Top 3 Reasons to Hire a Professional Pressure Washing Company

 

Professional pressure washing companies will tell you they’re worth the investment. Just like other home maintenance, pressure washing is important for the long-term structural integrity of your home.

Sure, you could buy your own pressurewasher. But it’s not as powerful as the equipment used by professional pressure washers.

Professional pressure washers also work more quickly than you could.

Here are the top 3 advantages of hiring a professional pressure washing company for your home or business:

1) They Work More Efficiently Than You Could: Professional pressure washers have advanced equipment. They know how to pressure wash as efficiently as possible. It might take you a full weekend to clean your property, while it takes professional pressure washers just a few hours.

2) They Work Safely: Pressure washing can be dangerous. Every year, thousands are injured by pressure washer-related injuries. Pressure washing companies have established safety procedures and safety equipment. They know how to clean your property safely.

3) They Give a Return on Investment: A professional pressure wash is an investment in your property. You get a return on your investment because your home is more beautiful, more secure, and cleaner than before.

Like other home maintenance, pressure washing is an integral part of keeping your home in top condition. Whether interested in the benefits above or in any other advantages, contact a local professional power washing company near you to enjoy enormous benefits.  

Tips for Making DIY Pressure Washing Safer

 

Pressure washing at home is generally safe, but you need to take proper precautions.

If you don’t take proper precautions, you could end up in the emergency room – like thousands of people every year who seriously injure themselves with power washers.

Fortunately, we’re here to help. Here are some of the best tips for making DIY pressure washing as safe as possible.

Avoid Gas-Powered Pressure Washers in Enclosed Spaces: Never run a gas-powered pressure washer in your garage with the door closed – or in any enclosed space without ventilation. It will give you carbon monoxide poisoning, which could be deadly.

Wear Protection: At the very least, you should wear eye protection when running a pressure washer. It’s easy to kick up pebbles and other debris into your face, which runs the risk of serious eye injuries. Wear protection at all times when using a pressure washer.

Avoid People and Pets: Pets may be curious about your pressure washer. People may not be expecting flying debris. Keep the area clear of people and pets when running a pressure washer.

Get Medical Treatment for Pressure Washing Wounds: Pressure washing wounds are more serious than many people realize, causing many to delay treatment. It might look like a basic bruise, but it could be a serious injury requiring treatment. Visit a doctor if you experience serious symptoms.

Research the Right Pressure and Solution: Using the wrong pressure or solution canlead to serious damage. Research the right pressure for your surface. Otherwise, you risk damaging your siding or weakening the structural integrity of your property.

With basic precautions, you can avoid serious damage to your home caused by pressure washing.  

Best Reasons To Power Wash Your Home Or Business

Power washing is an easy and effective way to improve the appearance of any property.

However, power washing has more advantages than many people realize. Good power washing companies not only clean your property’s appearance: they also sanitize your home, safeguard your investment, and protect your property.

Today, we’re highlighting some of the best reasons to power wash your home or business.

Prevent Degradation: Power washing prevents degradation of your home, your siding, and your roof. Over time, contaminants can lodge themselves into materials around your home, weakening their structural integrity. Some living compounds can lodge themselves inside your roof shingles or siding, creating a small bio-hazard. This may not be a big deal in the short-term, but it can cause serious issues when left untreated over an extended period.

Enjoy Effective ROI: When done right, pressure washing delivers a positive return on your investment. You spend a little bit of money on pressure washing today to avoid massive headaches in the future.

Protect Your Health: Whether power washing a home or business, you’re sanitizing surfaces and removing potentially harmful contaminants. If you have noticed a mold or mildew smell around your home, then power washing could help disrupt mold spores, safeguarding your health and your property.

Enhance Curb Appeal and Value: Power washing is a guaranteed way to enhance the curb appeal of your home or business, enhancing its value. Power washing makes your home look better while also supporting property value. It makes your home cleaner, safer, and more structurally sound – and all of these factors play a crucial role.  

Consider hiring a power washing company for your home or business today. 

 

Pressure Washing Versus Soft Washing: Pros and Cons

 

If you research pressure washing guides online, then you’ll encounter terms like pressure washing and soft washing.

What’s the difference between pressure washing and soft washing? Should you pressure wash or soft wash your deck?

Today, we’re highlighting the pros and cons of the two main types of power washing techniques.

