Member

By Cliff Caron, Contributing Writer

A home is normally the largest investment in our life. Protecting this investment would seem to be the natural choice, yet most of us only paint the house when absolutely necessary and hardly ever give it the salon treatment. Enlisting the services of a professional pressure-washing contractor will breathe new life into the homestead and help maintain its value. Other than this benefit, pressure washing can be used to spruce up decks, and fences as well as chipping paint from surfaces prior to painting. While many other cleaning methods exist, having the house cleaned by a professional pressure-washing contractor is a good choice because it is a quick, effective and economical method.

Pressure washing is more complicated than renting or purchasing a machine. It is a discipline that uses mechanical ability, a hydraulic water system and a thorough understanding of cleaning chemicals, their interaction and chemistry. Pressure washing equipment available today at the local renovation center is reasonably priced and simple to use, however often times this approach is not the best. Consumer machines are great for small jobs but are underpowered for cleaning an entire house. Typically DIY machines run at 2000 PSI (pounds per square inch) with a flow of 2 GPM (gallons per minute). Commercial pressure washing companies use equipment that clean at 3000 to 5000 PSI with water flow of around 4 to 5 GPM.

A second reason to choose a professional over tackling the project yourself is the potential hazard involved. Even the smallest consumer machines generating 2000 PSI can cause personal injury and damage soft surfaces such as wood and brick. Hiring a professional decreases the ratio of expense to reward. While it may seem cheaper to do the job yourself the average homeowner never considers the hidden costs nor does he place a price on his time and frustration.

Dave Baker of Adirondack Pressure Washing explains "A professional can do a good job quickly, effectively, economically with a minimal use of chemicals". He further adds "I can easily clean a single story home in less than 3 hours".

Going through the yellow pages for a pressure-washing contractor can yield results, but it can also end up in tears. Take the extra time to ascertain that the fellow you’ve hired can deliver what he promises.

A short list of considerations include:

1. Reputation – make sure the contractor has a good reputation in the community. Don’t be shy to ask for references, a good professional will never hesitate. If he is certified by a national association such as The Power Washers of America, this is even better though not essential. Check the references.
2. Communication – take the extra time before starting the project to clearly explain what you want and what you expect. Minutes spent during this phase can save hours of dilemma later.
3. Equipment – a professional contractor should have commercial pressure washing equipment, not the little apparatus found at the home center.
4. Quotation – always ask for a written estimate. While this may seem like a nuisance, again it pays to spend time planning rather than wasting time during the project.
5. Insurance – hire a contractor who carries liability insurance to protect himself and his workers as well as your property.

While all common house siding can be cleaned by pressure washing some considerations need to be made for certain surfaces. Concrete, stucco, vinyl and aluminum siding are all prime candidates for cleaning. Wood and brick do require some attention since both are porous and can be damaged by excessive water pressure. Contractors should have equipment with variable pressure to be used with porous surfaces. Water soaks into the wood and can take several days to completely dry.

"When I pressure wash a clapboard house to remove old paint, I have to allow 2 dry days before it can be painted", explains Baker, adding, "the water dries from the inside out and the time is needed." According to Baker, he can chip a two-story house in about 5 hours, much faster than chipping by hand.

While pressure washing uses a minimal amount of water, a small job can still use a 1000 gallons of water - water that has to be controlled. Most municipalities prohibit expelling cleaning water into storm drains. If the house sits on adequate land the spent water can be allowed to seep into the ground, assuming normal concentrations of cleaning chemicals are used. If the building sits on a hard surface like concrete or asphalt, the spent water needs to be diverted into the sewer. Adirondack Pressure Washing uses a hose system attached to a shop vacuum that sucks up the expelled water and directs it to the homeowner’s drain.

After a long hard winter we need to find ways to rejuvenate ourselves. Think of the house as an extension of your being and treat it to a day at the spa. Removing the dirt will pick up your spirits and maintain the value of your home

Pressure Washers
Tuesday 04 September 2001
 Pressure washers suitable for domestic or commercial use can often appear to be an expensive acquisition, especially when comparisons are drawn with domestic and commercial equivalents such as hoses, which are generally quite cheap to initially purchase. This is true, however the main consideration when specifying or purchasing a product such as this should be the purpose for which it is intended to be used. For example, if you intend to clean vehicles, machinery or even household areas you may consider that the initial investment outweighs the benefits both short and long term. Too often this is not the case, as many forget factors surrounding the use and application of such a product, not to mention social responsibility aspects. A typical garden hose uses 3500 litres of water an hour, and produces just 4 bar pressure. Most pressure washers use as little as 450 litres of water per hour at 110 bar pressure. In summary the efficiency of such a product, which generally has a long life cycle, is astonishing. The time saved on cleaning jobs over a long period is immeasurable, as is the water saved and increased quality of job done. Pressure washers suitable for domestic or commercial use can often appear to be an expensive acquisition, especially when comparisons are drawn with domestic and commercial equivalents such as hoses, which are generally quite cheap to initially purchase. This is true, however the main consideration when specifying or purchasing a product such as this should be the purpose for which it is intended to be used. For example, if you intend to clean vehicles, machinery or even household areas you may consider that the initial investment outweighs the benefits both short and long term. Too often this is not the case, as many forget factors surrounding the use and application of such a product, not to mention social responsibility aspects. A typical garden hose uses 3500 litres of water an hour, and produces just 4 bar pressure. Most pressure washers use as little as 450 litres of water per hour at 110 bar pressure. In summary the efficiency of such a product, which generally has a long life cycle, is astonishing. The time saved on cleaning jobs over a long period is immeasurable, as is the water saved and increased quality of job done.

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Last modified: December 04, 2009