Power washing is one effective way of the exterior of your house, especially for certain parts that we cannot simply reach by hand. However, when it is used the wrong way, it can cause serious damages to your property. Here are 7 mistakes to avoid when power washing your exterior in New Haven, CT.
1. Applying Too Much Pressure
One of the most common mistakes you can make when pressure washing the exterior of your house is applying too much pressure. Committing this kind of mistake can potentially destroy some parts of the exterior of your house, including the vinyl siding, splinter wood, or etch concrete. Power washers have a variety of pressure attachments and settings for different jobs and materials; if you’re washing the exterior of your house, you should know what will work best.
2. Power Washing Without A Cleanser
You are wasting a lot of time, effort, and money if you’re planning to power wash the exterior of your house using only water. When power washing the exterior of your house, you should consider using a cleanser and not just water, especially for the dirty parts that badly need them. Power washing jobs require using a detergent or chemical cleanser — eco-friendly detergents can break up dirt and eliminate mold.
3. No Landscaping Protection
You should thoroughly wet down the plantings around the exterior of your house with a garden house before you start power washing. By doing this, the cleanser that you will use won’t dry on the plant leaves which can leave burn marks. If your exterior power washing job takes longer than expected and the plants begin to dry off, you will have to water them again or protect the plantings with a tarp instead.
4. Power Washing Without A Plan
Most people don’t even bother making a plan before power washing, making their exterior cleaning job a lot more difficult. It is important to have a plan about what you should prioritize cleaning first, this way, you will have something that will guide you as you progress with your work. Power washing in the correct order will save you a lot of time and will make your job easier; cleaning without a plan might give you more work to do.
5. No Knowledge About The Equipment
If you’re planning to clean the exterior of your house with a power washer but you have no idea how to use the equipment, you might end up ruining it. You should have a proper demonstration of any rental power washer before you think of buying and leaving with it. Before using the power washer for the first time, make sure you have read the instruction manual carefully.
6. Power Washing Using Hot Water
Power washing with hot water can be more efficient when dealing with industrial applications but it is not recommended to use it when cleaning your exterior. Commercial power-washing contractors use hot water because it cleans faster than using water coming from the faucet. However, residential exteriors are not the same as commercial exteriors; using hot water could possibly warp your vinyl siding or damage other parts of the house.
7. Not Power Washing Your Driveway
If there is something that you overlook as you start cleaning your exterior, it’s possibly not power-washing your driveway. Your driveway collects contaminants such as oil stains and algae that can cause cracks in your path if left untreated that eventually leads to deterioration. To avoid this kind of scenario, you should keep in mind that you have to power wash your driveway first before washing your home’s exterior.
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Related: 5 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Residential Painter In The New Haven Area
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