When to use pressure washing:

You should use pressure washing on harder surfaces or when cleaning paint or stain from a surface. Pressure washing is a higher-powered technique that delivers a concentrated stream of water to a surface.

Some of the main situations in which to use pressure washing includes:

·         Removing loose paint and stain from wooden or aluminum siding

·         Preparing a deck before staining

·         Removing old wood fibers and loose paint from a surface like a deck

·         Washing concrete that’s more than 3 years old

When to use soft washing:

Soft washing lets you remove mold, algae, dirt, and other contaminants from a surface. It’s ideal for surfaces that are too soft for pressure washing but still require high-powered cleaning.

Soft washing is ideal for cedar shake siding, for example. Using pressure washing on cedar shake siding can lead to disastrous effects, impacting the structural integrity of your property.

For that reason, many pressure washing companies recommend using soft washing for situations like:

·         Cleaning cedar shake siding or wood panel siding

·         Washing concrete that’s newer than 3 years old

·         Cleaning stucco or vinyl

·         Cleaning outdoor wood furniture, rooted plants, screens, and enclosures

·         Cleaning any surfaces where you’re worried about damaging the soft material underneath

Overall, pressure washing and soft washing are both useful in different situations. Depending on your surface, you can pick the right power washing technique to maximize cleaning and avoid damage.

Electric Pressure Washers Versus Gas Pressure Washers

There are two broad types of pressure washers, including electric pressure washers and gas pressure washers. Both types of pressure washers claim to clean surfaces, but they each have pros and cons.

Today, we’re highlighting the key differences between electric pressure washers and gas pressure washers, including which one is right for your job.

The Basics

Pressure washers work by cycling water through the system using a pump. Then, the pump expels water from the system through the attached hose and nozzle, at a high velocity.

Some pressure washers are powered by gasoline. Others use electricity.
Generally, gas powered pressure washers are heavier-duty and suited for tougher jobs – like exterior stains and mildew buildup. Electric pressure washers, meanwhile, are better suited for cleaning grills, garage floors, and other surfaces.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of gas and electric pressure washers. 

Electric Pressure Washers: Pros and Cons

Pros

Lightweight: Electric pressure washers tend to be lighter. They’re easier to carry around.

Storage: Electric pressure washers are cleaner than gas pressure washers. You can store them anywhere without worrying about gas leaks or toxic smells.

Emissions: Electric pressure washers do not produce harmful emissions. In fact, you could safely use an electric pressure indoors, if you wanted to.

Less Maintenance: Electric engines require less maintenance than gas engines. You don’t have to change the oil or worry about gas, for example.

Cons 

Less Power: Electric pressure washers do not have nearly as much power as gas pressure washers.

Less Surface Coverage: Electric pressure washers also tend to have less surface area than gas power washers. That means it takes longer to clean the same amount of surface.

Power Source: Electric pressure washers require a power outlet. You’re going to need an extension cord to use the pressure washer. If you have a large backyard or are cleaning surfaces away from a power source, then electric pressure washers may be an issue.

Gas Pressure Washers: Pros and Cons 

Pros

Powerful: Gas pressure washers are more powerful, often doubling or quadrupling the PSI of electric models.

Customizable: Gas pressure washers often come with multiple nozzles and a range of PSI and GPM levels, meaning they clean faster and more efficiently than electric washers.

Cordless: You can carry a gas pressure washer anywhere it needs to go. As long as it has gas and water, it’s going to work.

Cons

Loud: Gas pressure washers are loud.

Emissions: Gas pressure washers produce emissions, making them less ideal for indoor areas, public spaces, or environmentally conscious individuals.

Required Gas and Maintenance: Gas pressure washers, understandably, require gas to function. You may also have to replace the oil periodically.

Ultimately, electric gas pressure washers both have their own pros and cons. It’s to you to decide which one works best for your unique needs.

What Should You Pressure Wash Around your Home?

So you’re renting a pressure washer or hired a professional pressure washing company. Now, you need to decide what to pressure wash around your home.

There are plenty of different options available. The hard part is deciding where to focus your energy. You can pressure wash just about anything with the right tools.

So what should you pressure wash around your home? How can you maximize your new pressure washer? Some of the most popular uses for a pressure washer include:

Grill: 

You need to be careful when pressure washing a grill. When done correctly, it can make your barbecue look brand new. When done incorrectly, however, you can damage the barbecue or make your food taste like soap for weeks. Wash your grill carefully with your pressure washer.

