There may not be a magic wand to banish years of mildew and soot from the exterior of your home, but residential pressure washing (also called power washing) is one of the best ways to remove grime. It’s a necessary step before painting traditional stucco, aluminum, steel, and wood siding; it’s also a great way to prepare your home for a new coat of paint or to clean decks and driveways.
Power and pressure washers are super-powerful hoses that blast surfaces clean with water jets pressurized at a rate of 100-200 times the force of air that surrounds us (1500-3000 pounds per square inch or psi). They’re perfect for patios, drives, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, and all sorts of other outside grime that regular cleaning can’t get off. Using a power or pressure washer also helps reduce the growth of dangerous mold, dirt, and debris, and it prevents slippery substances from forming on porches and decks, helping minimize slips and falls for your family members.
But if you’re thinking about renting or buying a power or pressure washer to do the job yourself, there are a few important things to consider. It’s risky if you don’t follow the proper safety measures, and it’s physically demanding, especially if you have a large two-story house with a tall exterior or need to use a ladder or scaffolding to reach high spots. It requires skill, too: Spraying too aggressively can damage or discolor siding and paint, and it’s not recommended for bottle-dash or rock-dash stucco or fiber cement siding. residential pressure washing