Case Study: Full Property Exterior Refresh in Irmo, SC
How we transformed a Friarsgate home's entire exterior in two days — pressure washing, landscaping, and mulching for a graduation party deadline.
The Situation
A homeowner in the Friarsgate neighborhood in Irmo was getting ready to host a graduation party. The house hadn't had professional exterior maintenance in over two years. Green algae streaks on the vinyl siding, driveway covered in embedded tire marks and pollen/algae, landscape beds overgrown with weeds and decomposed mulch, and the walkway and patio were covered in mildew. They had about 10 days before the party.
Day 1: Pressure Washing + Soft Washing
Driveway (~500 sq ft): Pre-treated with sodium hypochlorite, surface-cleaned with a 20-inch surface cleaner at 3,500 PSI, degreased two oil spots, and applied post-wash algaecide. House exterior (~2,200 sq ft vinyl siding): Soft washed at 500 PSI with surfactant and sodium hypochlorite mix. Two passes on the north-facing wall. Patio and walkway: Surface-cleaned 300 sq ft of patio, 80 linear feet of sidewalk, 6 concrete steps and front porch.
Day 2: Landscape Refresh + Mulching
Removed 8 overgrown hollies that had grown past the windows. Installed 6 Encore Azaleas (Autumn Twist), 4 Loropetalum Purple Diamond, 15 linear feet of Liriope Big Blue, and 2 Muhly Grass flanking the walkway. Applied 6 cubic yards of double-shredded hardwood mulch at 3-inch depth with clean edges. No volcano mulching — maintained 2-3 inch gap around all trunks.
The Result
The homeowner said neighbors came by to ask who did the work before the party even happened. A driveway that looked new, clean siding with zero algae, fresh landscape beds with multi-season color from Encore Azaleas, and a clean patio ready for party setup. 27 new plants total, all low-maintenance selections that won't outgrow the space for 3-5 years.
FAQ
Common questions about general
- Why combine pressure washing and landscaping in one project?
- In the Columbia metro, humidity, pollen, and red clay challenge every exterior surface simultaneously. Pressure washing without fixing the beds still looks unfinished. New landscaping next to a dirty driveway is undermined by the contrast. A full-property approach gives the best result per dollar spent.
- How long does a full property refresh like this take?
- Most residential full-property refreshes take 2-3 days with a 3-person crew. Day 1 is typically pressure washing and soft washing. Day 2 is landscaping, mulching, and finishing touches. Larger properties or more extensive planting may extend to 3 days.