Over the decades, harsh winter conditions and other factors contribute to the deterioration of one’s home, causing a slow but noticeable change in the exterior, driveway, walkway, patios, balconies, decks, railings, and gutters. When looking at your home and realizing that it has become a shadow of its former self, many people think that this is an irreversible negative consequence of natural aging. You want it to look brand new again, but you fear that nothing can bring back that original look that made you fall in love when you bought it 20, 30, even 40 years ago.
There are several ways to restore a house, and the outdoor features which accompany it, back to their original condition One such way is power washing This method has been around since the 1950’s, but it has become much more common in the 21st century as more and more people learn about its benefits and how effective and practical this type of cleaning can be.
It is a quick and easy way to remove dirt and grime from all types of surfaces, and the pricing can be very affordable depending on the services rendered Some stains can be removed with only the use of hot water, and some high powered washers also use chemicals when the stain requires it, such as rust on concrete or gutters A local NJ contractor will be able to assess what is needed, and quote a price for the work based on the degree of cleaning that is required.
There are only few jobs where power washing can be highly effective for cleaning, and many more jobs where pressure washing is more practical For example, washing with too much force can damage a wooden deck or stucco siding due to the direct blast from a high-powered washer. A pressure washer should be used for cleaning concrete or driveway asphalt, and soft washing is used for cleaning even more delicate surfaces.
For this, and many other reasons, the practice of cleaning the exterior features of one’s home is a process that involves careful planning for each client’s unique circumstance When too much power could damage your home’s exterior or other delicate surfaces, your local NJ contractor may recommend pressure washing or soft washing instead.
Soft, Pressure, And Power Washing What’s The Difference?
POWER WASHING:
Water at a HOT temperature is what Power washing uses , which breaks down contaminated materials from your property much easier than regular water from a pressure washer We do not recommend restoring vinyl siding this way, as the hot water could cause damage and leave your siding with that “melted” look. Hot water is sprayed onto a surface at high speeds, using a certain amount of pressure known as PSI (pounds per square inch), and this number can range from 750 to 5,000.
Because power washing uses heat, it is usually utilized to clean things that a regular cleaning method wouldn’t be able to remove For heavily greased surfaces, such as removing grease stains from a concrete floor, chemical substance spills, or even bio substances, especially in a kitchen where spraying chemicals could be dangerous, hot water represents a much more efficient cleaning method.
Even without any pressure, hot water is more effective at cleaning large industrial spills because it is able to penetrate and remove oil, grime, and grease from a surface The hotter the water is, the more effective the cleaning power (Think of trying to wash your dishes with cold water, and the difference it makes when the water is hot instead. Thorough cleaning of tractors, trailers, work trucks and other heavy equipment can also be accomplished by using heat as opposed to no heat Hot water blasted at high speeds is also more effective at cutting through grease, grime, and animal waste in a short amount of time.
As expected, the price for this service will be more than the price for pressure or soft washing, because of the time and effort the local NJ contractor spends on the work.
PRESSURE WASHING:
Before and After Pool Cleaning
Unlike power washing, pressure washing uses a normal temperature of water, and depends entirely on the force of water rather than the temperature The water comes out at a high pressure, and will blast away any dirt, mold, mildew and other hazardous materials Patios, sidewalks, and driveways need the extra force to remove all the grime and dirt that accumulates over years of wear and tear.
Although a pressure washer uses cold water, even without any cleaning solution added, it can be a powerful cleaning agent for dirt and some other dry substances For flat ground surfaces, pressure washing employs a tool consisting of two to four high-pressure jets that pivot on a rotating bar of a surface cleaner.
Your local NJ power washing company will use this method for restoring driveways, sidewalks and patios, because the amount of pressure needed and is able to be adjusted according to the size of the job Power washing should never be employed wherever the use of too much heat could damage the materials that need cleaning, therefore pressure washing should be used for these situations instead.
Since power washing is most often recommended for more industrial jobs, we recommend pressure washing as it is one of the best methods for most home and residential work Along with soft washing, you will want to use this method for almost all home cleaning issues.
SOFT WASHING:
Before and After Soft Washing and Oil Staining
Soft washing happens to be a completely different process than power and pressure washing, and relies solely on the use of eco-friendly and environmentally safe chemical solutions to clean the exterior of your home While it is built to stand up to the harsh, outdoor elements, the exterior of your house is extremely delicate The paint can be chipped away by the use of high-powered washing or pressure washing.
The soft washing method is most often used on vinyl siding, decks and roofs, if there isn’t too much mold or dirt build up Some decks will need pressure washing when the accumulation of dirt and grime is too heavy for soft washing The chemical solutions used in soft washing are left alone for several minutes to sink into the cracks and pores of the surface The low rinse system of soft washing is considered to be one step above the use of an average water hose, yet still extremely effective.
Home Features And Pressure Used
- Decks – Low pressure – Soft Washing
- Railings – Low pressure – Soft Washing
- Wood Fences – Low Pressure – Soft Washing
- Vinyl Fences – Low Pressure – Soft Washing
- Vinyl Siding – Low Pressure – Soft Washing
- Asphalt – Medium Pressure – Pressure Washing
- Concrete Driveways & Sidewalks – High Pressure – Pressure Washing
- Stone Patio Pavers – Medium Pressure – Soft or Pressure Washing, depends on the stone.
To Save You Money, Here Are Some Projects Easy Enough To Try Yourself
If your siding, deck, patio, or other features of your home have become unrecognizable, then you may need the help of a local professional But what if you spill a little (or a lot of) paint on your deck or concrete patio High-pressure washing of any kind could damage the wood on your deck, or spread the paint stain on your concrete even further.
For paint spills, your local NJ contractor might recommend using a heat gun if available, or even a hair dryer The paint will start to slightly peel, allowing you to scrape it off with a spackling tool or some kind of flat apparatus, and then sand it to complete the process. Try the heat gun first, by gently going back and forth on the area at about half a foot away, go closer if needed. In this type of situation, you could use a paint remover spray to scrape the paint stain away, but this could damage the wood. Simply spray it onto the spill, wait for the paint to start peeling, then scrape it off and sand it down Make sure to wear gloves any time you use a home cleaning remedy, as some chemicals could damage your fingernails and hands Always read the instructions or chemical label before using any substances you are not familiar with.
Diluting some Simply Green or other chemical solutions found in the same aisle at your local home improvement store, and scrubbing the stain away, could be the better solution in some instances… and the price will be far less expensive than hiring a professional The same goes for any hard-to-remove spills on a more delicate surface Be careful when using this method on fabrics, as this method mostly applies to hard materials such as wood, stone, and plastic The product that you use should have a list of materials it is safe for on the label, so again make sure to read every label and instruction manual carefully.
