When Is It Not Okay to Pressure Wash A House
Isaac

When Is It Not Okay to Pressure Wash A House

Any time your customer needs you pressure washing a home, you need to make sure that you are only cleaning materials that can withstand the pressure from the power washer. If you use too much pressure on the wrong material, it can cause damage or even ruin it. This is something that you will want to keep in mind when deciding if it is okay to pressure wash a house or not.

Woodwork

If you have wooden decks or fences, do not use any type of power washer on them either because this can lead to splintering and cracking of the wood which will make them less durable over time as well as making them look worse than before you started cleaning them off with water at high-pressure levels.

There are a few areas where you should avoid pressure washing altogether:

Wood siding: Pressure washing shouldn't be used on any style of wooden siding. It degrades the paint and can remove the finish. You'll get much better results with a good cleaning solution and garden hose.

Stucco siding: Standard stucco isn't usually damaged by pressure washing, but it can be if you're not careful. The problem area is flashing — those metal strips above windows and doors that protect from rainwater intrusion. Pressure washers are powerful enough to damage flashing, which allows water to enter behind the stucco. That can lead to mold, wood rot and other problems.

Pressure Washing without the Right Equipment

Another thing that you will want to keep in mind when deciding if it is okay to pressure wash a house is whether or not you have the right equipment for the job. You should never attempt to power wash anything with a washer that doesn't work properly or has been damaged in some way. You also need to make sure that you are wearing proper protective gear when using any kind of power washer on your home as well

Windows

Using a pressure washer on windows does more harm than good — it's easy to break window seals with a high-pressure spray of water. Instead, use a cleaning solution and soft cloths for streak-free results. Windows from the 60s and 70s weren't meant to withstand the pressure that comes with a power wash and could break because of this.

Bricks/Mortar

If you have stone or brickwork on your house, like chimneys and foundations, do not use a pressure washer on them under any circumstances. The mortar between stones and bricks will

There are two main methods for pressure washing mortar and brick. One is to simply use a pressure washer with a no-chemical solution. This will help keep the color of the brick from being affected by the water. Another method is to use a soap solution in combination with a pressure washer. However, this should be done carefully because it can cause discoloration of the brick or stone depending on its age.

The best way to clean your home’s exterior without damaging mortar or brick is with low-pressure cleaning methods such as using an air compressor instead of high-pressure water jets. If you want an environmentally friendly approach, you may want to consider using biodegradable detergents instead which are less harsh on sensitive surfaces than chemical solutions. You can get this detergents from the Giraffetools collections.