What builds up on houses in Austin?
Austin is dry for much of the year, but it is not clean. These are the usual culprits:
- Green algae and mildew. They show up first on shaded and north-facing walls and under trees, where the surface stays damp after rain and sprinklers.
- Limestone dust film. Fine mineral dust settles on walls in dry spells and bakes on in the heat, leaving a dull, chalky look.
- Hard water spots. Sprinkler overspray leaves white crust on siding, windows and brick near the beds. Left for seasons, it gets harder to remove.
- Rust streaks. Some irrigation water and metal fixtures leave orange stains below the spray line.
- Pollen and tree debris. Oak pollen in spring and cedar pollen in winter leave a yellow-green coat, and live oak leaves leave tannin marks.
- Insect nests and webs. Mud daubers and spiders favor eaves, porches and garage corners.
Most of these respond to soft washing. Rust and heavy mineral crust may need a separate treatment, and we will say so in the quote.

