Four Tips for Pressure Washing Your Deck
Pressure washers are a common way to clean the exterior of your house, including your deck. At SEAL-A-DECK, we recommend cleaning your deck regularly and having it pressure washed a couple of times a year. If you are familiar and comfortable with doing this yourself, it can be an efficient and easy way to get grime and dirt build up off of your deck without calling in professionals. You can even rent pressure washers from local hardware stores in most cities in the New England area. We want to help educate you on the proper way to operate a pressure washer to get the best results and keep injuries at bay while doing proper maintenance on your deck.
Tip #1: Wear the Proper PPE
Before you begin your pressure washing tasks, make sure you have the proper personal protective equipment. According to Consumer Reports, an estimated 6,057 people in 2014 alone went to an emergency room with injuries related to pressure washer use and 14 percent of those ER visits led to additional hospitalization. You don’t want to be a part of this statistic. There are shields for the face, eyes, and hands that are recommended to be worn any time you operate this machine.
Tip #2: Target Small Areas
When you are operating the pressure washer, the goal is not to get as much surface area sprayed in a small amount of time. You will want to cover only small areas with an intentional direction in order to properly remove any grime build-up. This way, you are able to give more of an even distribution of pressure and your focus is not too distracted on large areas.
Tip #3: Don’t Get Too Close
According to Tool Powers, on average, the PSI or pounds per square inch that typical pressure washers can emit, are between 3,000 PSI and 2,600 PSI while the average garden hose is only 40 to 60 PSI. You will have a lot of power in your hands, and if you get too close this can damage your deck. The pressure of the hose is enough to wear holes in the decking material. You want to be close enough for a good clean, but far enough away that it saves your deck. Also, never stop too long in one spot. That can be just as bad as being too close.
Tip #4: Work in a Pattern
The best way to cover the entire deck evenly is to work in a pattern. While you’re working in small areas, try to keep the same motion to evenly remove the dirt and grime. Even small strokes can be a smart option for evenly cleaning. Pick that motion and stick with it.
Finding a Professional
If you just aren’t comfortable pressure washing your own deck or find yourself too busy to handle this chore, you can always hire a professional to take care of it for you. SEAL-A-DECK would be happy to help get your deck looking clean as well as provide any other repairs needed on a regular basis. Call us today at 1-866-SEALADECK for a free estimate.