Do I Really Need to Pressure Wash?

When you need to make a big impact in a quick way, pressure washing can be the perfect pick-me-up your home or business needs. Pressure washing is easy to do on a wide variety of surfaces, and you can use this cleaning technique to easily spruce up your home, yard fence, driveway and patio, and more. It can be amazing how much better any surface can look free of grime, loose paint, dust, stuck on materials, mold, and who knows what else. It’s important to note though, as simple and satisfying this sounds, it can be a little too easy to get carried away. Some surfaces look great when pressure washed, but others can actually be damaged by the intense water pressure. Plus, each surface may actually need a different PSI (pounds per square inch), which is the measurement of how much pressure is actually being put out. With all that in mind, if you’re wondering whether or not you really need to pressure wash, here are a few things to help you decide – so your home or business can seriously shine.

Home siding

The siding material that your home is made of will be the most important determining factor when it comes to deciding whether or not it’s a good idea to pressure wash. If you have wood clapboard siding, it can be cleaned with a pressure washer, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Don’t use a very high pressure setting, as water can find its way in between the panels and possibly cause water damage. If you have an older home, you’ll also want to have a licensed EPA Lead Specialist test the paint particles, as you definitely don’t want to put lead into the ground. Vinyl and fiber cement siding can typically handle high pressure cleaning – on the other hand, pressure washing shingle siding could break the shingles loose and isn’t something we advise.

Deck

As with the siding of your home, some decks are great to pressure wash, while others do great with a more gentle treatment. Decks made up of South American hardwoods can tolerate pressure washing, as can pressure treated wood. That said, make sure you use a low pressure setting, and don’t hold it too close to the wood to prevent etching. With both types of wood, you’ll want to work with the length of the wood, being sure to go with the grain. On the other hand, if you have a composite deck, it’s probably a better idea to stick with a light scrubbing and rinse with a garden hose.

Concrete patio and driveway

When it comes to being a good candidate for pressure washing, nothing beats concrete. It’s virtually impossible to damage, or to clean with anything less intense. There’s almost no wrong way to clean concrete, but certain nozzles and strategies can be better for different types of grime. With mold and mildew, you’ll want to suds it up first, then go in with light pressure. For spot cleaning, using a fine nozzle and high pressure will do the job great.

Car

Although it’s not unheard of for people to use a pressure washer to clean their vehicle, that’s a big ‘no no’, and can cause serious damage to your paint job. Using a pressure washer on your car can easily nick the paint, and also cause rust to form. When it comes time for a car wash, using a garden hose, soap, and a sponge will work just fine.

Pressure washing is an easy way to make a huge impact when it comes to cleaning your home or business, so it’s always good to know when you might accidentally cause some damage. If you find yourself unsure about which tool is the best for the job, it’s usually pretty easy to look up the material online and find recommendations for care. Or, give our team a call to work with you to get the job done right – we’re always here to help.