Alma is a small college town about 25 minutes south of our Mt. Pleasant base. Quiet streets, older homes, mature trees, and enough humidity from the Pine River corridor to keep mildew busy on siding and concrete year-round. We drive down to Alma regularly and treat it like a local job – same crew, same equipment, same walkthrough before you pay.
I'm Jamisen Latham and I've been running Lawndash since 2021. Every job in Alma is owner-operated. I'm the one on your property with the equipment, not a subcontractor or a crew you've never met. If something needs attention, you tell me directly and I handle it before I leave.
Alma sits in the Pine River valley in Gratiot County. The river runs right through town, and that moisture keeps humidity higher than you'd expect for a town this far from the Great Lakes. North-facing siding picks up green algae fast. Concrete driveways get dark and slippery within a couple seasons. Decks near tree cover go from gray to black before most homeowners notice.
The housing stock around Alma College and the downtown area is mostly mid-century. Smaller ranch homes, bungalows, and a mix of vinyl and aluminum siding. A lot of these homes sit under big hardwoods and pines that keep the surfaces shaded and damp. That combination – shade, moisture, and older siding – is exactly what creates the green and black buildup we wash off every week in this region.
Student rental properties near campus see heavier foot traffic and more wear on walkways and porches. The Republic of the Pines area south of town has larger lots with longer driveways and more exposed concrete. Both need regular cleaning, just for different reasons. We adjust our approach based on what the surface actually needs – not a one-size template.
Full service list. Same equipment and methods we use on every Mid-Michigan job. Nothing changes because you're in a smaller market – you get the same result.
Soft wash for vinyl, brick, aluminum, stucco, and Hardie board. We stay under 500 PSI on every house wash. The cleaning solution does the work – it breaks down mildew, algae, and oxidation without damaging the siding or forcing water behind panels. Plants get a pre-rinse and post-rinse every time. Most Alma homes take 1 to 2 hours. We do a full walkthrough with you before you pay anything.
Soft wash for asphalt shingles. Those dark streaks you see running down the roof are usually Gloeocapsa magma – a type of algae that feeds on the limestone filler in shingles. It looks like dirt but it doesn't wash off with rain. We apply a low-pressure cleaning solution that loosens it, then rinse gently. No walking on the roof, no high-pressure wands, no granule loss. Safe for the shingles, safe for your gutters.
Driveways, sidewalks, patios, and garage aprons. We use a surface cleaner – a round housing with spinning nozzles underneath that rides flat on the concrete. It distributes pressure evenly and avoids the zebra stripes you get from a direct wand blast. Optional sealer application after the wash protects the surface and slows down future staining. Good choice for Alma driveways that sit under tree cover.
Wood and composite decks. Cedar, pine, and pressure-treated fence panels. We adjust pressure for the material – lower for softwoods, slightly higher for composite. Removes the gray oxidation layer and black mold that builds up in shaded areas. Alma decks near the Pine River corridor get hit hard by moisture. We clean the surface, brighten the wood if needed, and it's ready for stain or sealer if you want to go that route.
Storefronts, parking areas, dumpster pads, and building exteriors in downtown Alma and the surrounding commercial areas. We carry a certificate of insurance and can provide a COI naming your property management company or landlord. Scheduling is flexible – early morning, evening, or weekend jobs are fine. If you manage rental properties near Alma College, we can set up recurring washes so the units stay presentable between tenants.
Drag the divider to see before and after. These are actual Mid-Michigan properties we've cleaned.
Alma is about 25 minutes south of our Mt. Pleasant base via US-127. We drive to Alma regularly for residential and commercial work. No trip fee, no mileage surcharge, no minimum job size. We treat Alma the same as a Mt. Pleasant property – same scheduling priority, same response time on quotes.
We also serve properties in the surrounding Gratiot County area. If you're just outside Alma city limits – Ithaca, St. Louis, or along the 127 corridor – call and we'll confirm coverage. Most of the time the answer is yes.
Alma College sits right in the center of town. The campus and surrounding residential streets are where we do a lot of our work. Mature trees, older sidewalks, and rental properties that need regular exterior cleaning.
Downtown Alma runs along Superior Street with a mix of storefronts, restaurants, and municipal buildings. We handle commercial washes for business owners who want their sidewalks and building fronts looking sharp.
The Alma Highland Festival grounds see heavy foot traffic every Memorial Day weekend. Properties near the festival area pick up extra grime from the event season. The Pine River winds through the south side of town and keeps everything nearby damp and prone to algae growth. Gratiot County in general has flat terrain and heavy clay soil that holds moisture – all of which means exterior surfaces get dirty faster than homeowners expect.
Common questions from Alma homeowners. If yours isn't listed, text or call – same person answers either way.
Free written estimate in under 24 hours. Text, call, or fill the form – your call. We answer 7am to 7pm, Monday through Saturday.
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