Power washing is a great way to revitalize the exterior of your home and boost your curb appeal without having to worry about a major renovation. In fact, you may just channel your inner weekend warrior, rent a machine and do it yourself. After all, how hard can it be to spray down the outside of your house, and while you’re at it, the deck, sidewalk, and shed?
The truth is, power washing can be difficult, dangerous, and damaging if not done correctly, and there are five key reasons you should hire a professional power washing company rather than tackling the task on your own.
If you’ve ever watched a power washing video, you may think it’s as simple as pointing a hose at your house and hitting the trigger. There’s quite a bit of preparation involved in order to effectively remove stains like mold from siding and ground in grime from brick and concrete, such as using the right cleaners.
More importantly, using the machine itself is challenging if you’re not trained to use it. With the water pressure exceeding 3,000 PSI, using it incorrectly could result in injury or damage to your home in the worst case scenario or not getting the results you envisioned. A professional power washing company will know how to control the machine to not only keep your property safe but to effectively remove the stains and dirt from your home. Plus, they’ll clean up afterward - most DIY-ers don’t factor in the debris and filth that gets rinsed off the surfaces has to be cleaned up, along with puddles of dirty water. Cleaning up can double the project time!
Pressure washing is using highly pressurized water to clean, while power washing involves heating that pressurized water to get better results. What gets amazing results on one surface can destroy another material and cause both immediate and long-term damage. While a professional with a Raleigh power washing company (or your local area) knows what to avoid and how to successfully maneuver around delicate materials, someone inexperienced may not. A power washing machine can’t be used on a wide variety of surfaces:
● Roof shingles can be torn off.
● Wood siding can crack or water can flow behind, causing mold.
● Surfaces that are painted or stained could be stripped of color.
● Old brick can be damaged and the mortar between the bricks can crumble under the blast.
● Glass windows will be broken.
Even using the machine on the proper materials can still damage them if not used correctly. Vinyl siding can be punctured or dented and wood decking could be splintered under the force of the blast. What is more dangerous is the damage that you may not realize is happening. When used incorrectly, water can easily get into electrical outlets and lighting or forced behind the fascia around your gutters, and when that happens, mold and wood rot can occur.
Another common misconception about pressure washing machines is that they’re not dangerous. Inexperienced users get hurt using power washing machines. Often it’s from trying to use the hose while on a ladder and being unprepared for the pressure, thus losing their balance. However, it’s also not uncommon to inadvertently hit themselves or someone else, causing bruising and lacerations.
Pressure washing is not the short, simple task it looks like, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the equipment. Instead of trying to take on the project yourself, only to have to fix repairs if it doesn’t go right, leave it to the pros! If you are in the Triangle area, reach out to our Raleigh power washing company today to schedule service!