Are you thinking about doing your own pressure washing? There are hundreds of homeowners who choose DIY pressure washing in the Wilmington, NC area, and you could be one of them, too. However, you need to be careful because if you don’t make the right preparations, your pressure washing project will end in failure. It goes without saying that you don’t want that to happen.
Set yourself up for success by reading through this blog! We’ll teach you about five common pressure washing mistakes that result in disaster, as well as how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Skipping Pressure Washing Altogether
Maybe you’ve walked around your property, examined its exterior surfaces, and told yourself, “I’m sure this won’t be an issue.” However, we highly recommend that you don’t skip pressure washing. In fact, your property should be pressure washed at least once per year, if not more! By not cleaning its exterior surfaces, you risk a number of negative consequences, including the following:
- Loss of curb appeal. The dirtier your surfaces are, the worse they will look. Eventually, your property will be visibly filthy, and even if you don’t notice, your neighbors will.
- Surface damage. Particles of debris grind against and damage surfaces over time. This could force you to pay for costly repairs in the future.
- Increased pest activity. Surface debris acts as a source of food for ants, termites, and spiders, encouraging their presence on your property.
Make sure your property’s pressure washing needs are met. Not doing so is the biggest of all common pressure washing mistakes!
Mistake #2: Not Giving Yourself Enough Time
Doing your own pressure washing is no easy task. This is especially true if it’s your first time doing the work. How many hours will you need to complete your project? That ultimately depends on its size; pressure washing a small patio may only take a couple of hours, while pressure washing an entire office complex could take all day.
Make sure you give yourself ample time to finish your project. You don’t want to force yourself to rush the work just because you have an appointment later that day, after all. Rushing leads to lower-quality results.
Mistake #3: Using Incorrect Water Pressure
When doing your own pressure washing, you may feel tempted to power on your pressure washer and start spraying. However, it isn’t that simple. Different surfaces require different amounts of water pressure. If the incorrect level is used, it could result in less-than-satisfactory results—or even worse, outright surface damage.
Before any pressure washing project, make sure you’ve researched the surface you plan to clean, as well as the amount of water pressure required. For example, concrete can be cleaned with 3,000-3,500 PSI; roofs must be washed with 150-500 PSI. By doing your research, you ensure safe results that leave you smiling. Avoid damage and frustration!
Mistake #4: Not Protecting Yourself
Let’s make something clear. When you are pressure washing your property, you need to put your safety first. If you are careless, you can easily injure yourself, and the last thing you want is to spend your evening in urgent care. Remember—pressurized water is a tool, not a toy. Accidentally spraying yourself could result in you bruising or even cutting yourself.
Always aim your pressure washing hose at the surfaces you intend to clean. And don’t forget to wear protective gear, too! Wear goggles, gloves, full-length pants, and closed-toe shoes. By covering your skin, you’re much less likely to get hurt.
Mistake #5: Not Using Cleaning Solutions When Needed
Sometimes, during the pressure washing process, you’ll discover that some debris doesn’t wash away easily. When faced with tough grime, though, don’t give up! Instead, use cleaning solutions as needed. For example, at Riptide Pressure Washing, we use sodium hypochlorite to weaken stubborn debris, ensuring its complete removal. This helps us remove:
- Rust stains
- Oil stains
- Moss, mold, and algae
- Chewing gum
- And much, much more!
Sometimes, sodium hypochlorite is what stands between decent results and fantastic results. So don’t be afraid to use cleaning solutions as needed!
Other DIY Pressure Washing Challenges
As you’ll discover during the pressure washing process, there are many other challenges that you’ll face beyond the five we listed here. We’ve included a bulleted list of some of these difficulties. Are you prepared to overcome all these hardships?
- Time and energy requirements. You won’t be able to do your own pressure washing unless you spend your time and energy doing the work. This may be tough if your schedule is already filled with responsibilities and things to do.
- Equipment learning curve. Trying to figure out how to use pressure washing equipment? It could take hours of your time. Be prepared to read through user manuals and watch YouTube tutorials.
- Preparing areas for cleaning. Before you can safely pressure wash your property’s exterior surfaces, you may need to move furniture and decorations out of the way, or at the very least cover flower beds and gardens with tarps.
To avoid all the challenges of DIY pressure washing, there’s an easy solution. Reach out to a professional pressure washing business! When a team does all the work for you, there’s no room for you to make common pressure washing mistakes.
About Professional Pressure Washing
By reaching out to Riptide Pressure Washing, you’ll be able to completely revitalize your property without having to do any of the work on your own. That’s right—you can sit back and relax while our team of experts handles the job for you! We are highly experienced in pressure washing, and we don’t make any common pressure washing mistakes. Enjoy stunning results for a fair price that you are sure to appreciate!
What you’ll pay is based on the overall size of your project. Contact us online with information about your pressure washing job today for a free cost estimate. Remember, there are no hidden fees or surcharges at Riptide Pressure Washing. It’s part of what makes us so popular in the Wilmington, NC area.
