Spring is an excellent time to power wash your home’s exterior home surfaces, including: siding, decks and concrete.
Power washing (sometimes referred to as pressure washing) uses a high-pressure stream of water and detergents to remove dirt and grime from surfaces, giving an immediate boost to curb appeal. Plus, watching the stains spray away is super satisfying!
Seeing dirt and grime power-washed away from concrete is so satisfying!
Power washing exterior surfaces does more than help your home look its best. Professional power washing can help maintain your surfaces, prevent damage and injuries, and prepare your surfaces for the best possible result in a painting or staining job.
Power Washing Prevents Surface Damage
Dirt, debris, mold, algae, loose paint chips and stains can be removed from your home’s exterior surfaces with power washing.
Mold, mildew and algae naturally accumulate on exterior surfaces, but can cause damage and discoloration over time to siding, decking or concrete surfaces if not removed promptly. Power washing every couple years, or when build-up is visible, will help maintain your surfaces and prevent damage.
The amount of water pressure and detergents for cleaning your home will vary based on the material you’re cleaning (e.g. concrete patio versus cedar wood siding) and what you’re trying to clean (e.g. dirt and paint chips versus mold). A professional power washing provider like U.S. Pro Painters, can guide you on the best choices for properly power washing your home’s exterior surfaces.
Power Washing Preps for Painting and Staining
When you’re investing in a new paint or stain for your siding, trim, decks or concrete, you want that investment to last. Power washing these surfaces before beginning your project creates a clean slate that will improve adhesion of paint or stain and result in smooth finish.
U.S. Pro Painters has 25+ years of power washing experience, expertly prepping decks, siding (wood, vinyl and aluminum) and cement for paint and stain without causing damage.
The Pros of Hiring a Professional to Power Wash
While homeowners can purchase or rent power washing machines to clean their homes, taking on that chore comes with some risks. Working with a professional power washing contractor will help to prevent surface damage, injuries and reduce clean-up.
A look at a deck before and after power washing.
3 Reasons to Hire a Professional for Power Washing:
- Prevent Damage
- Power washers can reach 4000 PSI (pounds per square inch). That’s strong enough to significantly damage surfaces. When improperly used, a power washer can dent or puncture siding; etch, split and sprinter wood; and degrade cement.
- Improper technique when washing your home’s siding can also cause water to collect under the siding, damaging insulation and requiring repairs.
- Reduce Risk of Injury
- Inexperience with these powerful tools can lead to injury. The powerful jet of water created by a pressure washer can cause bodily harm instantly. More than 6,000 Americans went to the Emergency Room in 2014 with pressure washer-related injuries like skin lacerations, punctures, bruises, or eye injuries.
- Because of the strength of the spray, a seemingly minor laceration from a pressure washer could be more serious under the surface of the skin leading to infection, disability or amputation if not treated properly.
- Minimize Mess
- Power washing away paint, grime, mold and mildew can leave behind a mess. Working with a professional gives homeowner access to the best, biodegradable cleaners. And, professionals will handle their own cleanup, protecting plants and vegetation from spray and cleaning up debris or dirt around the home after the job is complete.
- If your home was built before 1978, you should presume that it has lead paint. Using a professional painting company can ensure exterior lead paint chips are cleaned up and removed from the property properly.
Hiring a professional power washing company is an efficient way to maintain your home’s exterior and prep for paint or stain projects! Ready for a clean start? Contact us today for a free power washing estimate.
