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Dream Team Exterior Solutions is dedicated to helping home owners even when we are not there. Here you will find some great tips on how home owners can improve their homes without us. I know, it sounds silly, but we are truly happy when we are helping people!
Do it Yourself Pressure Washing
Select The Right Tip
It is extremely easy to damage your wood deck if you power wash it with the incorrect tip. Always use a fan-style or brush-like power washing tip when cleaning a wooden deck surface for a wood staining project.
Never use a jet-style tip to clean your deck. You can ruin your wood and leave path-like marks circling each board if you attempt to clean it using a jet-style tip.
Choose The Right Pressure
Set your power washer at a low to medium setting when cleaning a deck to make sure you do not damage your wood.
One of the most important things to remember is that if you use the high pressure setting for the power washer you may damage your wood and leave marks that cannot be covered up by a wood stain.
Give Your Deck Some Space
Never spray your deck with the power washer tip right near the wood. Power washing can permanently damage the wood by imprinting lines and marks when a sprayer is held too close to the surface. Instead give the deck some space and pull back a bit to allow for an even application.
When you begin spraying your power washer, work in a moderately paced, side-to-side motion so that all surfaces are cleaned evenly and there are no lines left behind.
Apply A Quality Deck Cleaner
Use a cleaner that is actually designed for decks, such as Woodrich Cleaner, and apply it to all of the surfaces you will be power washing. Make sure to follow all of the instructions listed on the package to get the best possible results.
Following up Woodrich Deck Cleaner with the strength of a power washer is a great way to ensure you get as clean a deck surface as possible.
Pressure Washers are potent
Pressure washers are not only potent but very powerful. Never point it at another person. Make sure you take protective precautions when using one. Wear work boots or shoes.
The power of the spray can cut your skin and even tear through light shoes. Never spray it at windows or electrical outlets. Don’t pressure wash your roof because it can damage shingles.
Never spray air conditioning condenser coils. They are very delicate and the pressure washer could damage them.
Follow the instruction manual
Follow all the instructions in the manual to the letter. It will have the best pressure washing tips that you could ever get. It will tell you everything you need to know, from what power and hose tip to use, to what to wash and what not to wash.
Always follow the instructions so you don’t break things you can’t replace or that will be expensive to replace. Reading the instruction manual will also stop you from hurting yourself and others.
Raised Wood
When you’re washing a wooden deck, sometimes it will etch and peel. You want to avoid this, but sometimes it happens even when you go as gentle as you can.
This is especially horrible when you wash a wood railing and that chips. Splinters can be killer on the hands. You have a couple of options to save your deck when chips happen.
If you go easy on the deck and do minimal damage, you can sand the wood back down and then throw some sealer on it. If the wood looks dingy after you fix it up, you can also restain it. This will actually leave the surface of your wood very smooth.
Using a pressure washer can be the easiest and fastest way to clean off your deck or house. Follow these handy pressure washing tips, and if all else fails make sure you consult your manual. It’s there for a reason.
Let us help you
If you have a home or business that needs a deep cleaning, a professional power-washing company is the way to go. Here at Dream Team Exterior Solutions, we’ve served the greater Indianapolis area since 2021. We only use the best equipment to ensure the job gets done right. If you would like to schedule an appointment or talk to someone about our services, contact us today!