There is nothing more satisfying than watching someone clean the dirt and grime from the surface with nothing but the power of the water. It is so satisfying to observe, in fact, that there are thousands of videos online where you can see people washing under pressure many different things. But the truth is that, if you do not know what you are doing, you can cause costly damages. We talk to our experts in roof cleaning and 2 × 3 pressure washing, to learn more about how pressure washing works, which surfaces can be used and when to press, or rather spray, carefully. Keep reading to have a better hang of these!
What can be pressure washed?
Virtually everything dirty can be cleaned with water. It is really a matter of technique since there are certain things that require more care, like an older house that has fragile materials or anything that is painted.
You must be very careful with paint, stains and seals in whatever you’re washing under pressure, but the short answer to what can be pressure washed is:
- Exterior revetment
- Bricks
- Garage doors
- Streets
- Sidewalks and corridors
- Fences
- Patios and covers
- Outdoor furniture
- Gutters
- Tile roofs
- Cars / motorcycles / boats
What cannot be pressure washed (or must be washed by a professional)
Again, most things can be pressure washed, especially if someone is handling it who knows what they are doing. A professional (like the ones from Zachs Power Washing) will use different techniques to determine how smooth the water comes out and how large the current is to ensure that nothing is damaged during the process.
Having said that, there are some things that you may be tempted to wash under pressure. However, we recommend that you be careful with the following:
- Everything that has been painted:There is a risk in pressure washing of any surface that has been painted. There is a technique involved to do it correctly, so it is a situation in which you must hire a professional.
- Wood that has been stained:if you wash under pressure the wood that has been stained, you can remove that stain, so you should only bear in mind that you will have to re-dye it.
- Asphalt roofing:roof cleaning is another area where it is important to do the job well. If you are cleaning an asphalt roof or covered with an asphalt blanket, you cannot use pressure because you will remove the granules and completely destroy the integrity of the roof.
- Something old:If you have no experience, chances are you’re going to damage something, especially if you deal with soft surfaces like wood or areas with dry rot.
