Pressure Washing Around Your House
If you think pressure washing is just for your home’s exterior, think again. Pressure (or power) washing is a great way to clean and refresh many large areas quickly. A washer can be used on most any surface. Let’s start with your home’s exterior. As the years pass, your home’s exterior can take a beating. Rain, snow, dirt, birds – well, you get it. Pressure washing is good for cleaning aluminum or vinyl siding, clapboard, brick, or stone. Be careful with wood shingles as the pressure may gouge or damage them and can push water under the shingles causing mildew problems. You can add a mild detergent to the power washer for the first cleaning and then follow up with clean water to take off all soap residue.
Like wood shingles, any wood surface should be treated with care when using a pressure washer. Be sure to use a low-pressure nozzle or you could strip the finish or other coatings off the wood, or oversoak the wood. Proper use of the washer on wood will help you remove dirt, grime, mildew, or other stains.
Metal surfaces such as rain gutters, drains, and fencing are also good targets for a power wash. Even an outdoor grill can be power washed. Don’t hold the jet too close to the surface though to avoid scratches.
Concrete, stone, and brick can also be cleaned with a power washer. Make your garage floor look like new by adding a little detergent to your washer to get rid of grease and oil. Whether your driveway is brick, stone, or concrete, it can be washed too. Never use a pressure washer on asphalt surfaces unless you want to replace it.
Power washing is also off limits for roof shingles, especially asphalt shingles. It’s likely to cause more damage than good including loosening shingles, driving water under shingles, and blowing them off entirely.
Your in-ground swimming pool or a Jacuzzi can be pressure washed. If the washer is able to create steam or use hot water, you can eliminate germs and other contaminants from these vulnerable areas.
University Painters not only paints interiors and exteriors, they can pressure wash surfaces around your home for a cleaner, fresher look. Contact us today for a free appointment.
