Pressure Washing Options for Different Exterior Surfaces

As the weather warms up, it’s time to enjoy the outdoors again. Whether you want to host gatherings on your patio or just enjoy the warmth in other exterior spaces of your home, you’d want to ensure that they are clean and ready for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying the beauty of nature. If it’s been a while since you’ve paid attention to your exterior spaces, you might realize that they’ve accumulated dirt, grime, stains, or even mold and mildew. This is where a pressure washing company can come in to help make your outdoor spaces clean and safe again.

As a homeowner, you may not know that different exterior surfaces require customized pressure settings and specialized cleaning solutions. This is also why we advise homeowners to avoid any DIY attempts at pressure washing, as you can easily cause more damage to your surfaces without the right knowledge and equipment. Keep reading to learn more about the different pressure washing options that we use for various surfaces.

Pressure Washing Solutions For Various Surfaces

Siding

When it comes to delicate siding materials, we use a lower pressure setting (800-1200 PSI) to avoid damage. Different siding materials also require customized cleaning detergents. For example, with vinyl siding, we utilize mild, non-abrasive detergents that are specially made for vinyl. Any ammonia-based cleaners will cause discoloration.

For wood sidings, specialized wood cleaners that remove dirt and mildew without damaging the wood can be used. With fiber cement sidings, we use a mild, non-abrasive detergent specifically designed for it while using a low-pressure setting between 1200 and 1500 PSI, which is sufficient to remove dirt and grime without causing harm to the siding.

Brick and Masonry

The challenge in cleaning brick and masonry surfaces lies in their porous nature, which allows dirt and stains to penetrate deep beneath the surface quite easily. Thorough cleaning from effective and powerful pressure washing is then required to remove the embedded contaminants.

You’ll often find that mold, mildew, and algae tend to thrive on moist brick surfaces, which pressure washing can also remove. It’s crucial to be aware that improper cleaning techniques can cause surface erosion and joint damage on your brick and masonry surfaces.

When it comes to pressure washing brick and masonry, we opt for a higher pressure setting between 2000 and 3000 PSI. Working in small, manageable sections, starting from the top and moving downward, it’s essential to use overlapping strokes to ensure even cleaning and prevent streaking.

Concrete Surfaces

Whether you need to clean your driveways, walkways, or patio, pressure washing is able to remove stains and discoloration that concrete surfaces are prone to. On driveways, you’ll often see oil, grease and rust stains from vehicles whereas organic stains from leaves and mold are common on walkways and patios. Regardless of the source of the dirt or stain, we can tackle it.

Using a medium pressure setting between 1500 and 2500 PSI for concrete surfaces, we work in small, manageable sections, starting from the highest point and moving towards the lowest. Ensuring that we use consistent, overlapping strokes for even cleaning, we then do a thorough rinse with a wide-angle nozzle to remove all cleaning solution and debris.

Wood Decks

Whether you have a softwood deck that requires more frequent maintenance or a hardwood deck that doesn’t, the fact is that your wood deck does need to be regularly cleaned and cared for so it can last for years to come.

With wood decks, a low pressure washing technique is critical to preventing damage. With a PSI between 500 and 1200, we work in the direction of the wood grain to avoid splintering or etching. Consistent, overlapping strokes are also crucial to ensure even cleaning, and we utilize specialized wood cleaning solutions that won’t damage wood fibers.

Fences

With so many fence materials on the market, the appropriate pressure washing approach for each type is extremely important. For example, wood fences need to be washed with a low pressure setting between 500 and 1200 PSI to avoid damaging the wood, while vinyl fences can be washed with a low to medium pressure setting between 1200 and 1800 PSI.

On the other hand, metal fences are washed with a medium to high pressure setting between 1500 and 2500 PSI, depending on the type of metal and level of oxidation.

Leave Your Pressure Washing To The Experts

If you thought you could rent or buy a pressure washer and get to work, you could not be more wrong. Different exterior surfaces do need to be pressure washed differently to prevent damage.

Our pressure washing experts have expertise and experience handling different exterior surfaces, and we have access to professional-grade equipment and cleaning solutions. We know just how to tailor the pressure, nozzle selection, and cleaning solutions to the specific material and level of soiling. If you’re considering pressure washing your home’s exterior, call us today and take the first step towards revitalizing it. With the right techniques and expertise, your property will be looking its best in no time.