Considering DIY Commercial Pressure Washing? Keep These Two Tips in Mind.

Although most facility owners or managers are well-aware of the importance of cleaning the interiors of their commercial building, they often fail to realize the importance of exterior cleaning. As a facility owner or manager yourself, you need to understand that the facade is what your potential customers will first see when they visit your business.

If you notice that your facility exterior has excessive dirt, grit, or moss and mold growth, you need to do something about it as soon as possible. Not only does a dirty facade make the property look less attractive, but it can also quickly smudge or damage your corporate image. Also understand that mold and mildew growth can lead to a laundry list of health complications, including asthma and allergic reactions (sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash).

Pressure washing can help you deal with all of these problems.

Not only can it improve your commercial building’s aesthetic appeal, but it also promotes a healthier working environment for you and your employees.

What is a pressure washer?

A pressure washer is a piece of equipment that uses water directed through a high-pressure nozzle to remove loose paint, mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from the exterior surfaces. Cleaning your building exterior with a pressure washer is neither time-consuming nor labor-intensive.

Tips and Tricks

If you do not think you can work with a pressure washer (remember: if not used properly, the high water pressure can damage the exterior and cause injuries), you can always consider hiring professional pressure washing services. A professional has the experience and expertise to use a pressure washer properly to clean your facility’s exteriors efficiently and effectively. 

However, if you choose to take on a DIY approach to pressure washing, here are two tricks of the trade that you should keep in mind.

• Know what you can wash with a pressure washer.

Consider that pressure washing equipment uses high-pressure water to clean hard surfaces; therefore, it can potentially damage your building’s exteriors if it is not handled correctly. With that said, you need to know what this equipment can and cannot wash.

Windows, gutters, parking lots, driveways are some of the most common uses for a pressure washer.

To prevent damage to the surface, you also need to ensure that you are not applying too much pressure (more on that in the next point) or standing too close.

• Use just enough power.

You will find that pressure washers vary widely based on the pressure they can exert. This pressure ranges from 1,300 to 3,000 pounds, or even 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi).

If you are only considering cleaning a tiny portion of your facility exteriors, you can choose a pressure washer that puts out anywhere between 1,300 and 1,500 psi of pressure.

You will need to use a commercial power washer that exerts more than 2,000 psi of pressure to clean larger surface areas.

Again, it is always best to hire a professional to get rid of the dirt, grime, and debris accumulated on your business’s exteriors. Although hiring a professional is more expensive than taking a DIY approach, the end result is worth the premium.