Using too much water pressure and spraying at too steep of an upward angle can force water behind the siding where it can cause mildew and water damage. Too much pressure sprayed at vinyl siding at an upward angle forces water under the lip of the siding and in through the weep holes of the siding. The weep holes are designed to drain moisture, not large amounts of water. Too much pressure can also leave unsightly wand marks on the siding by removing oxidation; too much water pressure can also crack the siding, knock it loose, or completely blow it off the house.

Cleaning vinyl siding with hot water is also a mistake. Hot water can warp and distort vinyl siding causing it to loosen or pop out of place. Hot water is also very hard on plants and shrubbery and may even damage or kill them. The only benefit to hot water is it can speed up the cleaning process and cut down on the amount of cleaning solution used but the risk isn’t worth the reward. The same results are achievable when using cold water and the right cleaners but without the risk of damage to the siding or landscaping that hot water can cause.

Letting the cleaners dry on the house or using the wrong cleaners can cause streaks on the siding. Glass windows can also be damaged or etched by allowing chemicals to dry on them. We highly recommend having a good knowledge of cleaners for washing houses. Some cleaners can not only leave your property damaged but can also cause severe injury to you or others if handled improperly. Always wear the proper protective gear like a respirator, gloves and safety glasses.

Using a pressure washer from a ladder is very dangerous and is not recommended. Serious injury or death can occur. Without the proper equipment, some home owners are tempted to get up on a ladder and attempt to pressure wash their siding. Pulling the trigger on a pressure actuated pump always causes the spray wand to kick and could easily knock you off of a ladder or any elevated platform.

If you still plan on doing your own power washing project then follow some of these simple tips.

Ensure that the power washer you are going to use will put out less than 1000 psi. Even most big box store bought machines will put out 2000-2500 psi which can easily damage vinyl siding, asphalt shingles and even wood decks. To achieve a lower pressure the tip or nozzle must be changed at the end of the gun to one with a larger orifice. The correct nozzle will still allow the maximum amount of water flow or gallons per minute, which is where your cleaning speed comes from, but will cut back the pressure as to not cause damage to the surface.

Be careful if you’re making your own house washing chemicals. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia can create a poisonous gas. We suggest that home owners buy a siding wash that’s available in most hardware stores and follow the manufactures guidelines for the product. Leave the stronger agents to the professionals or you may end up doing more damage than good.

Allow the cleaning solution to dwell on the siding for several minutes, then using low pressure, rinse the product from the siding. Make sure when you rinse that you start at the top and work your way down. Also start at one end and work your way across to the other end. Rinse in the direction opposite of the vinyl laps so you don’t force water behind the siding. Do not stop or vary your distance from the siding, or it will cause the surface to be cleaned unevenly. Be sure to rinse the siding and windows thoroughly and to rinse the landscaping before, during and again after the cleaning process to assure no soap is allowed to dry on them.

Following these guidelines and doing some more research can help to eliminate the risk of damage or injury. If you are still unsure of taking on your own pressure washing project, you can call a professional exterior cleaning contractor in your area and see what they can do for you.

1) Be certain you enjoy the work. You are going to be devoting a lot of time and energy to starting your new pressure washing business and building it into a successful venture, so it’s vital that you truly enjoy the work. Whether you’ll be doing the physical labor yourself or just running the business end of the company, you better be sure you enjoy it or you’ll be burned out before you even get started.

2) Have your personal finances in check. Starting a new pressure washing business can be tough. Realistically it may be awhile before your new business actually makes any profits. Starting your new business while your personal finances aren’t quite up to par will only put an extra strain on you and the new power wash company.

3) Don’t do it alone. It’s imperative and usually overlooked, that you have a support system while you’re starting a business (and afterwards). A family member or friend can be someone to bounce ideas off but be sure they give you positive feedback; some people will actually drag you down and tell you that you’re idea is crazy. Find a successful business owner that can serve as a mentor, someone whom has what you want. Talk with other contractors in the pressure washing industry for support.

4) Get some customers first. No business can survive without a good customer base so don’t wait until you have officially started your company to start looking for clients. Do the networking, make the contacts, sell, or even volunteer your services just to get things rolling and to give you some practice. You can’t start marketing too soon. The phone is not going to start ringing just because you bought $10,000 worth of power wash equipment.

