What Is Power Washing?
Have your property’s exterior surfaces become dirty over time? Whether you are a home or business owner, it is inevitable that your property will gather dirt and debris. When that happens, you’ll need to take action so you can reclaim curb appeal and restore surfaces. So, what’s the best way to accomplish this? We recommend power washing, a specialized cleaning technique. But what is power washing, and how exactly does it work?
We’ll answer all these questions (and more) below! At Sunny Days Cleaning, we are highly experienced in power washing, and we’ll share our knowledge about the process with you below. That way, you can use it to restore your property.
An Overview of Power Washing
So, what is power washing? Power washing is a specialized cleaning technique that uses pressurized water to revitalize exterior surfaces. The work is dependent on a piece of machinery called a pressure washer. Pressure washers allow you to select the level of water pressure used, giving you the opportunity to clean various materials and surfaces. From wooden decks and concrete patios to vinyl siding and metal fences, power washing is a flexible method for restoring them all—and more!
We highly recommend power washing exterior surfaces once per year. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, it will improve the appearance of your property, making you and your neighbors more comfortable. Secondly, it will increase the lifespan of exterior surfaces because harmful debris will be removed. This helps you avoid costly repairs and save money in the long run.
Are Power Washing and Pressure Washing the Same?
When researching power washing, you’ll also see the term pressure washing used. But what sets these two techniques apart? That really depends on who you ask. Many people treat pressure and power washing as synonymous. They both use high-pressure water to clean surfaces, resulting in stunning property exteriors that shine!
However, some sources try to establish a difference between pressure and power washing. For example, you may see some companies state that power washing uses more water pressure, or that it uses hot water and cleaning solutions. When requesting pressure/power washing from a business, be sure to ask what the process entails so you know exactly what you’re asking for.
Equipment Required For Power Washing
What is power washing? To get a better understanding of this process, let’s review the different kinds of equipment you’ll need for the work. First and foremost, you’ll need a pressure washer. This device is the key to making power washing happen. Pressure washers can cost anywhere between $100 and $3,000 depending on which one you choose. Do you prioritize affordability or quality? Or do you lie somewhere in the middle?
What else will you need for power washing projects? There are several more items you should pick up, including the following:
- Hoses/Attachments. An attaching hose is necessary to aim pressurized water at dirty surfaces. We also recommend having a variety of nozzles and even a surface cleaning attachment (which looks similar to a Roomba).
- Cleaning Solutions. Cleaning solutions weaken debris so it can be more easily removed. At Sunny Days Cleaning, we use sodium hypochlorite during most jobs and recommend it to DIYers.
- Safety Equipment. It’s important to protect yourself when power washing. Please wear goggles, gloves, full-length pants, and closed-toe shoes to protect your skin and other sensitive parts of your body from injury.
Preparing Surfaces For Power Washing
If you are planning to power wash your exterior surfaces, there are a few ways you can better prepare yourself for the work. Firstly, be sure to research how much water pressure you should use during your project. For example, a concrete patio can withstand up to 3,500 PSI. On the other hand, a wooden deck should be washed with approximately 1,000 PSI. Do your research before your project and make an appropriate choice!
It’s also important to clear off any surfaces that you are planning to clean. If you’re going to power wash your patio, be sure to take any furniture and decorations to a safe location. Similarly, if you plan to power wash your driveway, park your vehicles somewhere else. That way, you don’t have to work around any obstacles, and your belongings aren’t at risk of being damaged by pressurized water, either.
The Power Washing Process
Now, let’s look into the actual process of power washing. First, choose a starting point on the dirty surface. Typically, this will be one of the corners. Next, wash an entire row of the surface, moving from one corner to the next. This strip should become much brighter and more vibrant as a result. Now, all you have to do is repeat this pattern until the entire surface is clean! Be sure to overlap each pass to ensure that no debris is left behind.
If you encounter any debris that is too difficult to wash away, cleaning solutions will help. Simply apply a thin layer of sodium hypochlorite to the afflicted area. Then, wait ten to fifteen minutes for it to break down the unwanted grime. Finally, try pressure washing the area again—you should find that the debris rinses away with ease!
Need Professional Power Washing?
So, what is power washing? As you’ve discovered in this blog, it’s a highly versatile technique that can be used to clean all sorts of surfaces. However, power washing surfaces is challenging, and because of this, you may not feel included to do the work on your own. The good news is that you don’t have to. Sunny Days Cleaning is here to help!
We are a locally owned and operated business, and we are happy to help our neighbors in the Daytona Beach community. Whether you have a home or business for us to clean, count on us to leave its exterior spotless—and for a fair price, too! Contact us online to get a free quote today. We hope to hear from you soon.