By the Templateez Team · Licensed Attorney · June 2026

Pressure Washing Intake Forms: What to Capture Before the First Spray

A pressure washing crew that arrives at a job without knowing whether the surface is sealed concrete or 30-year-old brick, whether the stain is oil or algae, or whether the HOA requires 48 hours' written notice before exterior work begins is going to waste time, risk damage, and lose the client's confidence before the wand ever fires. The onsite walkthrough should demonstrate expertise. It falls apart when your technician is guessing at PSI settings because nobody asked the right questions during booking.

Most pressure washing companies collect an address, a phone number, and a vague description of the job. That is scheduling, not intake. A real pressure washing intake form captures every detail your crew needs to select the right equipment, mix the right chemistry, price accurately, and protect both the property and your business. Here is what that form should cover.

Surface type: the foundation of every pressure washing estimate

Pressure washing is not a one-technique trade. The PSI, nozzle, standoff distance, and chemical treatment change completely based on what you are cleaning. A 3,000 PSI fan tip that is perfect for a concrete driveway will destroy vinyl siding in seconds. Your intake must identify every surface the client wants washed:

• Concrete — driveways, sidewalks, patios, pool decks, garage floors. Concrete tolerates high pressure but varies by age, condition, and whether it has been sealed or stamped. Stamped concrete requires lower PSI to avoid damaging the pattern. Sealed concrete may need the sealant stripped or preserved depending on the client's intent.
• Wood — decks, fences, pergolas, gazebos, dock surfaces. Wood is pressure-sensitive and species-dependent. Cedar and pine are softer than ipe or composite. Excessive pressure raises the grain, splinters the surface, and creates a finish problem that a stain contractor will have to sand out before refinishing. Most wood surfaces require soft washing, not pressure washing.
• Vinyl siding — the most common residential exterior surface and one of the easiest to damage if approached wrong. High pressure drives water behind the siding, into the wall cavity, and creates moisture problems the homeowner will not discover for months. Vinyl is almost always a soft wash job.
• Brick and stone — chimneys, retaining walls, walkways, facades. Older brick with deteriorating mortar joints can lose material under pressure. Limestone and sandstone are softer than granite and can be etched. Your intake should capture the approximate age and condition of the masonry.
• Stucco — requires low-pressure or soft wash techniques exclusively. High-pressure washing cracks stucco, forces water behind the surface, and causes delamination. If a client has stucco and expects "power washing," the intake is where you educate them on the correct method.
• Roof — shingle, tile, metal, flat/TPO. Roof cleaning is almost never high-pressure work. Asphalt shingles lose granules under pressure, which shortens their lifespan and can void the manufacturer's warranty. Tile roofs crack. Most roof cleaning is a low-pressure chemical application — a soft wash with sodium hypochlorite or a proprietary roof-safe blend. Your intake should capture the roofing material and approximate age.
• Commercial surfaces — parking lots, storefront facades, loading docks, dumpster pads, drive-throughs. Commercial work introduces different scale, different access requirements, and often different chemicals. A restaurant dumpster pad with grease buildup is not the same job as a residential driveway with moss.

Service scope: defining the job before you quote it

Clients rarely call and say "I need 1,400 square feet of concrete cleaned at 3,000 PSI with a post-treatment algaecide." They say "I need my driveway done." Your intake form is where you translate a vague request into a specific scope of work. Common service categories your form should present:

