Are you planning to do your own pressure washing in the near future? If so, you need to familiarize yourself with the process. That’s because if you don’t, you are more likely to make common pressure washing mistakes. These mistakes have been made by DIYers for decades, and you could be the next to fall victim to them.
Discover five common pressure washing mistakes with Chicagoland Pressure Washing. We’ll let you know how you can avoid these errors with careful planning. Or, you can reach out to us for an appointment. We’re a phone call away if you need our help.
Mistake #1: Not Pressure Washing Your Property at All
“Do I really need to pressure wash my property?” you might ask. The answer is yes, you do. That’s because your home or business’s exterior surfaces will gather debris over time. This debris includes dirt, mud, moss, mold, algae, and many other unwanted substances. The longer this filth is allowed to accumulate, the less visually appealing your property will become. Eventually, your home or business will be outright ugly!
Not only that, but surface debris actually damages exterior surfaces over time. Particles of debris grind against and erode surfaces. This could eventually cause holes and leaks, forcing you to pay for costly repairs. The last thing you’ll want is to cough up hundreds of dollars just to patch up this damage.
Keep your property beautiful and extend the lifespan of exterior surfaces with pressure washing. It’s important to remove debris from exterior surfaces, and this is exactly why we recommend annual pressure washing. Has it already been over a year since your property’s exterior was cleaned? If so, it’s time to change that sooner rather than later.
Mistake #2: Not Giving Yourself Enough Time
So you’ve decided to pressure wash your own property. That’s great, but you need to make sure that you have enough time to do the work. Trying to rush through your project when you don’t have enough time to complete it is another one of the most common pressure washing mistakes.
In our experience, we find that DIYers need hours of time, if not most the day, to complete their pressure washing projects. So make sure that you plan accordingly. Don’t attempt to pressure wash your property on a day that’s filled with appointments and other prior commitments. Refer to your calendar and choose a day that is relatively free.
Remember, rushing through the pressure washing process compromises the quality of the final results. So give yourself enough time for DIY pressure washing, and it will pay off in dividends when you reach the end of the project.
Mistake #3: Not Understanding Pressure Washing Equipment
If you are planning to do your own pressure washing, you absolutely need to understand how the necessary equipment works. If you don’t, how are you going to do the work correctly? It just increases the likelihood that you will make common pressure washing mistakes by accident.
First and foremost, always handle your pressure washer with care. Remember that this machine creates jets of pressurized water, and pressurized water can actually hurt you if you aren’t careful with it. Always point the attached hose at the surfaces you intend to clean instead of yourself. This minimizes the risk of personal injury.
Don’t forget to wear safety gear during your pressure washing project, too. We recommend goggles, gloves, full-length pants, and closed-toe shoes. By covering your bare skin, you reduce the risk of hurting yourself with pressurized water—and the chance of winding up in urgent care because of a careless mistake.
Mistake #4: Not Choosing the Correct Water Pressure
One of the many common pressure washing mistakes is using the wrong amount of water pressure. You see, pressure washing is not a “one-size-fits-all” process. The correct water pressure setting for your project depends on what material you are cleaning.
We’ve listed some common materials, as well as how much water pressure to use, below. If you don’t see your project on this list, use your preferred search engine and do your research.
- Wood: 500–1,000 PSI
- Vinyl: 1,000–1,500 PSI
- Brick: 1,500–2,000 PSI
- Concrete: 2,000–3,000 PSI
- Metal: 2,000–3,000 PSI
Mistake #5: Not Using Cleaning Solutions When Necessary
Finally, we encourage you not to give up during your pressure washing project. Yes, it’s very possible that you won’t be able to rinse away all the grime on exterior surfaces. However, we don’t think you should give up when tough stains won’t wash out. Instead, use sodium hypochlorite, a powerful cleaning solution, to help you finish the job.
To use sodium hypochlorite, you’ll want to put it on surfaces using a spray applicator. Put a thin layer of this cleaning solution on the surfaces with tough grime. Then, wait fifteen minutes for sodium hypochlorite to work its magic. Finally, pressure wash the area again, and you should find that debris that was once too difficult to remove will rinse away easily.
Avoid Mistakes With Professional Services
As you’ve discovered, there are many common pressure washing mistakes that you could make during your project. With the correct preparations, you can avoid these errors altogether. However, if you’re looking for the easiest way to steer clear of mistakes, consider scheduling an appointment with your friends at Chicagoland Pressure Washing.
We are proud to be Chicago’s first choice for pressure washing, and we would love to serve you next. Our fully trained team knows how to restore your property’s exterior the right way; we won’t make any common pressure washing mistakes along the way. What’s more, we do the work for a fair price that you will appreciate.
Contact us online with information about your project today! We will give you a free cost estimate, and then, you can choose a time and date for your appointment. Look forward to our arrival—we can’t wait to pressure wash your project so you can enjoy all the benefits.
