One job.
Every input visible.
This is one transparent, representative, non-guaranteed soft-wash example for 2,000 square feet of vinyl siding. The substrate, mix strength, dwell window, labor assumption, and rate stay visible so you can see exactly how the range is built.
The math starts with the substrate
Each selected value has a visible driver. Nothing here is a hidden midpoint or a guaranteed bid.
| Input | Selected value | Driver / reference |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate | Vinyl / house siding | Soft wash only. The Vinyl Siding guidance covers the substrate-specific method and limits. |
| Square footage | 2,000 sqft | A representative job size chosen to make each multiplication visible. |
| Final SH strength | 1.0% | A conservative point within the SH Mix Calculator house-wash guidance of 1–1.5% and the vinyl guidance final-mix limit of 0.5–1%. The calculator applies the dilution formula (target % ÷ stock %) × batch size = SH gallons needed. This is an intentional overlap, not a silently copied preset. |
| Recommended dwell | 3–5 minutes | The Vinyl Siding dwell window is the source for this range; rinse before the solution dries. |
| Labor time | Approximately 3.0 hours | Siding assumption: 1.5 hours per 1,000 sqft. 2,000 × 1.5 / 1,000 = 3.0 hours. See the live estimator for the underlying assumption. |
| Siding rate | $0.15–$0.25 / sqft | The live estimator’s House Siding rate assumption drives the low and high endpoints. See the estimator defaults rather than substituting a midpoint. |
Why the SH value is 1.0%: the calculator describes 1–1.5% for house washing, while the vinyl guide gives 0.5–1% as the final-mix limit. Choosing 1.0% respects both references for this conservative siding example.
Two endpoints, not one made-up number
The siding rate is applied directly to the 2,000 sqft input.
2,000 × $0.15 = $300
$300
per job
2,000 × $0.25 = $500
$500
per job
What can move it: access, surface condition, travel, minimum charges, and local market conditions can push an actual quote outside this representative range.
Turn the example into your estimate.
Use the live estimator to select your actual surfaces, enter square footage, and get a job-specific price range without collapsing it to a midpoint.
References behind the example
The pricing calculation follows the live estimator defaults; the pricing article is broader context, not a second rate table for this example.