• House wash — full exterior cleaning of siding, soffits, fascia, gutters (exterior face), and sometimes windows. This is usually the most comprehensive residential service and should specify whether it includes all four sides, whether windows are included or excluded, and the siding material.
• Driveway and walkway cleaning — flatwork surfaces, typically concrete or pavers. Define whether the scope includes the walkway from the driveway to the front door, the sidewalk in front of the property, and any patio areas connected to the driveway.
• Deck and fence cleaning — wood or composite surface cleaning, often followed by staining or sealing. Your intake should note whether the client wants cleaning only or cleaning plus prep for a refinishing coat.
• Roof cleaning — soft wash chemical treatment to remove algae, moss, and black streaks (Gloeocapsa magma). Capture the roof pitch (affects safety equipment needs), roofing material, and whether gutters should be flushed after the roof treatment.
• Gutter brightening — cleaning the exterior face of gutters to remove tiger striping (oxidation streaks). This is distinct from gutter cleaning (removing debris from inside the gutter channel) and the intake should make that distinction clear.
• Graffiti removal — requires identifying the surface material (painted wall, bare brick, concrete block, metal) and the type of graffiti medium (spray paint, marker, etching). Each combination requires a different solvent and technique.
• Fleet and equipment washing — trucks, trailers, heavy equipment, construction vehicles. This involves different water volumes, often requires a wash bay or containment, and may have environmental discharge requirements.
• Commercial property maintenance — recurring exterior cleaning for retail centers, HOA common areas, apartment complexes. These jobs are defined by frequency and scope, and your intake should establish the service interval and specific areas covered per visit.

Stain identification: knowing what you are removing

A pressure washing estimate based on square footage alone ignores the most important variable — what is on the surface. Different contaminants require different chemistry, different dwell times, and different techniques. Some cannot be fully removed at all, and the client needs to know that before work begins, not after:

• Mold and mildew — the most common reason for residential pressure washing calls. Black or dark green growth on siding, decks, fences, and concrete. Responds well to sodium hypochlorite-based treatment. Your intake should note the extent — localized or widespread — because a north-facing wall covered in mold from the roofline to the foundation is a different scope than a small patch near a downspout.
• Algae — green film on concrete, pavers, and shaded surfaces. Also the cause of the black streaks on roofs (Gloeocapsa magma). Algae responds to chemical treatment, but heavily shaded areas will regrow faster, which is information the client should receive at intake, not as a callback complaint.
• Oil and grease — driveway stains from vehicle leaks, garage floor stains, restaurant grease. Oil requires pre-treatment with a degreaser before pressure washing. Old, deeply penetrated oil stains may not fully come out of porous concrete, and that expectation should be set at intake.
• Rust — from irrigation systems (well water with high iron content), fertilizer, metal furniture, or deteriorating metal fixtures. Rust requires oxalic acid or a dedicated rust remover. Standard sodium hypochlorite makes rust stains worse — it oxidizes the iron further. Identifying rust at intake prevents your crew from applying the wrong chemical and setting the stain permanently.
• Paint overspray or drips — from previous painting projects. Pressure alone rarely removes dried paint from concrete without also damaging the surface. Chemical strippers may be needed.
• Efflorescence — white mineral deposits on brick, block, or concrete caused by moisture moving through the masonry and depositing salts on the surface. Efflorescence requires acid-based treatment (typically muriatic or phosphoric acid) and will recur if the underlying moisture source is not addressed.

Property details and site access

Pressure washing requires water, power, and physical access to every surface being cleaned. Your intake should capture the logistics that determine whether your crew can actually do the job as scoped:

• Square footage of the target surface — or a reasonable estimate. A 600-square-foot driveway and a 2,400-square-foot parking area are different jobs in terms of time, water, and chemical consumption. If the client does not know, ask for approximate dimensions.
• Building height — single-story, two-story, three-story, or higher. Height determines whether your crew needs extension wands, lifts, scaffolding, or aerial equipment. It also affects insurance requirements — many policies have height exclusions or rider requirements above a certain number of stories.
• Water source access — where is the nearest exterior spigot? Is there more than one? What is the flow rate? Pressure washing equipment needs a minimum GPM (gallons per minute) feed to operate without cavitation damage to the pump. Some properties have low-flow spigots that require a buffer tank setup.
• Power source — for electric pressure washers or equipment that needs shore power. Is there an accessible exterior outlet? What amperage? Older homes with 15-amp exterior circuits may not support a commercial electric pressure washer.
• Landscaping near the work area — plants, shrubs, flower beds, and lawns adjacent to surfaces being cleaned. Chemical overspray and runoff can kill vegetation. Your intake should note the proximity of landscaping so your crew can pre-wet and cover plants before applying any treatment.
• Gate access and vehicle entry — can your truck and trailer fit through the gate? Is there a gate code? Is there a narrow side yard that limits equipment access to the backyard? Commercial properties may have loading dock access requirements or specific parking instructions for service vehicles.

