With more than twenty years of practical experience in renovating, repairing, and enhancing residences, Lee has been offering home improvement guidance for many years.
Project Summary
- Duration of Work: 3 to 5 hours
- Overall Duration: 3 to 5 hours
- Proficiency Level: Novice
- Projected Expense: $50 to $250
To ensure a successful application of new exterior paint, it’s essential to have thoroughly clean siding. Achieving this through manual scrubbing can be quite a demanding task. A pressure washer can provide a fast and efficient solution, but using it on siding requires caution. The high pressure of the water can easily lead to damage of the siding itself or even result in water damage to the underlying sheathing and wall cavities. It’s important to understand the proper techniques for pressure washing your home before you begin the painting preparation.
Make Sure to Clean Thoroughly
Although there are numerous benefits to washing your home’s exterior prior to painting, one key advantage is particularly noteworthy: clean siding ensures that your exterior paint will have a longer lifespan.
While paint companies may suggest that failing to clean your siding before painting is catastrophic, the truth is less alarming. You can apply paint to dirty siding, but doing so significantly reduces the durability of the paint. Instead of needing to repaint every three to four years, wouldn’t it be preferable to extend that to every seven to ten years? Given the effort and cost involved in painting the exterior of a house, it’s wise to ensure the job is done correctly from the outset.
Exercise Care When Using Pressure Washers
The purpose of pressure washing your home’s siding prior to painting is to clean it rather than remove the existing paint. While it is true that many pressure washers have the capability to remove paint, it is advisable to keep the paint stripping as a distinct process. This should be accomplished using tools such as a scraper, sander, or heat gun after the washing is completed for optimal results.
Pressure washing siding can often be viewed negatively due to two main risks:
- Etching: When used under specific circumstances, pressure washers can penetrate concrete and brick, which raises concerns about their impact on materials like cedar, vinyl, or fiber-cement siding. However, this unintended etching can be easily prevented by maintaining a sufficient distance from the siding while spraying. Depending on the pressure washer’s PSI, this distance can range from 18 inches to 6 feet at a minimum. Additionally, opt for a fan-spray nozzle instead of a stream nozzle, as the latter produces a concentrated, sharp spray that can damage the siding.
- When using a sprayer, exercise caution when aiming at low angles beneath the siding. High-pressure water can force its way upward between the siding panels, potentially saturating the wall’s sheathing or insulation. To avoid this issue, always spray either straight on or at a slight downward angle. Additionally, be mindful of other potential entry points, including heating exhaust vents, attic or crawl space air vents, and gaps around windows and doors.
Different Categories of Pressure Washers
Pressure washers are available in gas and electric versions. For smaller or single-story homes, it’s important to handle your siding with care, and an electric pressure washer will be adequate. However, if your home has two or more stories, the siding will be more distant from the ground, necessitating the use of a more powerful gas pressure washer.
What pressure is required in PSI to clean a house?
A pressure washer with a PSI range of 1,000 to 1,500 is generally adequate for cleaning siding. Vinyl siding is capable of handling pressures between 2,500 and 3,000 PSI. For a two-story home, using a high-capacity gas pressure washer equipped with a specialized nozzle enables you to reach and clean the upper sections safely from the ground.
Requirements for Your Task
Devices / Instruments
- Watering hose
- Pressure washer and spray attachments
- Step stools (if required)
- Bucket
- Sponge
Materials
- Cleaning agent
- Plastic film
Instructions
Wear Protective Equipment
Prior to starting, ensure that your protective equipment is prepared. Put on safety goggles, protective gloves, and sturdy footwear (steel-toed boots are recommended). Avoid directing the pressure washer towards individuals or animals, and refrain from using a ladder or step stool while operating the pressure washer.
Safeguard Landscape Vegetation and Utility Systems
To safeguard foundation shrubs or other vegetation that may obstruct the siding, shield them with plastic sheets to avoid the pressure sprayer from removing the leaves. While damage to the shrubs is unlikely to result in the plant’s death, it may cause unsightly changes for the current growing season. Additionally, it is advisable to cover air conditioner compressors and other electrical equipment with plastic sheets prior to pressure washing the siding.
Prepare the pressure washer for use.
- In a sizable container, combine one portion of mildewcide wash and one portion of bleach with ten portions of water.
- Connect the pressure washer to the garden hose and choose the nozzle you intend to use, then attach it to the sprayer.
