protecting your home’s "soft" surfaces requires specialized gear. Our soft washing equipment is separate from our high-pressure units, ensuring that delicate areas are never exposed to damaging force.

  • Vinyl & Wood Siding: Our systems utilize high-volume, low-pressure delivery to gently apply eco-friendly cleaners and rinse them away safely.

  • Safe Roof Cleaning: We use dedicated pumps designed specifically for roof soft washing, allowing us to treat shingles without ever using high pressure that could void your warranty.

The MDTH Advantage: Safety & Efficiency

By using the right tool for every substrate, we maximize both results and safety. Our professional setups are designed to be efficient, minimizing the time we spend on-site while maximizing the "wow factor" of your property's curb appeal.

We bring the best equipment in Southeast Michigan directly to your job site in: Birmingham | Bloomfield Hills | Novi | Northville | White Lake | Highland | Milford | Hartland

Results

When to Expect Your "Wow-Factor" Results

At MDTH Services, we pride ourselves on efficiency and transparency. While most of our exterior cleaning services provide immediate, same-day results, certain specialized treatments—specifically roof moss removal—require a more patient, "safety-first" approach to protect your investment.

Immediate Results for Most Services

For the majority of our projects, including house soft washing, pressure washing, and concrete cleaning, you will see a dramatic transformation before we even leave your driveway. Our investment in professional-grade equipment and advanced soaps allows us to deliver a high-quality clean with incredible efficiency.

The Science of Safe Roof Moss Removal

When it comes to roof soft washing, we prioritize the long-term integrity of your shingles over a "quick fix" that could cause damage.

  • The Process: We never forcefully scrub or blast moss from your roof. Instead, we apply a specialized treatment that kills organic growth at the root.

  • The Timeline: While you will see the cleaners working immediately, heavy moss buildup can take 30 to 60 days to naturally and safely release from the shingles after the treatment.

  • The Benefit: By allowing nature and our professional-grade soaps to do the work, we ensure your roof is cleaned without the risk of losing protective granules or voiding your manufacturer’s warranty.

Expert Cleaning Across Southeast Michigan

Our deep knowledge of cleaning chemistry and our commitment to using the highest quality equipment make us the premier choice for exterior care. Whether you are in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Novi, or Hartland, we are dedicated to providing the most effective and safest cleaning results available today.

What is oxidation?

Professional Vinyl Siding Oxidation Removal

Have you noticed a white, "chalky" substance on your home’s exterior? This is siding oxidation, a natural degradation caused by long-term exposure to oxygen and UV heat. While a standard house wash removes organic growth like algae, it will not remove oxidation. To restore the luster of your home, a specialized oxidation removal treatment is required.

How to Identify Oxidized Siding

You can easily test for oxidation yourself. Simply rub your finger across your siding; if a chalky, powdery residue transfers to your skin, the surface has oxidized. This often results in a dull, uneven appearance that detracts from your home's curb appeal.

Our Specialized Restoration Process

Removing oxidation is a labor-intensive process that goes beyond traditional soft washing. At MDTH Services, our restoration method includes:

  • Targeted Oxidation Cleaners: We apply a specialized cleaning agent designed to break the bond between the chalky residue and the vinyl.

  • Manual Agitation: Unlike a standard wash, oxidation removal requires professional brushing and physical agitation to lift the degraded layer safely.

  • Meticulous Rinsing: We ensure a clean finish to reveal the original sheen of your siding.

Understanding Thermal Bridging

When restoring siding in communities like Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, it is important to understand the underlying condition of the material. Removing oxidation can sometimes reveal thermal bridging.

  • What is Thermal Bridging? This appears as subtle color variations or "ghosting" lines on your siding. It is caused by heat transferring through building materials behind the panels, such as wall studs or nails.

  • The Reality of Siding Wear: Thermal bridging is a result of the home’s original construction and the natural aging of the vinyl. While cleaning restores the surface, it may expose these permanent thermal patterns. Currently, there is no chemical remedy for siding that has reached this stage of thermal deterioration.

Trust the Exterior Restoration Experts

Whether you are in Novi, Northville, or Hartland, MDTH Services provides the expert knowledge needed to assess and treat your home's exterior. We prioritize honesty and professional results, ensuring you understand exactly what your siding needs to look its best.

Call For a Quote:

(248) 469-0701

Roof Cleaning FAQs

What is growing on my roof?

The short answer is Gloeocapsa Magma which is a cyanobacteria that closely resembles an algae. The long answer is that your roof may have an entire bio-mass growing up there! The Gloeocapsa Magma creates a moist bed where other growth can attach such as lichens, ferns, mildews and more! You’ll notice this growth more prevalently on the north side of your roof, but in time it can spread over the whole roof system. 

Should my roof be cleaned?

The biological growth that is living on your roof is holding moisture up against the roofing material. It’s also giving a “toe-hold” for other organisms to take root. Besides being an ugly cosmetic blemish, this growth may be diminishing the lifespan of your roof. Additionally, roofs have a certain reflective quality and the growth up there could be making your electric bills higher than they should be! If leaves and debris are packing up in the valleys of the roof and laying across the shingles, this rotting vegetation can also be holding moisture and exacerbating very detrimental conditions for the longevity of that covering. However, there are some roofs that are too dangerous for us to clean or have a reached the end of their lifespan. Spending money on a cleaning process just doesn’t make financial sense in some cases, and your MDTH Services representative will advise you of our opinion in these cases.

Sprinklers

If you have a sprinkler system, we strongly recommend heavily watering the plants the day before your scheduled appointment as well as the next day afterwards.

Warranty

As we are killing “living organisms” including algae mildew, lichen, ferns, etc., we cannot warranty our work for a definitive period. Precipitation, humidity, and temperature impact this biomass and are forces out of our control. On average, most of our customers will not see substantial regrowth or re-staining for 3-4 years.

Asphalt

Roof to be cleaned per ARMA (Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association), GAF, and ELK standards. Your roof will be treated with a custom blended sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution and industry specific surfactants. Our final step in your roof cleaning process will be to apply a neutralizer (Agent Halt) to your roof. This final process will help to neutralize any chemical residue from the cleaning process.

After The Cleaning

You may notice a slight brown hazing after your cleaning, this is completely normal. Some dead algae may remain and will naturally be removed by rains & wind. If after TWO substantial rains you notice remaining staining, we will come back to retreat problems areas on your roof within thirty days of the initial cleaning at no additional cost.

Plants & Landscaping

MDTH Services will make every effort to protect your landscape. You can assist us by moving potted plants out of the immediate area we will be cleaning. If you have plants you are concerned about, DO NOT COVER THEM! Heavy plastics can cause more harm to plants than our roof cleaning mixture. If you have concerns, please address them with MDTH Services and we can cover your greenery with TYVEK or a similar breathable fabric. You may notice browning on a few leaves here and there, this is normal and does not mean your plant is dead or dying. Dry, damaged, and weak plants may have a more severe reaction to a roof cleaning. We will make every effort to prevent landscape damage, but we are killing a “plant” that is living on your roof, and mitigating the risk of harming the plants living in your yard!