Pressure Washing Tips
If the outside of your home could use some help making it look fresh again and you're not sure where to begin, you've come to the right place. Pressure washing not only restores the original look of many surfaces, but it helps bring curb appeal back to any home quickly.
Pressure washing specialist have the knowledge and experience to strip away years of dirt, grime and chemicals without damaging your property. Although it is possible to rent a power washer, it is likely that a homeowner may not know how to handle the machine as well as a professional and cause unwanted damage.
What can you power wash?
There are many different types of surfaces that do well with power washing, while others may not hold up to the extreme pressure. Even if the surface that you are looking to pressure wash is listed, it is still recommended that a professional handle the job for maximum effectiveness. Surfaces and items that can be power washed include:
- Home siding
- Sidewalks
- Driveways
- Garage doors
- Garage floors
- Decks
- Balconies
- Retaining walls, pillars
- Lawn mower
- Grill
- Bikes
- Outdoor furniture
- Trash cans
- Window screens
- Outdoor dog house
Pressure washing should not be done on cars (unless specifically designed), specially painted items or homes, on fragile glass, wood, or asphalt. Due to the extreme pressure, power washing machines need to be handled with extra care as they can cause damage severe damage to not only items but to your own body if misused. Because of the intensity of the stream, a power washer could cause deep lacerations. It's best to read all instructions before use or better yet, leave it to the professionals.
Because of the high risk in potential damage, hiring a pressure washing professional should be your first step. Not only will they save you the time and effort, but in the long run, you will be saving yourself money by not having to potentially replace something you may have damaged.
How long will power washing take and cost?
Depending on what you want power washed and the state of damage that it is in, you could be looking at anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. Some items may even require a second day of power washing to ensure that they are properly cleaned. Take into account that most pressure washing jobs are done with cold water; if hot water is requested, rates may go up by almost double. Depending on the company, pressure washing costs are charged either a flat rate per square foot or you may be charged by the hour.
- Home: Power washing the exterior of a 1,500 sq.ft. home should take approximately 2-5 hours, depending on the PSI used and the condition of the home. Usually, professionals charge per square footage, with prices ranging anywhere from 20 cents to over a dollar.
- Driveway: Time frames vary based on the length of a driveway or walkway. Costs typically run between $120-$350.
- Deck: Costs depend on the square footage of the deck, however, homeowners can except to pay anywhere from $200 to over $300 for larger decks. Average time frame is about 3 hours.
- Household items: Grills, lawn mowers, bikes, lawn furniture and other items should take under an hour to complete, unless there are several items that need to be done. Most of the time, you will be charged a flat fee per item or you may be charged per hour. Costs vary depending on your location and the condition of the items.
Renew and refresh
Power washing is economical, gets rid of tough stains and caked on dirt, and restores your homes look in a matter of hours. While some items may require added solutions to help dissolve years of dirt and grime, most items can just be cleaned with the water pressure from the machine which helps keep the integrity of the surfaces. Keep your driveways and walkways looking fresh and prolong the life of outdoor furniture and lawn care machines.
Rather than trying to figure out how a power washer works and what can or cannot be pressure washed, hire a reputable professional today to get starting on making your home look brand new again. Avoid damaging surfaces which could lead to additional repair costs and let a specialist take care of the dirty work.
