Fence Cleaning by Material in Scottsdale
Masonry block walls (the most common Scottsdale fence type): These are dense concrete masonry units coated with stucco or painted. Correct cleaning is soft washing — low pressure with biodegradable surfactant — for the stucco-coated surfaces, followed by moderate pressure for unpainted block. The same rule applies as for house stucco: high-pressure power washing erodes stucco-coated block surfaces.
Wrought iron and metal fences: Low-to-moderate pressure (1,200–1,800 PSI) with appropriate chemistry. Check for rust before cleaning — power washing a rusted fence can dislodge surface rust and reveal raw metal that will rust more aggressively. Post-cleaning rust treatment and paint touch-up are often needed.
Wood fences: Variable. Pressure-treated wood tolerates moderate pressure (1,200–1,500 PSI); natural wood and cedar require lower pressure (800–1,200 PSI). Over-pressuring wood causes grain raising and fiber damage. A wood brightener application after cleaning restores the wood's natural color.
Vinyl fences: Easy to clean but sensitive to high pressure at close range. 1,200–1,500 PSI at 12+ inches distance with standard detergent removes mold, algae, and Arizona desert dust effectively.
What Scottsdale Fences Accumulate Most
Masonry block walls throughout Scottsdale accumulate two primary soiling types: desert dust and algae. Desert dust is universal — every exterior surface accumulates Arizona silica after wind events. Algae establishes on the north-facing sides of block walls that stay damp after monsoon rain — the dark green or black streaking common on Scottsdale block walls is almost always biological growth, not staining.
Hard water mineral deposits appear on all fence types at sprinkler-level heights — the white banding corresponding to where irrigation overspray contacts the fence surface. This mineral scale is alkaline and requires either mechanical removal or appropriate mineral-dissolving chemistry to fully address.