Pressure Washing Your Deck
Summer is here and you're thinking of having some friends over for a deck or patio meal but you look at your deck in despair. There are the stains of last year's gatherings and winter's abuse. Your deck desperately needs a good cleaning. But what is the best way to do it?
Your deck as well as
the rest of your home is a reflection of you and your family.
It is your responsibility to keep it appealing and pleasant, not only
for your friends to enjoy, but your own family as well. What people think of you
and your home depends largely on how you care for this valuable
investment. The future of your deck and home depend on how you care for it. So what do you do?
You know it will need a serious pressure washing which you can either have
done by someone else or do it yourself. If you can
not afford the time or simply do not want to go to the trouble, it is time
to call in a professional. The point is it has to be done to protect your
investment, and soon.
If your home is getting older in years and showing its age with grey
wood and weather deterioration, you will need to have the
proper chemicals to clean and bring back the original color. If your deck is wood,
as most are, remember that bleach will cause the wood to
lose color and can cause deterioration to wood fibers. A good quality wood
cleaner like EFC-38 is the best to clean with.
The recommended pressure is to clean your deck is around 500-800 PSI.
More pressure than that and there
will be the possibility of damage to your wood. Even if you have a very
powerful 4000-5000 PSI machine you can easily control the pressure by
using a wood tip. This is a removable tip that you add to the end of the
gun. It has a larger hole that will lower the pressure as it leaves the
wand and allows for more volume of water to come out.
Simply begin by clearing everything off your deck. Sweep any leaves
and loose dirt off as well. Now spray the cleaner onto the deck with a
pump sprayer and let it sit for a few minutes. If it is hot continue to
spray so as to keep the wood surface wet and not allow the chemical to
evaporate. You should have already connected your pressure washer to the water supply,
now it is time to turn on the machine. It is certainly a good idea to follow
the manufactures directions closely and wear recommended safety
equipment. Start
cleaning by holding your wand at a 90 degree angle to the deck, moving your
tip constantly. Be careful of the corners so as not to damage the wood.
So with a little bit of sweat, Presto! you have a
deck you will be proud to have your family and friends to gather on and enjoy.