A common home improvement task involves power washing your home, garage, and outdoor hard surfaces such as the driveway and decks. And with the end of winter season quickly coming, pressure washing exterior surfaces is a great way to beautify your home for the spring and summer season.s But, if your home or garage has vinyl siding, then power or pressure washing is a job that is best done by professionals.
When pressure washing on vinyl, you have to be very careful to not damage the siding. And you must be aware of the different types of pressure wash equipment meant for different surfaces, along with how much pressure is safe to avoid ripping away siding and forcing water into the home’s hidden structure.
Power Washing Vinyl Siding is Tricky
It is common for wind, storms, and cars passing by your home to leave vinyl siding covered in dirt, mowed grass, grime, and streaks of dirty rainwater. Also, the cars driving by your home will deposit another mess onto vinyl – the combination of fuel droplets and dirt from every car’s exhaust system will eventually build up on your home’s exterior.
While vinyl makes for a beautiful home exterior, dirt and grime is quick to show on these surfaces. Hosing down a home on a regular basis may prevent this buildup, but once the dirt has settled into the tiny grooves within the vinyl, it takes the power of a pressurized hose to truly return your home to its original appearance.
Your home’s vinyl siding material is lightweight and is not structurally secured to the home. Therefore extra care must be taken when power washing to avoid the following 3 problems:
- Wrong Angle of Spray – which can loosen vinyl siding sheets
- Too Much Pressure – which can remove loose siding or damage the home
- Not Using a Wide Spray Pattern – concentrating pressure on one spot can dent siding
Experts Use the Right Tools and Techniques
Consider this scenario, a DIY pressure cleaning of a home where the owner uses a weak cleaning solution, the wrong type of nozzle, too much nozzle pressure, and starts blasting the home’s vinyl siding without moving the wand in a wide spray pattern. Some damage may be done that is not visible. This means water infiltration into the home, and possible water damage to interior spaces.
Other damage might be noticed right away, such as a piece of siding falling from the home, or some siding that is left with dents from the high pressure of the nozzle, standing too close, or not moving the wand in a steady pattern. This is where experts are valued. The use the right tools and the right techniques to avoid damaging your home’s vinyl siding, window screens, dryer vents, gutters, and downspouts.
If you’re determined to DIY power wash your home before spring, make sure you research the best methods to use on vinyl siding and get the right equipment. Suppliers that rent power washing equipment are a great resource for asking questions before you start. Also, it may be better to rent a good quality power washer from a equipment rental service or hardware store instead of buying a cheaper model from a big-box department store.
When your home needs a professional pressure washing, no matter what material it is constructed with, contact Griffs Pressure Washing Services. We use the latest in power washing technology to deliver professional results including soft washing of roofs, low pressure siding cleaning, driveway cleaning, patio cleaning, deck cleaning and deck staining.
