Can Power Washing Do Damage?

Can power washing damage your house? The short answer is yes. You must take several safety measures in order to power wash a house successfully and leave it undamaged. In fact, you can cause irreversible damage if you don’t have proper experience and knowledge of how to power wash a house. Here’s the kind of damage power washing can do if not performed correctly: Water can build up below a home’s siding causing mold and mildew growth. Accidental removal or denting of siding, shingles, shutters, etc. Paint removal and discoloration.

 

One of the most satisfying, but time-consuming, outdoor tasks you can take on is power washing your driveway and walkways. While you know that using a power washer can almost magically erase built-up dirt, debris and stains from practically any surface, you might wonder: Can power washing damage concrete? The quick answer is yes, power washing can degrade a concrete surface. You can notice visible damage from water pressure at the level at which even light-duty power washers can operate. Therefore, if you aren’t careful, you can cause irreversible damage to your driveway or patio.
 

 

Also, some concrete is weaker than others, making some areas more vulnerable to developing lines, pitting or other surface imperfections, not to mention the deterioration to joints if mortar or joint sand is washed away during the process. The top reasons for pressure washing damage are using the wrong nozzle, excessive pressure, spraying too close to a concrete surface and holding the nozzle on a particular spot for too long. As with any piece of equipment you purchase to use on your property, of course, you’ll want to read all instructions thoroughly before you get started. Let’s now go into more detail about how you can give your concrete surfaces an upgrade without inadvertently causing any other problems. Please go here at Power Washing in Glen Mills, PA to know more about the Benefits of Power Washing.

Using the Right Amount of Pressure: Pressure washing and power washing are two terms that are often used interchangeably because they both, in part, use the force of water to achieve their goal (cleaning surfaces). But pressure isn’t always a good thing. Typically, the higher the pressure, the higher the risk of damage. Certain surfaces, like concrete, can handle a rather large amount of pressure. It’s often required to clean its deep pores and remove dirt, grime, and winter buildup. Other surfaces, like roof shingles, should never be treated with what we’d define as pressure (we use a soft wash instead). Water can easily get underneath a roof and cause a mess of problems. Power washing a home isn’t as simple as picking one pressure and lugging a machine around a yard all day. You must know the surface you’re washing, what it’s made of, and the right PSI to use when washing it.

 

Power Washing from a Safe Distance: The distance from a power washing wand to the surface your are cleaning is just as important as the pressure you use. Think about if you were to use a high amount of water pressure three inches from the surface of a deck. What would happen? Well, you’d certainly get rid of any dirt on the surface. But you’d also mark, scratch, and discolor the surface. No good. Just like pressure, you should determine distance by the surface you are washing. Vinyl siding is different than stucco. Concrete patios are different than brick. You must take this into account.

 

Power Washing Techniques: Believe it or not, there’s a science (and skill!) to power washing. Let’s compare it to swinging a golf club. There are many parts to a swing and a lot that can go wrong (believe me). Gripping the club wrong? You may slice it. Peek your head too early? The balls end up a few feet in front of you. While power washing may not be that complex, it does require quite a bit of practice and knowledge. Let’s look at siding for an example. Vinyl siding has gaps in between each of its sections. If you power wash against the grain and where the gaps are open, water has a good chance of flowing behind the siding. It would be almost impossible to know that as a homeowner power washing their home for the first time (unless you’re reading this post).

 

Avoid Power Washing Damage: With so much at stake, it is best to leave power washing to the professionals. Although we may be biased, we truly believe a professional cleaning is necessary in order to achieve the best results possible. First and foremost, that means your house is safe and left undamaged. With Perfect Power Wash, it also means we will clean your home perfectly. When you work with us, you can relax knowing there’s nothing to worry about. We’re a fully insured company that guarantees to deliver the best results possible for your property using our safe and effective processes, or your money back. It’s that simple.