Q. My house is looking dingy. I’d like to power wash it instead of paint it. What are signs that power washing wouldn’t be enough? What’s the best way to use a power washer?
A. Power washing is a great alternative when your paint is in good shape but dirt and mildew make the surface unsightly. The actual method of cleaning depends on your equipment. Some power washers have the ability to apply soap in the stream of water. It’s OK to do this, but only with low pressure. If yours doesn’t have that feature, using a pump-up garden sprayer to apply a specialty siding cleaner/water solution works just as well. Here’s how I power wash:Hose down the entire surface of the house. Apply the siding detergent to the surface, following the instructions on the label. Scrub the surface with either a broom or deck scrub brush, making sure the surface doesn’t dry. Wash the surface from the top down with either low or medium pressure with the power washer.Sometimes that “dingy” appearance is called “chalking.” This is how paint ages. All paints do it, but better paints do it to a lesser extent. The best way to tell is to rub your fingers over the surface. If your fingers have a whitish film on them, it may be time to paint your home. In the Midwest, the normal interval between paint jobs is 5 to 7 years. Some will go longer, but it depends on your colors, quality and quantity of the paint applied. For most homes, pressure washing should be one of the first steps in a new paint finish. Unfortunately, homes built prior to 1978 can’t be professionally power washed because the paint might contain lead, and contractors can be fined. If you want to pressure wash yourself but are unsure about lead content, there are test kits. If you do power wash your home and paint starts coming off, you may be ready for some new paint.Read more Handyman
Posted on Tue, Feb. 07, 2012 04:00 PM
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Handyman | Bill Ruisinger on power washing a house
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