If you would like to provide your house more curb appeal, one great way to begin is by giving the exterior a thorough cleaning. An exterior that sparkles in sunlight may make a major difference. But if you’re about to reach for a pressure washer, stop right there. Not all surfaces may handle the extreme spray of a pressure washer ; a few, such as brick, may be damaged from the wrong tools. Here you’ll find out which method is best for your house, along with much more know-how you’ll want to get the job done correctly.
Vinyl Siding Institute
When to stress wash. Vinyl or wood siding, or even a hybrid substance, is typically strong enough to defy pressure washing. However, before you go to the home improvement store, think about exactly how dirty your house is. It is best to begin with the lightest, gentlest cleaning method that’s powerful and work your way up out there.
Do not hit for the pressure washer if you don’t have some serious grime to contend with — a light layer of grime and street dust is easily cleaned with a plain old garden hose. If your house has sturdy siding and requires more energy than a garden hose can muster, a pressure washer could be heaven sent.
Cathy Schwabe Architecture
Get ready to pressure wash. If you have your house and plan to use a pressure washer at least once every calendar year, it might be worth it to purchase your own. They aren’t cheap … but they’re not cheap to rent, either. If you cannot reach the top floors of your house on a ladder, consider hiring a specialist to do the job. If you’re doing this yourself, follow these steps:
Soap or not any soap? Water alone is sufficient to get most exteriors wash. If you have mold or mildew, use a specialization house cleaner designed to kill mold from the pressure washer’s detergent compartment. Choose the right nozzle. Stress washer nozzles are measured in degrees — people who shoot water in a really narrow place have the most powerful spray (zero would be the most powerful) and should be used very carefully. For many homes a nozzle using a 40-degree spray should burst, so start there and work your way down to some 25-degree nozzle if necessary. Secure windows doors and pets. Make sure dogs (who might be curious about the spray) and kids are indoors, and shut all of the windows and doors prior to getting started. Also wear a set of goggles to guard your eyes from dirt and debris.
James Hardie Building Products
Pressure washing security. Heal your pressure washer with respect and common sense, the same as you would any other power tool — because it’s potentially just as dangerous. The spray that comes out of the tip of the power washer is so focused, it could slice through skin, therefore keep kids and pets away while you’re working, and never steer the pressure washer at someone.
Also avoid spraying windows, as the spray could break the glass, especially in older homes using single-pane windows.
Michael Piccirillo Architecture PLLC
How to pressure wash your house:
Spray at a downward angle. Siding is intended to secure your house from weather … and weather comes from above, not from below. Work with your home’s protective attributes and direct your sprayer downward. Never spray into seams or cracks in siding in which water may get trapped and harm your house. Test a small section. Before getting too far along, turn off your pressure washer and take a close look at the first little section you have completed. If you see any signs of harm, switch to a regular hose. If it seems good, continue!
Keep the hose moving. Utilize a continuous side-to-side sweeping motion as you spray on your house — lingering too long on a single spot can cause harm. If you’re using a cleanser, work from the base of your house to the top, then wash in the top to bottom.
Union Studio, Architecture & Community Design
When to bypass the pressure washer. Homes made of brick, stucco or delicate wood shingles are cleaned by hand using an ordinary garden hose. You can still get a bit of help, though. Home improvement stores carry kits for washing machine that include specific nozzles and reservoirs for cleansers that could be attached to a regular hose.
Meyer & Meyer, Inc..
What about plants? If you have ivy or roses growing across the exterior of your home, avoid using a pressure washer, whether or not your siding can handle it. If you have plantings near your house although not growing on it, cover them with plastic sheeting prior to pressure washing and avoid spraying the region directly.
Britannia Joinery
Washing your house using a garden hose. Pick up a siding cleaning kit in your regional home improvement store — it ought to include a nozzle attachment for your regular garden hose and a compartment to fill with cleanser if necessary. Inspect. Take a close look at the exterior of your house, keeping an eye out for spots that are especially filthy or mildewed — you’ll be tackling those first. Pretreat. Squirt especially soiled areas with cleaner prior to getting started using the hose. For a milder alternative to harsh mildew killers, attempt a solution of water bleach, which is a sort of hydrogen peroxide. You can give especially filthy areas a fast wash with a soft brush, too.
Wash.. Fill the compartment on your hose attachment with cleanser, if using. Remember that unless your home’s exterior is heavily soiled, water alone should do the job. Spray your house from bottom to top, working one section at a time. Just as with pressure washing machine, aim the spray at a downward angle.
Rinse. If you used a cleanser on the first move, now’s the time to wash, spraying your house from top to bottom.
Cugno Architecture
Inform us : How (and how often) do you clean your house? Maybe you have used a pressure washer, or would you want a hose? Ever damaged anything by accident? Share your tales in the Remarks!