Pressure Washing is Harder Than It Looks

In Providence, we have the good fortune of beautiful weather for most of the year. That means we don't have any season without something verdant and growing in our landscape. Unfortunately, that warm sun (and high humidity) also grow some things we don't want, which is why you may notice an occasional green tint on your siding. Whether it's algae, mold, or good old-fashioned grime, your home sometimes needs a little TLC, and pressure washing is the way to get it clean again. But washing is more complex than you might think, and there's reason to leave it to the pros. More Than One Type of Washing The first thing to know about pressure washing is that there is more than one form. We'll call the original PW Classic, which involves spraying water at high pressure and cleaning solution into hard surfaces to clean them. But there are two other "flavors" that can be used, depending on what's needed or preferred. Pressure Washing (PW Classic) Power washing is great for surfaces like brick and some solid wood that may not hold up to pressure washing. However, it's easier to get a pressure washer for your home, and for more straightforward cleaning with less stubborn grime, pressure washing is the way to go. Soft Washing Soft washing is similar to PW Classic but is used on more delicate surfaces. That's because the PSI of soft washing is lower, and soft washers often use a solution designed specifically for breaking down the algae and grime. Soft washing is best for surfaces like softer stones, certain wood, and siding. The lower pressure prevents damage to the materials when done correctly. Power Washing Power washing is PW Classic with heat. Power washing is perfect for the dirtiest and toughest surfaces like driveways and walkways. To understand why power washing works so well, you need only think about doing the dishes. We all love the hand-held sprayer on our sinks for washing away food. But if that food is stuck on, it's going to go a lot better if you turn the temperature up on your water! Why Hire Pros for Your Pressure Washing We've all seen pressure washers at the hardware store. And many of us have already used a pressure washer at some point. So why not do your own washing? While DIY home washing may be fine for some smaller projects, there are several good reasons to let the pros handle it. Picking the Right Tool With three different varieties of washing available, and nearly limitless surfaces available for cleaning, it's easy for laypeople to pick the wrong tool to wash their surfaces. However, when you hire a pro like Custom Acres, we've seen it all and know what tool works best and where. Protecting Property Even if you pick the correct washing method, you still risk damaging your surfaces if you're not practiced at using power washing, soft washing, or PW Classic. There's a lot to proper washing, including angle, distance, heat level, and pressure level, and it's easy for anyone who isn't a seasoned washer to make a costly mistake. Safety Even worse than damaging your property is hurting yourself or someone else. Pressure washing can be dangerous. The psi of a pressure washer is over 300 times higher than the psi of a champagne bottle! Getting hit by a champagne cork hurts. More serious than that, getting hit with a stream of water from a pressure washer can cause serious injuries. Injuries sometimes appear minor at first, but when left untreated, they worsen and can even lead to amputation! Common washing injuries include lacerations, bruising, burns, and eye wounds. We Have Better Equipment Finally, consumer-grade equipment is less powerful than what the pros have available to us. Custom Acres does this for a living, so we're sure to get the best equipment available to do a better job for you and make our work more efficient. However, even if you had access to our equipment, it would be a bad investment because it won't get frequent use and requires knowledge and experience with the tools. Call the Pressure Pros We all want clean, beautiful homes, and there's plenty you can do to make that happen if you choose! But some tasks are better left to the pros because of their expertise, equipment, and training. Custom Acres wants to help you have a sparkling clean home by safely and skillfully handling all your pressure washing needs. So please give us a call for Custom Solutions for all your outdoor needs!