Nobody likes opening a letter from their homeowners association. When it says something like “mold, mildew or algae observed on the exterior of the home,” it can feel like you’re being singled out. Usually you’re not. Those green and black patches show up on houses all over Maryland, especially on the shady side, and HOAs in planned communities tend to do their inspections street by street.
The good news is that this is one of the easiest violations to fix. Here’s what I tell homeowners who call us after getting one of these letters.
What the letter usually means
Most HOA covenants require you to keep the outside of your home in good repair, and visible growth on siding, trim, fences or walkways falls under that. The letter is asking you to clean it. It’s not saying your house is falling apart.
Read it carefully for two things: exactly what they want cleaned, and the deadline. Deadlines differ from one HOA to the next, so go by what your notice and your covenants say, not by what a neighbor was told.
Is it mold or mildew?
On siding, most of that green growth is algae or mildew rather than the kind of mold people worry about inside a home. On the outside of a house it’s mainly a maintenance problem, not a health emergency. If your letter says “mold,” don’t panic. It’s the same cleaning job either way.
If the same wall turns green again and again, though, it’s worth asking why. Overflowing gutters, sprinklers hitting the siding or heavy shade can all keep a wall damp. I’ll point those out if I see them, because cleaning alone won’t stop a wall that never dries.
How we fix it
For siding, we use a soft wash, which kills the growth at low pressure instead of blasting it. That matters for an HOA notice, because pressure-washing mildew off without killing it is how people end up with a second letter a few months later.
If your notice also mentions the roof, a fence, the walkway or the driveway, we can take care of all of it in one visit. Many HOA letters list more than one thing, and it’s easier on you to have it all done at once. We handle house washing, roof cleaning, deck and fence cleaning and concrete cleaning.
Before and after photos for your HOA
Some HOAs want proof that you fixed the problem. If yours does, tell me when you book and we’ll take before and after photos of the areas listed in the letter, so you can send them in with your response.
If your deadline is tight
Call us as soon as you get the letter. I’ll tell you honestly how soon we can get there. If our schedule won’t meet your deadline, it’s usually worth contacting your HOA, letting them know the job is booked, and asking for a short extension. Most management companies just want to see that it’s being handled.
How to keep it from coming back
- Keep your gutters flowing so water isn’t spilling down the siding. We do gutter cleaning too.
- Point sprinklers away from the house.
- Trim back shrubs and branches that touch the siding and keep it from drying out.
- Plan on a house wash about once a year, and more often on very shady lots.
Common questions
Will one cleaning satisfy my HOA?
In most cases, yes, if it removes the growth listed in the notice. Check the letter for anything else it mentions, like the roof, fence or driveway, so nothing gets missed.
Can I just pressure wash it myself?
You can, but be careful with vinyl siding. High pressure can force water behind the panels, and it removes the green without killing it, so it often comes back. I explain why in soft washing vs. pressure washing.
Do you work in my neighborhood?
We serve homeowners all over Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore County, including planned communities in Columbia, Ellicott City, Owings Mills and Severna Park.
Got the letter? Give me a call.
Call us at (410) 948-0228 or send us a message with what your notice says and when it’s due. We’ll get it cleaned, and you can get back to ignoring your HOA mail.
Frank
Owner, Professional Power Washing