Are you preparing for a pressure washing project? If so, you are probably looking forward to the countless benefits of pressure washing. However, be careful because there are countless pitfalls you might come across during the exterior cleaning process. If you don’t know what to look out for, it’s very possible that you’ll make one of these common pressure washing mistakes for yourself. In this blog, we’ll review these mistakes—that way, you’ll be able to completely avoid them during your pressure washing project.
Who are we? We are Brite Exterior Solutions, the go-to pressure washing company in Richmond, VA. We are happy to be your guide today, and if you decide you need professional pressure washing, don’t hesitate to call us and schedule an appointment.
Mistake #1: Skipping Pressure Washing Altogether
The worst of all common pressure washing mistakes is choosing not to clean a property’s exterior at all. It could be that you don’t understand the technique’s benefits, or you might want to avoid the work. Whatever your motives, we highly recommend that you don’t skip pressure washing because it means your home or business’s exterior will accumulate debris indefinitely. This will result in the diminished beauty of your property and ultimately surface damage that will cost money to repair.
On the other hand, pressure washing will remove this debris from your property’s exterior, improving its appearance and helping it last longer. We highly recommend that you pressure wash your property once per year to enjoy these benefits. Has it already been longer than a year? Then you know what to do!
Mistake #2: Not Clearing Surfaces Before Cleaning
If you have decided to pressure wash a surface, we think that’s a great choice. However, you need to make the correct preparations first, and one of these preparations is clearing off the surface. For example, if you are going to pressure wash a deck, remove all furniture and decorations from the structure. Similarly, if preparing for driveway pressure washing, relocate all vehicles before you begin the work.
What makes it so important to clear surfaces before cleaning? There are two key reasons. Firstly, you don’t want any items to get in the way of your work. Secondly, you don’t want to accidentally damage them with pressurized water, either.
Mistake #3: Not Putting Safety First
Pressure washing is effective because it uses high-pressure water to restore exterior surfaces. This water effectively slices through debris and rinses it away with ease. However, beware as highly pressurized water isn’t all fun and games. It’s a powerful tool that needs to be treated seriously because it can actually injure you if you use it incorrectly. To prevent injury, we highly recommend you do the following:
- Wear Safety Equipment. Gloves, full-length pants, closed-toe shoes, and eye protection will shield sensitive parts of your body, making it much less likely that pressurized water bruises or cuts your skin.
- Only Aim at Surfaces. You should only point your pressure washing hose at the surfaces that you plan to clean. Under no circumstances should you point it at yourself because this increases the risk of an accident.
- Select an Appropriate Water Pressure Level. Before attempting to pressure wash any surfaces, it is important that you research how much water pressure (PSI) to clean them with. This ensures your property’s safety.
Mistake #4: Skipping Tough Stains
Pressure washing is renowned across the world for its stunning results. However, one of the most common pressure washing mistakes is skipping tough stains simply because they’re more difficult to remove. We highly encourage you not to give up so easily during your exterior cleaning project. If you find stubborn debris that doesn’t rinse away so easily, there are alternative means of weakening it. For example, we highly recommend sodium hypochlorite, a specialized cleaning solution!
Using sodium hypochlorite is easy. At Brite Exterior Solutions, we simply apply a thin layer of this cleaning solution to any dirty surfaces. Then, we wait fifteen minutes for debris to be broken down. Finally, we pressure wash the surfaces clean, and debris that was previously too stubborn to remove will rinse away with ease.
Mistake #5: Not Giving Yourself Enough Time
If this is your first time pressure washing, it stands to reason that you’re not completely familiarized with the process. In fact, you won’t have a fuller understanding of pressure washing until you’ve made it through your first project. What this means is that you’ll need time to get used to pressure washing and its quirks. So make sure you give yourself enough time for the work. That way, you don’t have to rush through your project!
Generally speaking, the larger your project, the more time you will need to complete it. We suggest giving yourself about two hours to pressure wash a small patio. On the other hand, pressure washing a large parking lot could take five or six hours. Plan accordingly so you don’t put yourself in a stressful situation. The last thing you want is to wind up in a frustrating “time crunch”.
Consider Professional Services
As you’ve discovered in this blog, there are many common pressure washing mistakes waiting to be made. With the correct precautions, you’ll be able to avoid all these pitfalls and have a spectacular pressure washing experience. However, if you are still worried about making crucial mistakes, reach out to Brite Exterior Solutions, and our team of experienced pros will happily do all the work for you.
We are a locally owned and operated business, and it’s always our pleasure to serve home and business owners in the Richmond, VA community. That way, you don’t have to do your own pressure washing (or make any common pressure washing mistakes). Instead, you can sit back and relax while our professionals handle this project on your behalf.
To get started, contact us online and let us know about your pressure washing needs. We will get back to you as soon as possible with a free cost estimate. There are no hidden fees at Brite Exterior Solutions.
