Is it time for your property to be pressure washed? If so, you might have half a mind to grab your own equipment and do the work on your own. However, be wary. If you do so, you need to be prepared for the many challenges of pressure washing that you’ll face along the way. Don’t let yourself wander into the project cluelessly. Read this blog, discover the challenges of pressure washing, and prepare yourself for the work so you aren’t taken off guard.
Who are we? We are Elite Pressure Washing, the home of Tampa, FL’s pressure washing professionals. We are highly familiar with this work, and it would be our pleasure to provide you with the knowledge you need to succeed during your project. If all else fails, reach out to us for a professional appointment!
1) Deciding When to Pressure Wash
Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges of pressure washing is deciding when to do the work at all. It might not be immediately obvious to you when you should pressure wash, especially if you’ve never done the work before. What signs should you look out for, and how many times should you pressure wash your property’s exterior per year?
As a general guideline, we recommend that you have your property pressure washed annually. So, if it’s already been longer than a year since its exterior surfaces were cleaned, it’s time to take action. Either plan to do your own pressure washing or reach out to the professionals at Elite Pressure Washing sooner rather than later.
You can also determine if your property needs pressure washing by inspecting its exterior. Step outside and take a close look at those surfaces. What do you see? Do you see thick layers of dirt, mud, and pollen? Have moss, mold, and pollen spread across your property’s exterior like wildfire? If debris has significantly reduced your property’s beauty, you’ll know it’s time to take action.
2) Preparing the Area For Cleaning
One of the challenges of pressure washing is getting the area ready for cleaning. Many DIYers don’t do this correctly, only to find themselves in trouble when they attempt to spray surfaces clean. With the correct preparations, you’ll streamline your cleaning process and avoid unnecessary difficulty.
First, make sure you remove any large items from the surfaces to be cleaned. Some examples of these items include furniture, decorations, cars, etc. By getting them out of the way, you’ll ensure they aren’t damaged by pressurized water, and you’ll also reduce the number of obstacles you’ll face during your project. We also recommend sweeping surfaces before you pressure wash them. That way, high-pressure jets of water don’t launch pebbles and other larger pieces of debris.
3) Use an Appropriate Amount of Water Pressure
If you want to successfully pressure wash your property’s exterior surfaces, you’ll have to use an appropriate amount of water pressure. What makes this one of the challenges of pressure washing? Simple—there are many different surfaces of many different materials, and they all demand different levels of water pressure for safe cleaning.
We have included several examples of exterior surfaces, as well as how much water pressure to use while cleaning them, below. Don’t see yours on the list? Use your favorite search engine to find the answer you’re looking for.
- Hardwood fence: 500–1,200 PSI
- Metal: 1,500–2,000 PSI
- Brick: 1,500–2,500 PSI
- Stone surfaces: 1,500–2,500 PSI
- Concrete driveway: 2,500–3,000 PSI
4) Use Cleaning Solutions When Needed
One of the challenges of pressure washing is that you’ll discover debris that doesn’t wash away at first. Stubborn stains and organic debris can put up a real fight, and when regular pressure washing isn’t enough to get rid of them, what should you do? We highly recommend using sodium hypochlorite when you find yourself in this situation.
Using this specialized cleaning solution is simple. First, apply a thin layer of it to the area afflicted by stubborn debris. Next, wait fifteen minutes for grime to be broken down. Finally, pressure wash the area again. This should result in the immediate removal of unwanted debris, leaving surfaces in stunning condition. This will impress you, your neighbors, and even any passersby.
5) Finding the Time and Energy
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of pressure washing is finding the time and energy for the work. Let’s not kid ourselves—it’s tough to pressure wash property exteriors on your own. It’s a physically demanding process, and it also requires you to spend many hours of your free time. The last thing you’ll want to do at the end of a busy work week is pressure wash your property. The question is, though, if you’re not going to do the work, who will?
The answer is surprisingly simple. By reaching out to a professional pressure washing business, you’ll avoid the DIY process and put your project in the hands of hardworking experts. This will save you a world of headaches and even land you with higher-quality results. That’s because a professional business understands pressure washing better than any DIYer.
Cost of Pressure Washing Services
If you choose to have the professionals at Elite Pressure Washing tackle the challenges of pressure washing for you, how much should you expect to pay? That depends on the size of your project. For example, if you would like us to wash a small back patio, the final price will be relatively low. On the other hand, if you need us to revitalize a large parking lot, the final price will be reasonably higher.
If you would like a free cost estimate, we would love to hear from you. Simply contact us online with information about your pressure washing project. We’ll let you know what you can expect to pay. (There are never hidden fees at Elite Pressure Washing.) Finally, choose a time and date for your appointment, and we will be there soon to serve you! We look forward to lending you a helping hand and restoring your property’s sparkle.
