Can You Wash a House in Winter in Louisville?
Yes, on the right days. Our cold weather line, what Louisville winters actually look like, and which jobs are better left for spring.
The short answer
Yes. We work through the winter as long as it is above 38 degrees with the wind chill. Louisville's average high in December, January and February runs from about 44 to 48 degrees, so there are workable days most weeks. Older brick and anything that needs a long dry time is better saved for warmer weather.
Our line: above 38 degrees with the wind chill
We do not shut down for the winter. If it is above 38 degrees with the wind chill, we can work. Below that, we move the job to the next mild day.
Wind chill matters more than the thermometer here. Wind chills a wet wall fast, and a wet surface that freezes is the thing to avoid.
What a Louisville winter looks like
NOAA’s 30 year averages for Louisville’s airport (1991 to 2020) put the average high at 47 degrees in December, 44 in January and 48 in February. Average lows sit around 28 to 32 degrees (NOAA climate normals).
On an average winter day the high clears 38 degrees, and the night drops below freezing. The warmest, driest part of the day is the time to wash, with hours left for surfaces to dry before night.
Jobs that fit winter well
- Driveways, sidewalks and patios. Getting the slick growth off before winter rain keeps it from turning slippery. See growth on concrete patios.
- Getting ready to sell. Photos for a February sale still show the front of the house. See washing before you sell.
- Vinyl and fiber cement siding on a mild, dry day.
Jobs that are better in spring
Old brick and stone. The National Park Service says water cleaning on masonry should never be done “if there is any likelihood of frost or freezing because water within the masonry can freeze, causing spalling and cracking.” It also says chemical cleaning on masonry “should never be undertaken in temperatures below 40 degrees F,” generally not below 50, and that “many chemical cleaners simply do not work in cold temperatures” (NPS Preservation Brief 1).
White powder on brick is another one to hold. The Brick Industry Association says it is “usually not advisable to wash efflorescence off the brickwork except in warm, dry weather” (Brick Industry Association). See white powder on brick and pavers.
Booking in winter
Winter is the quiet stretch before spring, when most people around Louisville book. A winter date is easier to get, and if the forecast turns, we move it to the next good day. See the best time of year to wash.
What cleaning will not fix
Cleaning solution works slower in the cold, and a wall washed late in the day may not dry before a freeze. Some winter jobs get moved to the next mild day, and some masonry work should wait for spring. Winter cleaning will not stop growth from coming back once warm, damp weather returns.
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