Many of these access logistics overlap with other exterior service trades. Painting contractors deal with the same height-access, landscaping-protection, and property-access challenges — the difference is what happens once the surface is exposed. Window cleaning companies face similar multi-story access issues, with the added complication of per-pane pricing models and interior versus exterior scope.

Chemical treatment: soft wash versus pressure wash

This is the section of the intake that separates a company that understands the trade from one that just owns a pressure washer. The right approach depends on the surface, the contaminant, and the property conditions:

• Soft wash versus pressure wash — soft washing uses low pressure (under 500 PSI) with chemical treatment to kill organic growth and let the solution do the work. Pressure washing uses mechanical force (1,500 to 4,000+ PSI) to remove contaminants physically. Most residential exteriors — siding, roofs, wood surfaces — require soft washing. Most flatwork (concrete, pavers) can handle pressure washing. Your intake should note the method being proposed so the client understands what they are getting.
• Detergent and chemical sensitivity — does the client or anyone in the household have chemical sensitivities? Are there health conditions that make exposure to sodium hypochlorite or surfactants a concern? Some clients want "chemical-free" pressure washing, which limits your options to hot water and high pressure only — effective on some surfaces and stains, but not all. The intake is where you document this constraint and set expectations about results.
• Landscaping and plant protection — sodium hypochlorite kills plants on contact. Your crew needs to know what vegetation is adjacent to every treated surface so they can pre-soak, cover, and rinse plants before, during, and after chemical application. Capture the landscaping layout at intake, not at the job site when your technician is already mixing solution.
• Downstream chemical application — whether the client has any restrictions on chemicals being used near pools, koi ponds, water features, pet areas, or outdoor dining spaces. Runoff from a driveway treatment that flows into a koi pond is a liability event that should have been identified at intake.

Surface condition: what are you starting with

The condition of the surface before you wash it determines your approach, your risk, and the results the client can expect. Your intake should capture baseline condition details:

• Age of the surface — a five-year-old concrete driveway and a thirty-year-old one respond differently to the same pressure. Older concrete may be more porous, more stained, and more fragile at the surface layer.
• Existing damage — cracks, chips, spalling, erosion. Pressure washing damaged concrete can widen cracks and accelerate deterioration. Your intake should document pre-existing damage so your crew knows where to reduce pressure, and so the client cannot attribute existing damage to your work.
• Loose or peeling paint — pressure washing will remove loose paint. If the client's painted concrete patio has peeling paint, they need to know that washing will strip more of it. If they want the paint removed entirely, that is a different scope than a surface cleaning.
• Cracked or missing mortar — on brick and stone surfaces. High-pressure water enters deteriorated mortar joints and can dislodge mortar, accelerate deterioration, or force water into the wall cavity. Your intake should flag mortar condition as a risk factor.
• Previous sealing or staining — has the concrete been sealed? Has the deck been stained? Pressure washing a sealed surface may strip the sealant (which may be the goal, or may be an unwanted side effect). A deck that was stained last year will lose its stain if pressure washed. The intake is where you determine the client's intent — are they washing to clean the existing finish, or washing to strip it in preparation for a new application?