- Position yourself three feet from your house and evaluate the pressure washer’s effectiveness on the exterior. Continue spraying until you determine that the pressure is sufficient to eliminate dirt or mildew without harming the surface of the home.
Begin by spraying off the larger debris starting from the top and working your way down.
Utilize a pressure sprayer to wash the siding with just water, avoiding any cleaning agents, and start from the top, moving downward. A broad spray angle with moderate pressure will be effective for this task. The aim is to remove the bulk of the visible debris, such as insect nests, leaves, and most of the dirt. Allow the siding to air dry.
Use a bleach solution on areas affected by mildew.
If you notice any sections of your siding that have become stained with mildew, prepare a cleaning solution by combining one part bleach with ten parts water. Apply the mixture to the affected areas using a sponge. Alternatively, you can utilize a garden sprayer to distribute the bleach solution. Take care to prevent any of the solution from coming into contact with your shrubs and other plants in the garden. There’s no need to scrub, as the bleach will effectively eliminate the mildew on its own.
Apply the cleaning solution using a spray.
Carry out this task when the siding is shaded and the winds are gentle. Begin by filling the tank of your pressure washer with the cleaning solution. Next, apply the water-solution mixture to the siding, starting from the bottom and working your way up. Utilize a low pressure and a wide spray angle for the cleaning solution application. Refer to your pressure washer’s manual for the correct settings for this process. Make horizontal strokes along the siding, progressively moving upward while maintaining a slight downward angle during the spray.
Wash the exterior cladding.
Allow the cleaning solution to sit for approximately 10 minutes, then proceed to rinse with clean water, starting from the top and working your way down. While cleaning is typically performed from the bottom to the top, rinsing should be done in the opposite direction to prevent dirty water from flowing over already cleaned areas. Rinsing generally requires a stronger pressure setting and a wider spray pattern, but be sure to adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for your specific type of siding. It’s crucial to rinse thoroughly, as this is the key step in the cleaning process. To prevent any potential damage, begin rinsing with the nozzle positioned at a safe distance from the siding, and gradually move closer. If you notice any damage, step back to a safer distance.
Allow Everything to Air Dry
Allow a drying period of 48 hours before applying paint, ensuring that any exposed wood is completely dry. If a few weeks go by before you start painting, it’s advisable to give the surface another light misting with water. You might be surprised by how quickly dust accumulates and spiders can appear after a cleaning.
Advice for Power Washing
- If you have cherished shrubs and other landscaping plants close to your home, be sure to choose a cleaning solution that is free from bleach and other harmful chemicals that could damage your plants.
- It’s advisable to try out your sprayer on a discreet area of siding, like behind some landscaping or on the rear of a garage. If not handled properly, a pressure washer can harm wood siding or cause vinyl siding to crack.
- Focus on smaller sections at a time, rinsing, applying cleaning solution, and rinsing again before proceeding to the next part. This approach will help avoid the detergent drying on the siding.
- A suitable pressure washer can be acquired for prices ranging from $150 to $250, or you have the option to rent one for $50 to $75 daily. After you become familiar with its operation, you may discover various additional applications for the device, making the purchase a worthwhile investment.
- Certain pressure washers come equipped with rotating brush attachments. These tools can be effective for cleaning siding that is heavily soiled.
What is the most effective solution for pressure washing?
The most effective pressure washing mixture consists of equal parts bleach and water, combined with 2 ounces of a quality dish soap, like ammonia-free Dawn, for each gallon of the solution.
What is the price for pressure washing a home?
The typical expense for pressure washing a home ranges from $400 to $500. The price can be influenced by the size of the house, measured in square footage. Additionally, some service providers may base their fees on the number of stories, the type of exterior materials, or whether other areas of the property, like the driveway, patio, or gutters, are included in the service. It’s important to remember that hiring a professional also means covering labor costs. Alternatively, you can save money by renting a pressure washer for a few hours or a full day, which can be a more economical option. For a house of around 2,000 square feet, the washing process typically takes between one to three hours. For instance, Home Depot offers pressure washer rentals for $50 per day or $35 for a four-hour period.
What is the duration required to pressure wash a home?
The duration for pressure washing a house typically ranges from 1 to 3 hours. This timeframe varies based on the house’s dimensions and design, the number of stories, and the landscaping features around the property.
