Rain is a normal part of life in Livingston County, so it is a normal question too. A customer once texted us the night before a job just to ask if it was going to rain. We were glad they did.
So, what happens if it rains on my scheduled day? We look at the sky, the wind and the temperature. If the day is not right, we move it, and you do not get left waiting. Below we explain how we think about rain, wind, storms and cold, what the morning of a job looks like, and how rescheduling works for homeowners in Howell and across the county.
The Short Answer: What Happens If It Rains on My Scheduled Day?
A light shower does not always cancel your visit. Storms, lightning, heavy rain, strong wind and freezing temperatures can. When conditions are unsafe or the work would not come out right, we reschedule, contact you promptly, and move you to the next available time. You do not have to chase us.
When we usually reschedule:
- Lightning or thunder
- Heavy rain
- Strong wind
- Freezing temperatures
Worried about the forecast? Call us or send the quote form on our contact page and we will talk it through.
What Does Our Written Weather Policy Say?
Our Terms and Conditions page says exterior cleaning is weather dependent. We reserve the right to reschedule appointments because of rain, high winds, freezing temperatures or other unsafe conditions. When that happens, we contact you promptly and offer the next available time.
That is the whole policy, and we are happy to say it plainly. It protects both of us. You do not want a rushed job in bad weather, and we do not want to put a crew on slick ground or ladders in a gusty wind.
We would much rather move a day than do the work badly. A clean that looks great and stays safe is the point of the visit.
Does Rain Stop a House Wash?
Not always. A house gets wet during a wash anyway, and soft washing is built around water and detergent. Our house washing uses low pressure and a specialized detergent, so a little extra water from the sky is not automatically a problem.
Where rain does matter is in how long the detergent stays on the surface, how well we can see the dirt, and how safe the footing is. Heavy rain changes all three. Light rain often does not.
Here is the honest part. Companies and sources disagree on this. Some exterior cleaners work through rain and others avoid it. The right answer depends on the surface, the product and the day. On our jobs, the crew leader makes the call on the morning of the visit.
Can You Soft Wash a House in Light Rain?
Often, yes. One morning there was a soft drizzle. The siding was going to get wet during the wash anyway, so the job went on as planned.
There are a few reasons light rain can be workable. The surface is already wet. We keep plants wet by constantly spraying water over them while detergent is used. And an overcast sky keeps detergent from drying too fast.
Many exterior cleaners work through light rain, and that matches what we have seen. Still, it is not a promise. If the rain picks up, the wind rises or the footing turns slick, the crew leader can stop and rebook.
Why Does Heavy Rain Cause Problems?
The detergent needs a few minutes on the surface to loosen algae and mildew. Heavy rain can dilute it or rinse it off before that happens. The result is a weaker clean.
Rain also hides dirt, so spots are easier to miss. And wet algae and moss are slippery to walk on. Other exterior cleaning companies say the same. ViewCrew Services notes that heavy rain can wash out uncured sealer and that wet algae and moss can get very slippery.
When the rain is steady and heavy, a reschedule is usually the better call for everyone.
Is Working in a Thunderstorm Safe?
No. Thunder and lightning end the day. One afternoon the sky turned dark and a storm moved through, so the crew packed up and rebooked.
The National Weather Service puts it simply with its message, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors. It also says there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. The NWS lightning overview adds that lightning kills about 20 people in the United States each year.
Our work also puts water near electricity, and crews use metal ladders. Nothing about a storm is worth the risk.
Why Do Wind and Freezing Temperatures Matter More Than People Think?
In Michigan, wind and cold cause as many changes as rain does. They are quieter reasons, so people rarely think to ask about them. We think about them every morning.
How Does Wind Affect a House Wash?
Wind carries things. Detergent mist can drift onto a neighbor’s car, open windows, flowerbeds and the person on the ladder. One breezy morning, the mist would have drifted straight toward a neighbor’s car, so we moved the day.
A steady breeze can also make work at height unsafe. We do not put a number on it. The crew leader looks at how the wind is behaving on the day and decides.
What Temperature Is Too Cold to Wash?
We do not use a hard number. Our Terms and Conditions list freezing temperatures as a reason to reschedule, and the reasons are practical.
Water can freeze on concrete, steps and decks and turn into ice. That is a slip hazard for you and for us. Outdoor water lines and spigots can freeze too. One cold morning near freezing, the concrete would have iced over, so we waited.
Livingston County has freeze thaw winters and road salt, so cold mornings are common in the shoulder seasons. Freezing is a bigger deal than rain for scheduling, and most people do not expect that.
What About Hot, Sunny Days?
Bright sun and heat can dry detergent too fast. That is why an overcast day can be friendly to soft washing. On a hot, sunny day the crew may work around the shade or adjust the approach. It is one more thing we weigh in the morning.
How Do We Decide on the Day?
We check the radar and the sky. We check the wind. We check the temperature. Then we look at the surfaces and the job in front of us, and we decide with safety and results in mind.
Forecasts are often wrong. Sometimes a wet forecast turns into a workable day, and sometimes a dry forecast turns wet by ten in the morning. That is why we make the call on the day instead of days ahead.
Trevor would rather move a day than rush a job. A rushed wash in bad weather shows up later as missed spots and unhappy homeowners, and nobody wants that.
A Simple Go or Reschedule Guide
This is how we think about it. It is not a list of rules.
Usually a go:
- Dry or overcast skies
- Light rain with calm wind
- Mild temperatures
Usually a reschedule:
- Lightning or thunder
- Heavy or steady downpours
- Strong wind
- Freezing temperatures or ice
- Standing water and unsafe footing
How Will We Contact You If We Need to Reschedule?