HOA and permit considerations

Exterior work in residential communities is increasingly regulated by homeowners' associations, and commercial properties may have municipal permitting requirements. These constraints can delay or prevent a job entirely if they are not identified at intake:

• HOA approval requirements — some HOAs require written approval for any exterior work, including pressure washing. Others have approved vendor lists. Some restrict the days or hours when exterior service work can be performed. Ask at intake whether the property is in an HOA-governed community and whether the client has obtained any required approvals.
• Water discharge regulations — many municipalities regulate where pressure washing runoff can flow. Chemical-laden water entering a storm drain is an environmental violation in most jurisdictions. Commercial jobs in particular may require containment and recovery of wash water. Your intake should note whether the job requires runoff containment.
• Noise ordinances — gas-powered pressure washers are loud. Residential noise ordinances typically restrict when they can be operated (no early mornings, no Sundays in some areas). Commercial properties in mixed-use zones may have similar restrictions. Document the local rules at intake so your crew does not show up at 7 AM on a Saturday with a gas unit in a neighborhood that does not allow service equipment noise before 9 AM.
• Water use restrictions — in drought-prone regions, municipal water restrictions may limit or prohibit pressure washing during certain periods. Some jurisdictions require a water-use variance for commercial pressure washing operations. If the client's area has active water restrictions, this needs to be captured at intake before you schedule the job.

Scheduling logistics

Pressure washing schedules are influenced by factors that do not apply to most indoor service trades. Your intake should capture the constraints that affect when the job can actually happen:

• Time-of-day restrictions — commercial properties may have business hours during which exterior work is prohibited (storefronts that do not want a pressure washing crew operating during peak customer hours). Restaurants may require pre-opening or post-closing work windows.
• Weather dependencies — pressure washing is outdoor work. Your intake should establish the rescheduling policy for rain, extreme heat (chemicals dry too fast on hot surfaces), or freezing temperatures (water on concrete in below-freezing conditions creates ice hazards).
• Multi-day job planning — large commercial properties, full house-wash-plus-driveway-plus-deck jobs, or jobs requiring multiple chemical applications with dwell time between treatments may take more than one day. The intake should establish whether multi-day access is available and whether equipment can be left onsite overnight.
• Coordination with other trades — is the client having the house painted after it is washed? Is a deck staining contractor scheduled for the following week? Pressure washing is often the first step in a multi-trade sequence, and your scheduling needs to account for the trades that follow.

Add-on services: capturing the full scope

Many pressure washing clients need more than just the wash. Capturing add-on interest at intake lets you quote the complete job rather than leaving money on the table or requiring a second visit:

• Sealing after washing — concrete sealing, paver sealing, or deck sealing applied after the surface is cleaned and dried. This is one of the highest-margin add-ons in the pressure washing business, and many clients do not know it is available unless you offer it. Your intake should explain that freshly cleaned surfaces are ideal candidates for sealant and ask whether the client wants a quote for sealing.
• Gutter cleaning — removing debris from inside the gutter channel. Distinct from gutter brightening (exterior cleaning). Many house-wash clients want both the exterior gutter face cleaned and the interior gutter channel cleared.
• Window cleaning — exterior window washing done at the same time as the house wash. Bundling window cleaning with a house wash is efficient because the crew is already onsite with ladders or extension equipment.
• Deck staining or sealing — if the client is having a deck cleaned, offer staining or sealing as a follow-up service. This either requires a drying period (typically 24 to 48 hours) or can be scheduled as a separate visit.
• Recurring service agreement — commercial clients often benefit from quarterly or semi-annual pressure washing maintenance. Residential clients may want annual house washes. Capturing this interest at intake lets you build a recurring revenue relationship from the first interaction.

Documenting expectations before the first job

The most common pressure washing dispute is a gap between what the client expected and what the crew delivered. The client expected the driveway to look new. The crew removed the surface contamination but the concrete still has 15-year-old oil stains that are permanently embedded. The client expected the siding to be bright white. The crew removed the algae but the oxidation on 20-year-old vinyl is a condition of the material, not a stain that can be washed away.

A thorough intake form prevents these disputes by surfacing stain types, setting expectations for results, documenting pre-existing damage, and establishing the scope of work before the wand ever turns on. When a client fills out a form that asks about mortar condition, chemical sensitivities, and HOA requirements, they recognize they are dealing with a company that has handled enough properties to know what matters. That is the foundation of a professional relationship — and it starts with the intake.

If you are building documentation across a multi-trade exterior services operation, the Trade Services Bundle includes pressure washing alongside 51 other service categories, each with trade-specific intake fields.