5) Write a business plan. The main reason for writing a business plan first is that it can help you to avoid wasting your time and money on starting a business that will NOT succeed. Your business plan should contain your company’s purpose, goals, budgets, projected income, customer demographics, market analysis, advertising and marketing plans.

6) Do extensive research. You’ll do a lot of research while writing a business plan, but that’s just a start. Unless you are already an expert, you need to become one in the pressure washing industry, cleaning products, equipment, services as well as the techniques and methods for doing the work. Joining related message boards, forums, and attending networking events are great ideas.

7) Hire professional help. Furthermore, you do not have to be an expert on everything, just because you run a small business. If you’re not good at accounting or bookkeeping, hire one (or both). As a new pressure washing contractor you’ll be tempted to wear many hats but you’ll waste more time and money in the long run by trying to do things yourself that you’re not qualified to do.

Have some capitol lined up. Save up if you have to or approach potential investors and lenders. Figure out your financial safety net plan. Don’t expect to start a professional pressure washing company on a shoe string budget. Fly by night companies do this all the time and that’s why they are gone as fast as they came. Plan to spend some money initially because you must do this professionally to look professional.

9) Be professional from the get-go. The way your company operates and the way you do business creates an image in the minds of the people you serve so make sure they know you’re a professional contractor by presenting your service seriously. That means getting all the trimmings such as professional business cards, a business phone, a professionally designed logo, matching paper work, lettered vehicle, insurance, and treating people in a professional, courteous manner.

10) Get the legal and tax issues right the first time. It’s much more difficult and expensive to de-tangle a mess after wards. Register your company with your State. Find out about licensing. Make sure you have the proper amount of general liability, commercial auto, and worker’s compensation insurance. How will the entity of your business affect your income tax situation? Consult with an accountant or lawyer as to what business formation you should set up. Learn what your legal and tax responsibilities are before you start your pressure washing business and operate within the law.

The first thing is to clarify what is meant by the terms hot and cold water cleaning. Knowing the difference will help you understand and decide which one you will need.
To provide hot water pressure washing you need a specific type of pressure washer with a burner that will heat the water that is supplied. These burners usually run on kerosene or diesel fuel, but can also be powered by natural gas or electricity. They are capable of heating water in excess of 200 degrees so caution must be used when using this type of equipment. These machines are usually quite large and can weigh over 1000 lbs.
Most cold water machines are much smaller and portable since they do not have a burner and the temperature of the water supplied remains constant. This makes these types of pressure washers much safer for do-it-yourself enthusiast.

The main difference between these machines depends on the substrate you want cleaned. Please understand that you can not clean just anything with pressure washers, especially when it comes to hot water systems. Here are some various things each of these cleaning techniques may be used for.
1. Hot water pressure washers are excellent for cleaning impervious surfaces such as concrete and are the easiest way to remove gum and oil stains without causing damage. Hot water washers are excellent for commercial cleaning applications as well. They allow for a more thorough cleaning of driveways, sidewalks and walkways which help present customers with a clean image from the time they arrive.
2. Cold water pressure washers are excellent for residential cleaning applications. In combination with the proper soaps they are great for cleaning all types of siding such as vinyl, drivit, stucco, and aluminum. As long as there is no gum or major oil staining, cold water is also great for cleaning porches, walkways, patios, pool decks and much more.
Hot water offers no better cleaning than cold water systems for parts of your home such as siding. This means there is no benefit for a homeowner to use this type of cleaning method. The only benefit is for the contractor, as in some cases it can speed up the cleaning process and save them time. This is a savings that is usually not passed along to the home owner either.
Most commercial concrete cleaning applications require the removal of gum and oil. There is no better way to remove these without causing damage than a hot water pressure washer.
The type of pressure washing method you will actually need depends on whether or not you are a home owner or a business owner along with what it is that you need cleaned specifically. So now that you know the difference, you will not have to worry about paying for a service you do not need.

A couple hundred dollars and a trip to the local home improvement store to purchase a pressure washer, and they are in business. They hit the road running with the attitude that they are going to be the next millionaire. On a shoestring budget, they print up their own fliers to hang on telephone poles and go knocking door to door asking for work only to be let down by an enormous wave of no’s.

