Undoing another person’s hack job

This is the after math of the previous pressure washing company that did this home. It’s hardy board… owner says they used bleach and this is what did this? What’s the best way for me to make this look new? The bad areas seem to come right off with spit and my hand. Wanted advice before tackling this!

Also how do I charge to undo someone’s screw up like this? It’s been a year and the home is badly molded and needs TLC.

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It’s real simple. Don’t fix other people’s mistakes. Typically, the last one to touch it is the one that gets burned when Joe Homeowner decides he wants a free paint job. Walk away.

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I’m with @DisplacedTexan on this, you work on this and the homeowner decides they dont like it… well then the old guy says that you made situation worse… I don’t see you taking this on as win for you.

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The old guy is probably not even in business anymore and has since changed his number and the customer can’t reach him. So, now, the homeowner calls out another guy to stick with the blame.

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I see where y’all are coming from. This is an investor friend’s property. He is an ex mayor of our local area. If I could make this right for him or at least clean it without causing further damage it would be a huge win for me. He’s not gonna point finger at me. He knows it’s jacked up. But the jobs that could come from this are maybe worth the risk to try and fix it?

You do you brother. Who dares wins … and all that hooah. But document document, and write up a term of service that he has to sign releasing you from liability… a paper shield is better than none.

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It sounds like you’ve already decided that you are going to try it. So, go for it.

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Quite a few guys won’t wash hardi board due to possibly fading or streaking of the paint.

If you were able to wipe it off with your finger I would guess that the previous washer let the solution dry before rinsing. If so you should be able to apply your regular house wash mix, let dwell, and rinse. I would use a weaker than usual mix.

If that doesn’t work there’s always brushing it but I personally wouldn’t do that unless I knew it was going to lead to a ton of future work. I would also charge a pretty penny to do so. You likely won’t be able to brush only certain areas but rather the whole house or at least the whole side. It just depends on how bad the paint is oxidized. Do test areas of both the regular house wash mix and if you decide to brush. Don’t just start going to town.

I’d definitely get something in writing or sell it as a paint prep. If it ends up not needing painted great. You just have to let them know the risks involved. I wouldn’t risk it for just any regular old customer that’s for sure. Jobs like this can end up biting you real fast so proceed with extreme caution.

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Thanks for the advice! Putting something in writing is super smart.

I’m not a smart man, but I know what lawyering up is ;>)

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Take pictures. Wash. Sub out the painting. Refer a painter. Or suggest that he hires one. Not much you can do with a pressure washer but clean it.

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Ha!..If they know I’m basically prepping for paint and, it’s in writing, I ain’t scared.

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Thats not from bleach or a pressure washer.

Its a bad chalk job or messed up paint.

Look at the corners. It matches those smears.

Come on guys…

Someone is pulling legs here.


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The entire house is spotted like that.

I didn’t even look at the picture that close. You just said it wiped right off with your finger so figured it should wash off.

Could also be where they touched up the hardy… see any scratches or nails under the spotted areas?

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Exactly. Def not from power washing.

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It looks like someone touched it up with a paint dobber that was not mixed right

Woof. I can’t believe I’m about to disagree with someone for the first time on here. But speaking as a painter of about a decade before my current profession, those colors are different. The light color by that vertical trim piece happened because the siding company used a silicone caulk and wiped it with their finger. The paint never adhered well there. It’s a slightly different color than the spots where someone scrubbed off random bugs/poop/whatever and scrubbed past the faded paint layer. Continuing to wash that isn’t going to help at all, the only outcome is going to be bigger light spots

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