Pressure Washing in Harrison, TN
Lake house pressure washing in Harrison
Pressure washing in Harrison, TN is mostly lake work for Chattanooga Washing Co.: dock and deck cleaning, boathouse and seawall washing, house soft washing for siding that faces the water, roof cleaning, gutter cleaning, driveway and concrete cleaning, window washing, and rust and clay stain removal. Everything above the waterline gets a low-pressure soft wash with biodegradable, low-odor detergents, so lawns and the lake below stay protected. House washes include our 12-month mold and mildew free guarantee.
Harrison is an unincorporated census-designated place on the Chickamauga Lake shore northeast of Chattanooga, home to 8,011 people. Water covers 1.8 of its 9.0 square miles, or 20.6%, a higher share than any other area we cover. Harrison was the Hamilton County seat from 1840 to 1870, and much of the old town went under the lake when TVA finished Chickamauga Dam in 1940.
What Chickamauga Lake does to Harrison homes
- Green algae and silt on dock floats, ladders and the lower face of seawalls.
- Mildew on lake-facing siding, where the humidity sits highest.
- Gray, weathered decks on 1960s and 1970s lake cabins.
- Pollen and leaf film on boat lift canopies and boathouse roofs.
- Mud and clay tracked up from the ramp onto concrete drives.
When is the best time to clean a dock in Harrison?
The best time is December through March. TVA holds Chickamauga Lake at its winter pool of 675 to 677 feet through March, about 5 to 7 feet below summer level, so dock floats, pilings and the lower seawall are out of the water and dry enough to clean properly. By mid-May the lake is back near full pool.
| Season | Lake level | What we clean |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 675 to 677 ft (winter pool) | Seawalls, pilings, dock floats and ramps |
| April to mid-May | Filling toward 681.5 ft | Boathouse roofs, lift canopies and decks |
| Mid-May to August | 681.5 to 682.5 ft (summer pool) | Houses, roofs and dock decking above the water |
| September to November | Falling to 676 ft | Gutters, decks before winter, first seawall work |
| December | About 676 ft | Seawalls and floats at full exposure |
Pollen, algae and silt build up fastest during the summer pool months, so a sensible split is house and roof in summer and waterline work in winter. Lake-facing jobs are measured and priced on a free estimate. The house washing page explains the soft wash we use on the house itself, from detergent strength to the final rinse.
Lake-safe soft washing above Harrison Bay
On a lakefront lot the yard slopes to the water, and anything sprayed on the house can reach Chickamauga Lake within minutes. That changes how we work. ARMA's roof algae bulletin says to apply bleach solution carefully to avoid harm to the building and the plants around it, and the Hamilton County Water Quality Program, which covers unincorporated Harrison, does not allow commercial wash water into storm drains.
Plant, lawn and shoreline protection
Before any detergent goes on, we soak beds, shrubs and the grass strip above the seawall with plain water so roots take up clean water first. After the wash they get a second rinse. Biodegradable, low-odor detergents break down quickly, and we keep the spray away from the shoreline plants that hold the bank in place.
Mild mixes, measured by surface
House washes use a 0.5-2% sodium hypochlorite mix, well under household bleach strength of 3-8%, with a surfactant so it clings to siding instead of running off. Roofs get 4-6% and docks or concrete 2-4%. Using the weakest mix that does the job is the simplest way to protect the lake below the house.
Runoff and wash water control
Rinse water from the house runs onto the lawn, where the soil filters it. Dock work happens in the winter drawdown on dry floats and seawall faces rather than over open water. For marinas and commercial docks, we block drains and recover the water, which is what county rules expect from business jobs.
Older lake cabins, ranches and Harrison Bay businesses
Harrison's houses are older than most of the east side. The median home was built in 1979, 30.9% went up in the 1970s and another 18.5% in the 1960s, so almost half (49.4%) are lake cabins and ranches from those two decades. Many still have their original wood siding, wood decks and screened porches facing the water.
Wood siding needs a softer touch than vinyl. We use the low end of the house mix and a wide 40-degree tip for the rinse, and we stop to show you any soft boards or loose paint before washing over them. Decks on these cabins can be 50 years old; cleaning brings back the grain, while staining stays with a painter.
Harrison also has commercial waterfront. Harrison Bay State Park covers 1,200 acres with a marina, campground and the Bear Trace golf course, and Skull Island and Booker T. Washington State Park sit along the same shore. Marina docks, cart paths, pavilions and dumpster pads fall under our commercial pressure washing, priced from $0.10 per square foot.