To combat their lack of marketing and sales knowledge, many of these companies fall into the trap of offering a lower price than the competition, or low balling in a desperate attempt to get work. They offer ridiculously low prices and then have to take short cuts in order to make a profit. Many of them can’t afford general liability insurance or workman’s compensation insurance so they operate without it.

With their less than mediocre equipment and knowledge, they damage your property and give you a horrible service. Some of the horror stories my customers have told me about their past experiences with one of these types of companies are disturbing to say the least. From blowing out people’s window screens to leaving wand marks all over their vinyl siding or scarring up their expensive decks to putting an inferior sealer on it.

I’ve heard it all and the scarier part is; what have these kinds of companies done to their property that they didn’t see? Things like forcing water in behind the vinyl siding by using too much water pressure or using only water to clean the home, meaning the mold and mildew would return in a few months because it was never killed and because they did not apply a protective wax to prevent re-growth. I’ve heard of some unethical contractors cutting their customers deck stain 50% with mineral spirits to cut down own their costs.

Some even skip the important step of wood brightening or neutralizing during the wood restoration process. All this boils down to giving the pressure washing industry a bad image, which breeds more fly by night companies with the misconception that pressure washing is easy and that anybody can start up with a few dollars and do it. It also forces a lot of homeowners to result to doing their own pressure washing which can be dangerous and definitely painstaking.

The pressure washing industry, in my opinion, is in need of an organization or association that could require contractors to become licensed. Such an organization could set in place rules and guidelines and offer testing and membership opportunities. This would help homeowners in choosing only a reputable company that would meet these guidelines or that were licensed. There have been attempts by organizations in this industry in the past, but their focus has gone off course and contractors have turned their backs on them.

There is a ban of reputable pressure washing contractors, spread out all over the country that I believe are the future and possibly only hope of this industry. They network by internet, phone, informal meetings, conventions, and round tables during all times of the year. They provide free information to each other and to new contractors interested in pursuing a career in pressure washing.

Many have participated in what they call “labor for learning” where they invite a new, inexperienced contractor to come and work with them, and unselfishly show them the ropes in trade for some labor. This is a great concept because there is no better way to learn something than by hands on experience. Others have also given away free valuable information through formal and informal presentations at round table meetings, helping to shave years off of the learning curve of newer contractors.

Many also give away their knowledge by participating on message boards on the internet, helping others on a daily basis. They network together to hone their own skills and to teach others the correct methods and techniques that are involved in providing a quality pressure washing service.

This is all in an attempt, by people who are passionate about what they do, to solidify the professionalism of the pressure washing industry in the eye of the public.

The exterior of your home is a reflection of you. It’s also a probable indicator of what the interior of your home is like. Real estate agents know a home’s exterior appearance is important to its resale value. Therefore, the cleaner and more maintained it is, the better. A sparkling exterior makes your home aesthetically pleasing for your enjoyment, as well.
When it comes to maintaining that clean exterior, professional power washing services can do the job for you. With these services, you pay for their expertise while saving yourself time and hassles. You may even save yourself money. A quality power washing service can do the job right the first time and ensure it is done thoroughly. This means your exterior may not need cleaning for a while.
Doing the job yourself may require more than one washing to achieve the same effect. You may use more water and cleaners to get the job done, which costs you extra money. You also expend a lot of time and energy doing your own pressure washing. Using a reasonably priced professional service alleviates these concerns.
When you employ the services of a power washing company, the benefits are many. First, if you use a reputable service, the work will come with a guarantee. If they don’t perform their work properly the first time, they will do it again, free of charge. This isn’t likely to be a concern with a quality company, but things do happen.
Second, professional power washing services normally have state-of-the-art equipment. This means they can employ the proper spray apparatus for the particular situation. You may have an exterior section that is sensitive to very high pressure. A professional service can apply the lower pressure that an area may require. An experienced firm also knows different surface types and the ideal way to apply pressure cleaning to each unique surface.
Third, it’s generally safer to have power washing services performed by experienced professionals. This is especially true if you have high exterior areas and difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies on your home. You don’t have to worry about using ladders or leaning out a window to get the job done. Professionals can do it properly while you sit back and relax.
When choosing a power washing service, it’s important to select a licensed and insured company. You protect yourself from unreliable scammers who only want your hard-earned money. Check to make sure the power washing company you choose is a member of the Better Business Bureau.
You also want to choose a pressure cleaning service that gives good customer service before, during and after the job. Before you hire them, they should offer you a free estimate for the work they will perform. You also will want them to give you advice and tips for maintaining the exterior quality of your home.
While they are working on your home, you want a company that will alert you to any exterior defects or problems they notice on your home. You also want a firm that respects your property and performs their work carefully in order to preserve your finishes and exterior surfaces. When the work is complete, you want a company that will follow-up with you to make sure there were no problems. You also want them to be available for any other advice you may need for maintaining your home’s exterior.
Reputable power washing services will be professional, fairly priced and prompt in their completion of a project. They will have customer testimonials and written references ready for you to check. Above all, they will have experience that they can pass on to you in the form of customer support.
Using a pressure cleaning service for house washing is a matter of maintenance. You ensure the exterior of your home is free of harmful substances that can cause surface deterioration. This means you will have lower repair and upkeep costs.
With house washing done by professionals, you ensure your home has an attractive outer appearance that can increase your profit in a real estate transaction. Employing a professional power washing service means your home gets the royal treatment and you can feel like the king or queen of the castle.

