Everything is Safe for Pressure Washing? No!

Pressure washing is an incredibly useful tool for cleaning the outside of your home, but it’s not meant for everything. Certain things should never be pressure washed, and if you’re inexperienced or unsure, it’s best to leave these tasks to a pressure washing company in Charlotte. These are six items that should never be pressure washed.

Wood Siding

You may think blasting away dirt and grime with high-pressure water would be the perfect way to restore wood siding, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Pressure washers can damage wood siding by forcing water into seams, joints, and cracks in the wood. This can lead to all sorts of problems like rot and mold down the line. Instead of pressure washing, opt for a low-pressure wash or even hand scrubbing for optimal results on wood siding.

Brick Walls

Pressure washing brick walls will erode them over time as water finds its way into tiny pores, widening and deepening with each blast of high-pressure water. To clean brick walls properly, use a low-pressure wash with just enough force to remove dirt without damaging the wall itself.

Painted Surfaces

High-pressure washers can cause paint to peel off surfaces like decks and porches since they blast away paint along with dirt and grime. It’s also important to note that using too much pressure can drive water under boards and cause them to swell up or become warped over time—not something you want happening on your deck! For painted surfaces, use a low-pressure wash or even hand scrubbing instead to avoid any potential damage.

Fences

Just like wood siding, fencing materials are especially vulnerable to high-pressure water jets since they can easily get blasted into small crevices where they’ll take up residence and cause all kinds of problems later on (eg., rotting). To keep fences in tip-top shape without damaging them, stick with a gentle low-pressure wash or even hand scrubbing.

Roofs

Pressure washing roofs is not recommended because it could potentially blow shingles off roofs due to its intense force—especially on older roofs with loose shingles. If you absolutely must power wash your roof (which is not recommended!), do so very carefully by using very little pressure; otherwise, you risk causing serious damage that could make your roof unsafe in the long run.

Windows

Clean windows are great for letting natural light shine through indoors; however, giving them a blast with a high-powered jet isn’t always necessary or beneficial. High-powered sprayers have been known to chip away at window frames over time due to their intense force—so if you want streak-free glass without risking damage, opt instead for some good old-fashioned elbow grease or even an old newspaper for truly spotless results!

Pressure washing is an incredibly useful tool for keeping exterior surfaces clean; however, certain things should never be subjected to its intense force as this can lead to irreparable damage in the long run (e.g., eroded brick walls).

By avoiding pressure washing these six items—wood siding, brick walls, painted surfaces, fences, roofs, and windows—you’ll help ensure that your outdoor living space stays pristine while still being safe from potential damages caused by high-powered jets. Hiring a professional pressure washing company in Charlotte may be helpful if you have questions about what should/shouldn’t be cleaned by pressure washing services. Contact us today to get started!