Best Way to Clean Outside the Home: Pressure Washing
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Thu, Aug 06, 2009 @ 09:18 AM
Over time, mildew, dirt, and grime collect on the vinyl and aluminum siding of your home. Algae can grow not only on the shingles of the roof, but on brick, block, and wood as well. Oxidation may also occur on aluminum siding, due to the elements of the weather. These issues make the home uninviting, and may cause extensive damages. A simple and economical way to help prevent unnecessary damages, which may lead to the replacement of the materials, is pressure washing.
Pressure washing is the application of water with a high-pressure spray. Using a specially designed pump combining water and cleaning detergent, the spray becomes over a hundred times more powerful than a regular garden hose.
There are two major misconceptions of pressure washing:
"Pressure washing is all the same - I will go with the lowest price."
This is not true. Some contractors bid jobs very low to ‘hook' the customer, then cut corners to save cost or do strategic add-ons. After starting the pressure washing, they will point out extras which will increase the price of the job. Examples are: having the gutters cleaned, using special cleaning agents along with the water, covering the plants. This is something the customer assumed was included in the pressure-washing price, but not included in the low basic price.
"Honest companies should be able to give an estimate over the phone."
While this would be much easier and less expensive for us, it is not true. An honest company will want to come out to the home, to provide you an accurate estimate. There are many variables, which may affect the price of pressure washing. Landscaping, the amount of dirt, algae, mold, the type of wood (sealed or not), and is there water accessible onsite, are all things an estimator will need to see to determine the cleaning products needed, as well as, writing a correct estimate.
Many areas of the home may be pressure washed, such as the majority of decks, concrete driveways, porches, patios, siding, roofs, block, brick, and sidewalks. For best results and determination of ability to clean by pressure washing, you should contact a professional pressure washing company.