Over time, it takes more than elbow grease to scrub away mildew and other gunk from your house’s exterior. But with a pressure washer, a quick blast of pressurized water can make your home look like new.
Residential pressure washing is generally fairly inexpensive. However, some factors will affect the final price. You’ll be glad you read this!
Siding
Siding made of vinyl, aluminum, steel, wood, or brick can benefit from regular pressure washing. Just make sure to use less than 1,500 psi and a wide nozzle. Avoid spraying directly at eaves, vents, and light fixtures as water could blow them loose or cause damage inside the walls.
Always start at a safe distance from the house and lower the nozzle as needed to adjust pressure. If a detergent is added, give it time to work before rinsing. It may take five to ten minutes for the solution to dissolve stubborn mildew and dirt.
Gutters
Gutters that are fully functional and well-maintained keep water away from your house’s foundation and prevent rot, mold, and insect infestations. They also preserve your yard and neighborhood by safely managing stormwater runoff in a healthy way.
If your gutters are dirty, you may need to rinse them using the spray nozzle of your pressure washer. Make sure to start at low power so you don’t damage or propel debris into the soffits and exterior walls of your home.
It’s a good idea to use a ladder stabilizer so you don’t fall off while cleaning your gutters.
Fences
Wood fences are prone to damage from weather fluctuations and must be cleaned often. They also need to be stained or painted regularly. Using a pressure washer to wash your fence is the fastest way to remove dirt, mildew, and other debris from your yard.
Use a nozzle setting between 20 and 25 degrees to avoid damaging the wood of your fence. Keep the nozzle at least three to four feet away from the fence. Be sure to protect nearby plants with drop cloths and watch out for joggers, pets, blind neighbors, or anyone else who may be in the path of your power washing.
Decks
Decks take a beating from the elements year-round, getting walked on, rained and snowed on, shoveled, splashed with salt and cleaning chemicals, spilled on with food and drink, and more. This constant wear and tear causes dirt, mildew, and mold to become embedded in the wood grain, requiring a deep clean to remove it.
When washing your deck, be sure to keep the nozzle at least 3-4 feet away from the surface being cleaned in order not to damage the wood with high-pressure water. This also helps to avoid spraying the cleaner or the wood’s grain.
Driveways
The driveway creates the first impression guests and neighbors have of your home. A clean driveway shows you care about your property and can increase the value of your home.
Pressure washing a driveway removes chewing gum, oil and grease stains, dirt, mildew, and other blemishes. The blast of hot water also impedes the growth of weeds along concrete surfaces, saving you time and effort.
Be sure to start at the top and rinse your way down so dirty water doesn’t run over surfaces you just cleaned. If you have plants nearby, cover them with a tarp to keep the soapy runoff from damaging them.
Patios
Patios, sidewalks, driveways, and fences all benefit from the almost magical cleaning power of a pressure washer. The rotary jet nozzles that are often used on patios make short work of dirt, mud, mildew, and other organic growth.
Prior to cleaning, patio surfaces should be cleared of furniture, planters, and other items. This will help prevent the accidental damage of fragile or delicate items by a high-pressure spray.
As with all home improvement projects, it is best to have a professional take care of residential pressure washing. A professional will have the proper tools, experience, licensing, and insurance to properly and safely clean your exteriors.
Garage Floors
Garage floors often collect stains from oil spills, dirt, and shoe marks. A good power wash lifts these and other unsightly marks.
A gas-powered pressure washer with a rating of 3,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) and a minimum of 3 gallons per minute (GPM) should be used on garage floors. Electric models rarely rate above 2,000 PSI and will not give you the same results.
Before pressure washing, clear out the space and cover any items that could get wet (like cars or workbenches). Also, a good pretreatment for oily stains is a strong, concentrated degreaser. Click here for more interesting articles.
