Table Of Content
With the right equipment, pressure washing can be a satisfying and productive experience. Pressure washing a home is risky if you do not follow the proper safety measures, and can be quite demanding physically. If your home is taller than one story and you’re not up for standing on a scaffolding, you might consider hiring a pro for the job. For single-story homes, however, the steps below will guide you through how to pressure wash a house—and boost your curb appeal. When cleaning the exterior of a house, avoid getting detergent or water behind the outer surface. Here's more information on exterior cleaning with pressure washers based on the type of home exterior.
How To: Clean Vinyl Siding
Best Pressure Washers for 2024 - 10 Top Models - Pro Tool Reviews
Best Pressure Washers for 2024 - 10 Top Models.
Posted: Tue, 08 Dec 2020 15:58:05 GMT [source]
It’s a task that, when done correctly, can bring a sense of pride and satisfaction. Using too high a PSI can harm your home’s exterior, stripping paint or damaging siding. If you’re unsure, it’s always safer to start lower and increase the pressure gradually.
Prepare the Area and Put on Safety Gear
Depending on the exterior of your house, you may need to use a certain type of pressure washer to match the housing materials to the right water pressure levels. Thoroughly spray a section of a single floor of your home with the mildewcide solution. Starting from the bottom of the section and working your way up, gently but firmly scour the siding with a soft siding brush. How often should you give your home's exterior a deep clean?
Repair before washing
Pressure washers generate a high-pressure water spray that’s ideal for cleaning boats, sidewalks, decks, and houses. Their power is measured in pounds per square inch (psi), which is the amount of pressure the liquid contents put on the walls of the container. Pressure washers are available in gas and electric models; the gas variety can create greater psi and is advised for tougher jobs and hardier material. Because they don’t have to be plugged into an electrical outlet, gas pressure washers are also more mobile, so they’re better suited for hard-to-reach areas.
This guide will teach you how to pressure wash your house safely and efficiently. You can pressure wash most types of stucco, provided you take steps to protect the delicate surface. If your machine offers a lower gallons-per-minute setting, choose that, and set a fairly wide spray radius so pressure on the siding is dispersed.
Set up the pressure washer so it will be ready to go when you’re finished with the garden sprayer and scrubbing. Locate the hose mount on the back of the pressure washer. Attach the garden hose to this mount, making sure that the other end is attached to the spigot outside of the house. Pressure washers come in both gas- and electric-powered models. If you have a smaller home or it is a one-story house, you'll want to treat your siding gently as you will be in close proximity, so an electric pressure washer will suffice.
Patch chips and cracks in the surface, and let the patches dry for at least a week before pressure washing. To protect the texture when you clean the stucco, hold the spray gun or wand so that the spray hits the stucco at a 45-degree angle. If you notice copper or rust stains, clean them using a soft brush and a rust-removal solution. Rinse off the solution with a garden hose and clear water. There may not be a magic wand to instantly banish years of mildew, soot, dirt, and grime from your home’s exterior, but pressure washing is the next best thing. The process is a terrific way to remove grime on your home’s traditional stucco, aluminum, steel, wood, and brick siding.
More delicate types of stucco, such as bottle-dash and rock-dash stucco, should not be pressure washed. To avoid damage, use the right pressure setting for your home’s material. Stay at a safe distance from the surface, and never use a zero-degree nozzle on siding. Now that your pressure washer is all set up, it’s time to get down to the actual washing. Pressure washing your house can be satisfying, especially when you see the dirt wash away, leaving your home looking fresh and clean.
STEP 7: Repeat Steps 4 through 6 until you’ve washed the whole house.
Saturate the brick with water using a gentle, low-pressure spray before you apply detergent. This will help keep the detergent from soaking into the brick. Stand away from the surface and work upward with the spray. After you've finished cleaning and the brick has dried, you may see a powdery, white substance known as efflorescence — a residue of salts drawn out of the brick by moisture. If any residue remains, use water and a soft-bristle brush to remove it. From removing mildew on siding to prepping your home for a fresh coat of paint, a pressure washer can help restore your home's curb appeal.
Also, move your car out of the driveway to keep it safe from dirt and debris. When cleaning overhead, point the spray forward and to one side to avoid spray-back and drips. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. Your home is more than just a structure; it’s a space where memories are made. Keeping it clean and well-maintained is a way of honoring those memories and looking forward to many more. Once you have made your choice, it's time to prepare the area and assemble your safety gear.
Whether you’re a first-timer or looking to refine your technique, this article is here to help. While it’s an efficient way to refresh your home’s exterior, it’s not as simple as pointing a hose and watching the magic happen. This method can breathe new life into various surfaces like stucco, wood, and brick. Our guide to pressure washers will give you more tips for finding the right machine to pressure wash a house, fence, driveway and more.
Whether you’re repainting or just enjoying the renewed look of your home, these actions help maintain its beauty and value. Painting on a damp surface can lead to peeling and bubbling. Ideally, wait for a dry, warm week to ensure all the moisture has evaporated. This patience pays off with a paint job that lasts longer and looks better. In essence, preparing your house for pressure washing is about safeguarding both your property and the environment around it. These pre-treatments will help remove these stubborn spots more effectively during any follow-up pressure washing.
More robust materials like brick can handle a higher PSI. The power of a pressure washer is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). This tells you how much force the water will hit the surface with. Repair or replace damaged siding before pressure washing. Keep the spray away from gaps such as those around door and window trim. If the siding panels overlap, work across the topmost panel to the one it overlays.
Understanding and following safety guidelines can prevent accidents and ensure a smooth cleaning experience. By following these steps, you can set up your pressure washer effectively, ensuring a smooth and safe cleaning process. If you spot any mold or mildew on your home’s exterior, treat these areas before you start. A simple solution of bleach and water works well on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Make sure that you have a 3-foot nozzle-to-wall distance, then turn on the pressure washer. If this distance allows you to remove dirt without damage, maintain it. If dirt isn’t coming off, move closer in increments of 4 to 6 inches, stopping each time to gauge the cleaning power and check for damage. Continue to work from the distance that is most effective.
According to Macfarlane, you shouldn't need to power wash your house more than twice a year—but there is one spot in particular to keep a close eye on. Although paint manufacturers might lead you to believe that the world will end if you don't clean the siding before painting, the reality is not quite that dire. The paint will go on just fine, but by painting dirty siding, you seriously shorten your paint's lifespan. Rather than requiring a new paint job in three or four years, wouldn't you rather paint your house every seven to 10 years? Considering how hard and expensive it is to paint house exteriors, it's a good idea to get it right the first time.
No comments:
Post a Comment