How to Pressure Wash: Tips and Tricks
How to Pressure Wash: Tips and Tricks Pressure washing is a surprisingly complicated process. It involves many pieces of equipment, various techniques, and a significant amount of your time and energy. This is all to say that learning how to pressure wash can be a challenging experience! That doesn’t mean it has to be an impossible experience, though. With our tips and tricks, you’ll streamline the pressure washing process and have a much easier time. At Prime Exterior Services, we understand the ins and outs of pressure washing, and we’re happy to teach you more. Of course, if you ultimately decide not to do this work on your own, an appointment with our professionals is just a phone call away! Tip #1: Giving Yourself Enough Time Pressure washing is a time-consuming process. In fact, it might surprise you just how long the work can take. Cleaning a small patio alone could use up two hours of your time. On the other hand, cleaning the entire exterior of an office complex could take an entire day, especially if you don’t have any help. That’s why our first tip is to give yourself enough time for your project. The last thing you want is to lose track of your schedule and show up late to an appointment! By giving yourself enough time, you won’t have to rush through your pressure washing project. This allows you to ensure the best possible results. The main goal of pressure washing is to make your surfaces beautiful—and if you’re not accomplishing this, what’s the point? Tip #2: Have All the Necessary Equipment You won’t be able to pressure wash your exterior surfaces without the right equipment. So, what exactly will you need for the job? We’ve included a list for your review below: Tip #3: Understand Your Surfaces’ Limits Most pressure washers have an adjustable dial that you can use to select the amount of water pressure you are using. What makes this important? Every kind of surface has its own limits, and if you exceed them, you can cause damage. So, be sure you understand how much water pressure to use before you begin your project. We’ve included a few common examples below. Don’t see the surface you need cleaned on this list? Consult Google, and you should find the correct amount of water pressure for your project with ease. Tip #4: Use Cleaning Solutions When pressure washing, it’s very likely that you will come across stubborn debris. This grime isn’t easy to remove. In fact, when you’re faced with this mess, you’ll probably need to use cleaning solutions to finish the job. Simply apply a thin layer of sodium hypochlorite to the surface; then, wait ten to fifteen minutes for debris to be broken down. After this time has passed, you should be able to pressure wash the surfaces with ease! Watch as tough debris is rinsed away effortlessly. This even includes organic substances, such as moss, mold, and algae. Sodium hypochlorite will actually kill these growths, preventing them from releasing spores and spreading. Tip #5: Work in Rows When pressure washing, it’s important to work in a sensible fashion. If you spray water without any rhyme or reason, you’ll quickly lose track of what you’ve already cleaned and what you haven’t. This is why we recommend that you work in a row-by-row formation. Simply start at one of the corners of the surface that needs to be cleaned. Then, make several horizontal passes until you’ve completely revitalized the surface. We also recommend that you double-check your work before you put your equipment away. If you somehow missed any part of the surface, you’ll want to address that sooner rather than later. Save yourself time and frustration! Tip #6: Aim For Annual Cleaning Once you’ve pressure washed your surfaces, they will be in bright and visually appealing condition. However, that won’t last forever. As time goes by, the surfaces will gather debris again, eventually requiring pressure washing again. But how frequently should you pressure wash your surfaces in order to maintain their beauty? At Prime Exterior Services, we highly recommend annual pressure washing. There are two key reasons for this. One, to keep your home or business in the best-looking condition. Two, to prevent your surfaces from becoming damaged. Debris can actually erode exterior surfaces over time. By removing this debris once per year, you’ll avoid significant damage, prevent the need for expensive repairs, and save money in the long run. DIY or Professional Pressure Washing? As you’ve discovered, there’s a lot that goes into learning how to pressure wash. You have to be mindful of the equipment you’re using, how much time you have, and your property as a whole. Do you lack the time or energy for DIY pressure washing? No worries because you can always schedule an appointment with Prime Exterior Services instead. We are a locally owned and operated business, and it would be our pleasure to pressure wash your Orlando, FL property so you don’t have to! That way, you don’t have to bother with any tips or tricks. You can just sit back and relax while we do the work. Contact us online to get started—we would love to hear from you.
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