Can Pressure Washing Damage a Home?
Can power/pressure washing damage your house? The quick answer is yes. Safety precautions must be enacted in order to successfully pressure wash a home and leave it undamaged. In fact, you can cause irreversible damage if you don’t know what you are doing…
A Look at What Kind of Damage Can be Inflicted on Your Home if Washing is Done Incorrectly
- Mold & Mildew: Water can build up below a home’s siding causing growth
- Accidental removal or denting of siding, shingles, or shutters
- Accidental unwanted paint removal
- Accidental discoloration in patches
- Wood splinters
- Stone cracking
That’s just a quick look at what can happen to a home when power washing isn’t done correctly. It is supposed to be a home improvement project. Don’t let it lead to a home repair project that will break your piggy bank.
Pressure Washing Done Right
In order to wash correctly, you must understand the intricacies of pressure, distance, and technique. We touch on these below.
The Right Amount of Pressure
Rule of Thumb: The higher the pressure, the greater the risk of damage.
Pressure and power washing are two terms that are often used interchangeably because they both, in part, use the force of water to clean surfaces. But more pressure isn’t always positive.
Certain surfaces, such as concrete, can handle high amounts of pressure. It’s often required to clean its deep pores and remove dirt, grime, and winter buildup. Other surfaces, such as shingles on a roof top should never be treated with high pressure. Always choose to soft-wash shingled roofing instead. The reason is that high pressure can force water underneath the shingles and cause rotting.
Power washing a home isn’t as simple as grabbing a machine, flipping it on, and lugging it around the yard all day. You have to know and understand the surface you’re washing, what it’s made from, and the right PSI to use when washing it.
Distance is Key
The distance from the power washing wand spray to the surface you are cleaning is just as important as the pressure you choose. 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. However, you would also likely scratch and discolor the surface permanently. This can destroy a deck in no time flat.
Surface Make Up
Just like pressure, you should determine distance by the type of surface you are washing. Stucco is different than Viny. Concrete and pavement require different treatment than brick. The surface and distance must be taken into account.
Power Washing Techniques
There is a science to power washing. It takes practice and skill.
Do you play golf? Power washing is actually comparable! There are many parts to a swing. If you grip the club wrong, you may slice it. Peek your head too early and 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, technique, and knowledge.
An Example: You want to wash a home that has vinyl siding.
Vinyl siding has gaps between each section. If you power wash against the grain and where the gaps are open, water may get behind the siding and can cause structural damage.
Avoiding Damage
With one of your largest assets at stake, it is best to leave power washing to the professionals. We may be biased, but 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 Benitez Pressure Washing, 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. It’s that simple.
Learn more about how Benitez Pressure Washing works!