Head south from the lake and the subdivisions get newer. We also wash homes in Ooltewah, where the median house was built in 2003 and vinyl siding replaces the wood of the old lake cabins.
What we wash in Harrison
Dock and boathouse cleaning
Wood and composite dock decking, floats, ladders, boathouse walls and seawall faces cleaned of algae, silt and bird droppings. Waterline work is booked from December to March, when the lake sits 5 to 7 feet lower. Each dock is quoted on site because sizes vary widely along Harrison's shoreline.
Deck cleaning
Lake decks take more sun and spray than most, so they go gray and slick faster. We clean treated pine and cedar at low pressure with a soft wash mix and a fan tip, which keeps the grain intact. Deck cleaning is a natural add-on to a Harrison house wash on the same visit.
House soft washing
Wood, vinyl and brick siding washed with a 0.5-2% mix and rinsed at low pressure, with plants protected before and after. Lake-facing walls carry the heaviest mildew. Most Harrison homes cost $249 to $449, larger two-story lake houses more, and each wash carries the 12-month guarantee.
Roof cleaning
Black algae streaks, moss and lichen removed from shingle and metal roofs with a soft wash and a 15 to 20 minute dwell, never a pressure wand. Tree-shaded lake lots grow moss on the north slope first. Roof cleaning starts at $399, and boathouse roofs can be added to the same visit.
Gutter cleaning
Waterfront lots in Harrison often sit under tall oaks, so gutters fill with leaves and seed pods each fall. We clear and flush them, test the downspouts and brighten the outside faces. Gutter cleaning starts at $149 for a single-story home, with the black streaks included.
Driveway and boat ramp concrete
Driveways, walkways and private boat ramps cleaned with a surface cleaner, with red clay and rust stains pretreated using an oxalic acid cleaner. Ramp concrete is done at winter pool when more of it is above water. Driveway cleaning starts at $149 for a typical two-car slab.
Get a Harrison wash on the calendar
Commercial Pressure Washing
from $0.10 per sq ft
Building soft washing, sidewalks, parking garages, dumpster pads, fleets and graffiti removal for Chattanooga businesses and HOAs.
See details: Commercial Pressure WashingDriveway Cleaning
from $149 per driveway
Surface-cleaner pressure washing for concrete driveways, walkways and patios, with oil, rust and red clay stain treatment.
See details: Driveway CleaningGutter Cleaning
from $149 per home
Hand clean-outs, downspout flushing and gutter face brightening that takes the black tiger stripes off aluminum gutters.
See details: Gutter CleaningHouse Washing
from $249 per home
Low-pressure soft wash that kills algae, mildew and pollen film on vinyl, brick, stucco and fiber cement siding.
See details: House WashingRoof Cleaning
from $399 per roof
No-pressure roof soft washing that kills Gloeocapsa magma, moss and lichen on asphalt shingle, metal and tile roofs.
See details: Roof Cleaning
Harrison lake house washing FAQ
Is soft washing safe near Chickamauga Lake?
Yes, when it is done with care. We use biodegradable detergents at the weakest strength that works, 0.5-2% for siding, soak and rinse plants, and let rinse water soak into the lawn instead of running to the lake. Dock cleaning happens in the winter drawdown on dry surfaces, not over open water.
How much does it cost to wash a lake house in Harrison?
Most Harrison lake houses fall in the $249 to $449 range for a house wash, with larger two-story homes higher. Roof cleaning starts at $399. Dock and seawall cleaning is quoted on site because sizes vary so much. We confirm every price in writing before any work starts.
Can you clean a boat lift canopy or boathouse roof?
Yes. Vinyl lift canopies and metal boathouse roofs collect pollen, algae and bird droppings over a summer. We clean them with a low-pressure soft wash from the dock, usually in spring before the lake fills, so the canopy is clean when the boat goes back in.
Which stormwater rules apply to pressure washing in Harrison?
Harrison is unincorporated, so the Hamilton County Water Quality Program applies rather than a city ordinance. Its list of allowed storm drain discharges includes residential car washing and street wash water but not commercial wash water. We plan each Harrison job so wash water goes into soil, not drains or the lake.
Can you wash the house while we are away from the lake?
Yes. If the lake house is a weekend place, you do not need to be there as long as we can reach an outdoor spigot and the dock. Evening and weekend appointments are also available by request. Estimates are free, and the written price is agreed before we book the visit.