We contact you promptly and offer the next available time. You do not have to chase us. We do the calling.
We know the worst part of a weather delay is not knowing. You prepared, you set aside the day, and you want to hear something. That is why the follow up is our job, not yours.
If you see a bad forecast and want to ask first, you can call us. We are glad to talk it through.
If your day moves, we do the calling. You keep your spot and we offer the next available time. Estimates are free, and you can ask us anything before you book.
How Soon Is the Next Available Time?
It depends on the schedule and the forecast. Weather clusters, so a stretch of wet days can fill the calendar quickly. We do not like to promise a number of days, because we would rather tell you the truth than guess.
What we can say is that we work through the list in order and offer you the next opening that suits the weather.
Will I Be Charged for a Weather Reschedule?
Our Terms and Conditions say payment is due on completion of the service unless agreed in writing. Rescheduling for weather is part of how exterior cleaning works. If you have questions about fees or deposits, please ask us when you book and we will answer clearly.
Does Rain After the Cleaning Ruin the Work?
No. Rain after a house wash does not undo it. The surfaces have been cleaned and rinsed, and a shower just keeps rinsing.
One customer called us the afternoon after a job, worried that a shower had ruined everything. It had not. The house looked just as clean.
What rain can do is leave some water spots while surfaces dry. Those fade as the surface dries out.
What If It Rains the Same Day After We Finish?
The cleaning is done. A shower simply continues the rinse. You may see a few water spots on some surfaces while they dry, and they usually go away on their own.
What If You Are Sealing or Staining After the Wash?
We clean, and we do not seal or stain. If you plan to seal or stain a deck or driveway afterward, you need dry weather and you need to follow the label on the product. The label is the rule, not us.
What Should You Do to Get Ready When the Forecast Looks Wet?
A few small things make a wet forecast easier:
- Leave furniture and decorations off the work area until we confirm the day
- Keep pets inside
- Keep your phone on and nearby on the day
- Keep the plant watering schedule from our Terms and Conditions flexible
- Keep your date open for a few extra days if you have an event
The plant watering steps in our Terms and Conditions ask for a slow soak at the soil level, 15 to 30 minutes per zone, every second day across the week around the service date. If the day moves, shift the schedule with it.
What Happens on the Job Day at Livingston Pressure Washing?
The crew arrives and checks the sky, the wind and the temperature. They look at the surfaces and the work ahead. Then they either start or call to reschedule.
If the day is a go, the crew keeps plants wet by constantly spraying water over them while detergent is used. They wash the house or surface, rinse it well, and check the work. If you are home, you will hear water and see a crew moving steadily around the property.
If the day is not a go, the crew leader makes that call, and we contact you promptly with the next available time. Nobody leaves you guessing.
We back our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We are locally owned, fully insured and licensed, with more than five years in business and over 1,100 customers served in Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, Pinckney and beyond.
How Does Michigan Weather Change Our Schedule Through the Year?
Being flexible is just part of working in Michigan. Each season shapes the calendar in its own way.
- Spring: Storms and damp days are common, and algae starts to show up on siding and roofs.
- Summer: Humid weather, hot days and pop up storms can all move a job.
- Fall: Leaves pile up, and early cold mornings can change the plan.
- Winter: Freezing temperatures and ice are the main reason we reschedule, which matches the freezing rule in our Terms and Conditions.
Lake houses, wooded lots and shaded roofs hold moisture longer, so algae often builds there first. That is part of why people in Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, Pinckney, Hamburg, South Lyon, New Hudson, Milford and Wixom call us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you cancel if it rains?
Not always. We reschedule for heavy rain, storms, high wind, freezing temperatures or other unsafe conditions. When that happens, we contact you promptly and offer the next available time.
Can you soft wash a house in light rain?
Often yes, since the surface is wet anyway and soft washing uses water and detergent. The crew leader makes the final call on the day, and heavier rain or wind can change it.
Do I have to call to reschedule?
No. We contact you and offer the next available time. You keep your spot, and you do not have to chase us.
Will rain right after the wash undo it?
No. Rain after the cleaning does not undo it. A shower keeps rinsing the surface. You may see some water spots while things dry, and they usually fade.
What temperature is too cold to wash?
Freezing temperatures are a reason to reschedule, because water can freeze into ice and outdoor lines can freeze. We do not use a hard number. The crew leader checks the temperature on the day.
Does wind affect the job?
Yes. Strong wind can carry detergent mist onto cars, windows and flowerbeds, and it can make ladder work unsafe. When the wind is too strong, we reschedule.
Is it safe to wash during a thunderstorm?
No. Thunder and lightning end the day. The National Weather Service says no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area, so we stop and rebook.
Will I be charged if you reschedule for weather?
Please ask us when you book. Our Terms and Conditions say payment is due on completion unless agreed in writing, and rescheduling for weather is a normal part of the process.
What should I do if rain is forecast on my day?
Keep your phone handy, keep furniture flexible, keep pets inside, and expect our call if the day moves. If you want to ask first, you can call us anytime during business hours.
Ready to Book? Rain Will Not Stop Us From Getting You on the Calendar
Weather is a normal part of Michigan scheduling. If your day needs to move, we will offer the next available time, and we will not leave you guessing.
Call Livingston Pressure Washing at 810 360 1002 or use the quote form on our contact page for a free estimate. New customers get a discount by mentioning First Time Offer. We are open Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm, serving exterior washing in Howell and all of Livingston County.
