Pressure Washing - DIY vs Professional

Longtime homeowners might notice that mildew, algae, and other airborne pollutants can accumulate on their home's sidings, driveways, and decks after a certain period of time. These are commonly affected areas, especially if they are located in a shaded area. Fortunately, you can clear these unsightly areas and make them look like new again with a pressure washer.

There are two basic options you have when it comes to pressure washing. You can either do it yourself or hire a professional cleaning contractor. Before you can make that decision, however, there are lots of things you should consider first, such as the fact that you may have to go out to buy or rent a pressure washer if you want to do it on your own. Here are a few other factors that you may want to consider:

Surface

Whether you are washing a vinyl or wood siding will be an important factor to consider when you are choosing a pressure washer because different materials will not be able to handle as much pressure as concrete. Whatever material your surface is, it is important that it is one of your first considerations when it comes to pressure washing.

The amount of pressure you use on contact with the surface should be enough so that it can wash it, but not too much that it damages it. You must also hold the hose the appropriate distance away in order to apply the right amount of pressure. The important part is that you consider the surface of what you are trying to clean and its ability to handle the strong jet of water. You want to make sure that the pressure will be enough to clean the surface as well.

Height

You can easily reach up to 8 feet or so when it comes to using a pressure washer, but if you are trying to clean anything higher up than that, you might need a little bit of help. Although ladders can be an option, it can be dangerous to do it on your own, especially if you don't know what you are doing with the pressure washer.

A professional will have the equipment needed to get the job done safely and without any issues. Besides, if there is a safety issue, a company should have insurance for their workers. Always find out when you are hiring a service; ask if insurance covers injuries or any accidents that might happen during their time cleaning your home or property for you.

Duration

You might also want to consider the amount of time pressure washing might take. The amount of time it takes to get the job done will really depend on the pressure washer itself. Homeowner grade washers are typically around 2.0 gallons per minute. The more GPM your machine has, the faster a task will be completed. A cleaning company will have a commercial grade pressure washer which should be able to get the job done within 4 to 6 hours, and costs may vary depending on the company.

Equipment, tools, and chemicals

When washing concrete, it is best to use a powered pressure washer with hot water instead of just a regular washer. Hot water will help get rid of any pollutants present and help breakdown any oil that might have soaked into the pores of whatever surface you're cleaning.

Some common stains that appear on the most property include rust, algae, motor oil, and gutter streaks, which need proper chemicals in order to be removed. In these cases, it might be wiser to hire a professional to take care of these things for you since you are probably not experienced enough to handle the chemicals needed.

If you’re looking for a professional power washing service, Preferred Power Wash is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.