Outdoor Furniture: 

Outdoor furniture is exposed to some of the worst elements. Over time, your outdoor furniture can get dirtier and dirtier – but you won’t notice until you take a pressure washer to it. From chairs to tables and more, outdoor furniture can benefit from a good pressure wash.

Cars and Trucks: 

Many people choose to pressure wash a car or truck. Just like with your grill, you need to be careful when pressure washing a vehicle. Choose the right soap and go easy on the water pressure. You don’t want to expose rust spots on your vehicle or chip away the paint.

Home Exteriors: 

The exterior of your home can benefit from a powerful pressure wash. If your home is vinyl or brick, then you may be amazed at the difference a good pressure wash can make. Dirt can quickly accumulate on your property over the years. Pressure wash it away.

A person is power washing the exterior of a house.

Wood Decks: 

Wash your wood deck with a pressure washer and you may be amazed at what you find underneath. Pressure washing a wood deck or patio can make it look brand new.

Front Entrance Stairs and Walkways:

Give your home better curb appeal by pressure washing your front entrance stairs and walkways.

Concrete and Tile Decks or Patios: 

In addition to wood decks and patios, concrete and tile decks and patios can easily be pressure washed to make them look brand new.

Driveways and Garage Floors: 

Driveways and garage floors experience significant wear and tear over time. Wipe away that wear and tear with a good pressure washer.

Whether you just bought a new pressure washer, rented a pressure washer from the hardware store, or hired a professional pressure washing company, these are some of the most popular uses for a pressure washer.

To read more about Window Cleaning: Click Here

How to Pressure Wash Like a Professional

Pressure washing seems like a straightforward process. You aim pressurized water at grime to reveal the clean surface underneath.

However, professional pressure washers have years of experience perfecting their craft. Today, we’re sharing some of the best tips on how to pressure wash like a professional.

Presoak Tough Areas: If you haven’t pressure washed a surface in over a year, then you may want to pre-soak the area. You can fog or presoak a surface using a detergent, degreaser, or chemical solution. A good pre-soak will reduce wash time and chemical cost. It dislodges particles before you activate your pressure washer, which means you can get the job done more quickly.

Use Hot Water: Many people fill up their pressure washer with whatever comes out of the garden hose – which is typically cold water. However, hot water is a better solvent, and will mix with your chemical solution more effectively.

Rinse Detergent Off the Surface: If you’re using a detergent to pressure wash, make sure you rinse the detergent off the surface before it dries. Otherwise, you may just be replacing the dirt and grime with a white, chalky layer of dried detergent – and you’ll have to repeat the pressure washing process all over again. Rinse detergent away using clean water.

Consider Soda Blasting Instead of Sandblasting: Sandblasting is one of the most effective ways to clean brick and other hard surfaces. However, it can be costly and difficult to clean up. Some homeowners have started to do “soda blasting” instead, which involves using baking soda as an abrasive. Baking soda is a milder abrasive but will still remove surface material while minimizing damage to the layer below. If you find sandblasting too harsh for your surface, consider soda blasting instead.

Only Use Chemicals Approved for Pressure Washer Use: This tip can be found in virtually every article about pressure washer tips found online today. Only use chemicals and detergents approved for use in pressure washers. Otherwise, you risk damaging your machine or even creating a dangerous situation.

Prevent Streaking: One of the easiest ways to distinguish rookie pressure washers from professional pressure washers is by looking at their streaks. A pro can minimize streaks for a smooth, even clean. The best way to eliminate streaks is to spray horizontally with smooth, measured left to right movements. Move the pressure washer about 3 to 4 feet wide at each time. Move from the top of the surface to the bottom. If you have clean, consistent movements through the pressure wash, you’ll avoid any type of streaking.

Don’t Pressure Wash Immediately After Applying the Cleaning Solution: Another rookie mistake is to start pressure washing immediately after you apply the cleaning solution. This is a waste of cleaning solution – you haven’t even allowed the solution to go to work! Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the solution to kick into action before finishing the wash.

Ultimately, pressure washing is a skill that’s easy to pick-up, but difficult to master. Everyone thinks they’re a good pressure washer until they see a professional go to work. To schedule your professional power washing on Long Island, request a free estimate from Majestic Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing.