With the warmer weather arriving, I see a lot of posts on social media from homeowners looking for someone to "pressure wash" their homes. I cringe when I see the responses in the comments from individuals and "companies" that do not have commercial cleaning equipment. A lot of the commenters have residential pressure washers that do not meet the requirements needed to clean your home's exterior. Frankly, the chances of them damaging your home's surfaces is quite high. If the company does not have insurance or insurance that is not tailored to the industry, you could be stuck with the expensive repair bill. In this blog, we will explore the damages that pressure washing can cause and the proper way to have your home's exterior cleaned.
Damages from Pressure Washing
Oxidation:
Have you ever ran your hand across your vinyl or painted siding and you see a chalky residue on your hand? The chalky residue is oxidation. Oxidation is a natural process that happens with age, especially on surfaces that are subjected to direct sunlight. Using a pressure washer on oxidized surfaces will remove patches of oxidation resulting in an appearance that Zoro was wielding the pressure washing wand like his sword, leaving unsightly shiny and dull areas. Once this has happened, the only way to fix the issue is to use expensive chemicals and a labor intensive process to remove all of the oxidation.
Physical Damage:
Pressure washing can also strip the paint from your Hardy Board or wooden siding. It can crack or blow holes in your vinyl siding resulting in expensive repairs to replace siding and painting. Damages to brick and masonry can also result from pressure washing. Brick can become dislodged or mortar can be blown out of the joints, requiring a brick mason to complete costly repairs. Stucco surfaces are very vulnerable to damage from pressure and can easily result in holes or entire chunks of stucco coming off of your home. If your home has wood surfaces, pressure washing can damage the wood fibers and cause premature rot and an unsightly appearance.
Concrete:
Lastly, the flat concrete surfaces (driveway, sidewalks, porches, and patios) can be significantly damaged by improperly cleaning with a pressure washer. Residential pressure washers run at very high pressure and use very little water. This high pressure can result in permanent etching to your concrete surfaces, resulting in an unsightly appearance and premature failure of the concrete. If your concrete is less than 2 years old, there are professional solutions that can be used to clean the surfaces without damages.
How Do I Protect My Property From Damage?
Equipment:
Legitimate exterior cleaning companies will have commercial equipment. The equipment can be truck or trailer mounted, and will include tanks for water and chemicals; pressure washers; and soft wash equipment. If you are inquiring with a company to clean your home, ask them about their equipment and ensure they have softwash equipment to clean your homes siding. If you hire a company and they show up with just a pressure washer, you would be wise to decline their service and look for a professional company with the proper equipment. Softwashing is the only safe way to clean your home's siding. Concrete surfaces can be cleaned safely with the proper equipment. Inquire with the company about their process for cleaning your concrete. They should have surface cleaners that are properly sized to their pressure washer, to eliminate the chances of etching the concrete. If your concrete is less than 2 years old, the company should have the proper equipment and chemicals to clean the concrete without damaging it.
Insurance:
Ask the company or individual if they have a general liability insurance policy that covers their industry. Most insurance companies provide general liability policies that align with the services provided by the company. If exterior cleaning is not included in their policy, the chances of a claim for damages being paid are minimal, resulting in you having to pay out of pocket for damages, or lengthy and expensive litigation to pay for repairs. The company should be able to provide you with a Certificate of Insurance for exterior cleaning or pressure washing.
Property Protection:
When you inquire with a company to clean your homes exterior, ask them how they will protect your home from damages from water and chemicals. Water and chemical intrusion can damage electrical systems, cameras, HVAC equipment, and door locks and hardware. Plants and grass can also be damaged without proper protection. The company should be able to explain how they will protect your property. Professional companies will protect your wood surfaces against damage by using low pressure and safe chemicals to clean and restore those surfaces.
What is Softwashing?
Softwashing is a process to remove organic materials (dirt, pollen, algae, mold, etc.) from the surfaces of your home. This is accomplished by using commercial low pressure soft wash equipment to apply professional solutions to your siding to remove organic materials and to "kill" algae and mold. This process can also be used to remove those unsightly black streaks or sections from your roof.
PureClean Powerwash LLC has the proper equipment, insurance, and chemicals to clean your homes exterior. Call or text us at (865) 290-0366 for a free quote. Mention this blog to receive a discount. We offer HOA and community discounts for multiple homes in the same neighborhood.
Disclaimer: It is not my intent to disparage people and companies that work hard to provide exterior cleaning surfaces. Since your home is usually the largest investment that you will make in your lifetime, ensure that you protect your investment by doing your research and make sure that the company you choose will protect your investment and not leave you requiring extensive and expensive repairs.
