4 Common DIY Pressure Washing Mistakes
First, it's important to know that DIY stands for "Don't Injure Yourself" as well as "Do It Yourself." But if despite the low cost of hiring a professional you are determined to do your own pressure washing, here are a few of the mistakes that are most often encountered:
1. Lack Of Knowledge And Equipment
If you're in the market to buy or rent pressure washing equipment you may be in for a shock. Just google "pressure washing equipment" and you will get millions of results. You could be shopping for a while. Consider that knowledge and practice count for a whole lot in pressure washing and you'll soon realize it's smarter and more economical to hire a professional.
2. Cleaning Out Of Order
DIY and less experienced pressure washers sometimes make the common mistake of cleaning out of order which often forces them to go back and re-clean certain surfaces. For instance, you clean your driveway, then your roof and everything from your roof falls on your newly cleaned driveway. Here is the most efficient cleaning order:
- Roof
- House
- Flat Grounded Surfaces
- Windows
3.Too Much Pressure
As previously noted, professional pressure washers know that too much pressure can damage certain surfaces and that soft washing is the preferred cleaning method for house washing,roof cleaning, and gutter cleaning. Too much pressure can break windows, damage plants and landscaping, strip paint, leave scars, and etch marks on concrete and wood, and completely remove shingles and siding from structures.
4. Relying On Water Only
Some stains and blemishes require a little more help in the form of chemical assistance. Pre-treating and pre-soaking with cleaning solutions, chemical solvents, and natural mineral acids help to dissolve dirt and gunk and kill natural organisms like mold and fungus. This also reduces the amount of water used and so lessens the danger of water saturation that can itself lead to leaks and mold growth.
Prizm Exteriors can help you avoid all of these common pressure washing mistakes, and we use only eco-friendly, biodegradable chemicals in our soft washing process.