There’s nothing like a home that has curb appeal. A home that sparkles on the outside as well as inside can lend elegance to an entire neighborhood. When it comes to washing your home’s exterior, pressure washing can do the job quickly and with little hassle.

Cleaning is never anyone’s favorite activity. The less time spent cleaning, the more time you have for other activities. Washing your house with a power washer is an efficient way to clean. Exterior areas of a home are prone to collecting tree sap, bird droppings, dust, dirt and insect residue. On top of that, there’s the grease, fungus and mildew that can be prevalent in outdoor environments. A home power washing system applies the appropriate concentrated force to dislodge these substances.

Pressure washers designed for home use work on wood, granite, brick, aluminum, vinyl and metal. These systems are also appropriate for use on asphalt and cement driveways as part of your overall exterior cleaning efforts. Power washing systems are measured in pounds per square inch, or “psi.” Home power washers normally come in the 1,200 to 3,000 psi range. You can rent these each time you need one or you can buy one for a reasonable price. Just make sure you buy a quality machine that’s going to last.

Cleaning surfaces by power washing means you’re using high velocity spray. There are certain precautions to observe when taking on a do-it-yourself pressure washing project. First, do not use a ladder to get to those high spots on your home. There’s a kickback from the power generated by these power washing systems. You do not want to lose your balance and fall off the ladder.

Different nozzle attachments are available that enable you to spray higher. When it comes to rinsing off any detergents you might use, you can utilize a longer extension pole to reach high areas. If there are high points or difficult-to-reach points on your house, it’s best to consult with a professional power washing company. It may be smarter to hire a pro to perform this hazardous work for you if your budget allows.

It’s also wise to consult a professional for information regarding which materials can withstand the pressure applied from a power washer. While most exteriors are suitable for pressure washing, you want to make sure any unique finishes and materials can withstand normal pressure applications without any harmful side effects. Remember, machines with a higher psi measurement work faster but also exert more pressure on a surface. In home pressure washing, it’s imperative that you know what your surface can withstand so you can use the proper power washer force on it.

It’s also important to make sure you avoid spraying exterior lighting fixtures with water when power washing your house. This will prevent short-circuiting of electrical systems and prevent electrical fires. You also should cover all outside electrical outlets, as well.

Pressure washing is great for preparing a house for a new paint job. Cleaning exterior surfaces removes oily and powdery residue that develop on old, weathered paint. Power washing takes off the old paint residue and leaves a rougher base so that new paint can stick more easily. Pressure washing also removes peeling paint remnants and any dirt and grime with it. What’s left is a surface that’s residue-free so new paint doesn’t trap in dirt particles and other substances.

Power washing your home, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional service, ensures a quality cleaning job. Pressure washers apply the necessary force to rid exteriors of built-up grime. They offer the power and reach to allow you to clean high places safely. They allow for efficient cleaning so you don’t have to spend unnecessary time to get the job done. Consider power washing your house to give it the curb appeal you desire.