How Much Does It Cost to Pressure Wash a House?

Table Of Content

• Boost the Effectiveness of a Pressure Washer with a Cleaning Solution
• 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Town’s Curbside Cleanup Day
• How Often Should I Pressure Wash My House?
• Benefits of Pressure Washing a House
• Boost Your Curb Appeal with 4 Doable DIY Projects
• How to Pressure Wash a Deck for Annual Maintenance

A warm, sunny day is the best time of year to pressure wash your house. You should also consider pressure washing your home after the rainy, storm season has passed. Depending on where you live, this might be in the spring, summer or early fall. If you don’t know how to use the equipment properly, you can do serious damage while power washing. Make sure you get a thorough demonstration of any rental equipment before leaving with it. And if you have purchased a power washer, read through the instruction manual before using it.

Boost the Effectiveness of a Pressure Washer with a Cleaning Solution

It’s natural to want to know more about this process, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. By taking these post-wash steps, you’re not just cleaning your house; you’re preparing it for a fresh start. Whether you’re repainting or just enjoying the renewed look of your home, these actions help maintain its beauty and value. By following these steps, you can ensure a thorough clean that rejuvenates your home’s exterior, all while keeping things safe and efficient. With your equipment ready, it’s time to move on to the pressure washing itself. Preparing your pressure washer properly is essential for a safe and effective cleaning session.

11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Town’s Curbside Cleanup Day

If you’re planning to repaint, you’ll definitely want to pressure wash first to prepare the surface. For areas with a lot of trees or exposure to pollution, you might need to do it more often. If you’re not confident, it might be safer to call in a professional, especially for delicate materials or hard-to-reach areas. First, protect your plants and garden areas with plastic sheeting or drop cloths. Then, make sure all your windows and doors are closed tightly.

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How Often Should I Pressure Wash My House?

It’s a good idea to avoid washing in the strong summer sun, which could dry the cleaning agents before you are able to rinse them off. With a combination of proper cleaning products, scrubbing, good technique, and a thorough rinse, your home will soon be clean as a whistle once more. According to Macfarlane, you shouldn't need to power wash your house more than twice a year—but there is one spot in particular to keep a close eye on. "The northern exposure of a home is more prone to a buildup of moss and lichens because the area receives less direct sunlight, which may need more frequent power washing," he says. The best rule of thumb is to pressure wash your house once per year at minimum. This is largely dependent on your city's weather and climate, however.

Keeping the exterior cladding clean maintains its structural stability longer. To reach places over-head, plug a lance extension into your machine rather than using a ladder. "The kickback could easily knock you right off of it," Manke explains. If you still can't hit the mark, hire a pro, who can do the job safely with scaffolding.

From the siding, then move closer until you find the optimal cleaning distance. In general, work at a horizontal or slightly downward angle to avoid driving water up under the siding. In a 5-gallon bucket, mix the mildewcide (available at home centers or wherever you rent the machine) with water according to the manufacturer’s directions. Add bleach at a volume of one part for every nine parts of the mildewcide-detergent solution. Protect shrubbery, plants, gardens, and lawn by covering with drop cloths or plastic sheeting. Close windows and doors, and duct tape or cover with plastic sheeting if your doors and windows are prone to leaking  Secure all sheeting/cloths with duct tape.

Hawaii and Alaska also ring up high costs at $463 and $371, respectively. "Cleaning tough stains and grime on your home exterior may first require a detergent—you'll use a low-pressure spray pattern to apply this," Macfarlane continues. If you use a detergent, let it sit on the surface for a few minutes and then work the pressure washer from top to bottom in small sections. If you have a two-story home, he recommends getting spray tips and extensions to make sure you can reach the areas that are higher up. Once you have finished pressure washing your home, turn off the pressure washer and disconnect it from the garden hose.

Be sure you assemble all necessary materials before you start; take the time to protect plants, doorways, and windows; scrub the siding; and then start pressure washing. If you’re planning to paint, remember to time the washing properly so the siding can dry for a couple of days before you start applying paint or stain. Painted, soft-grain wood siding, stucco, and aluminum siding are best treated with 1,200 to 1,500 psi models. For delicate stucco, it’s also best to use a 25- to 30-degree wider spray nozzle to disperse water over a wider area and with less force, preventing any gouging or nicking.

Over time, algae, moss, lichen, dirt and even salt (if you’re near the ocean) can build up on your roof. These buildups can affect the look and function of your roof unless removed. The buildup of organic materials such as moss on a shingle roof can prevent water from sloughing off as it normally would. Trapped water can rot the roof or cause early deterioration of your shingles. Even if you don’t have a shingle roof, moss and lichen absorb water, and that wet material adds weight and stress to your roof — as well as providing a home for insects and other pests, and collecting dirt.

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First impressions are important to the value the buyer sees, so it’s reasonable to take a step to make that first impression one of a home that is ready to move into. All the fresh paint and careful staging work inside won’t matter if the outside doesn’t appeal. In addition, pressure washing the home will reduce the likelihood of pests, again adding to a clean bill of health from the inspector. The house will look better from the street when the trim is pristine, the siding gleams, and the driveway and walkway are clean and welcoming.

Even so, check the sill on the inside and dry up any water that leaked through. Direct the spray away from breakable objects like windows and outside lights, and remove house numbers and window boxes whenever possible. Hold the wand with two hands and move it across the siding from side to side at a steady pace.

Roofing is inherently dangerous, as a fall from a roof could seriously injure or kill you. Roofers have specialized equipment and training to help prevent accidents. If you do it yourself, you’ll need to take special care to ensure you get everything. It can take as little as 30 minutes to an hour to pressure wash a one-story 2,500-square-foot house. Depending on the extent of dirt and size of the house, you may need to invest as much as 3 hours or more. So, investing in one is a good idea if you plan to use it regularly – and you should.

Most professionals suggest once a year, but that can depend on your location, how many trees surround the home, the weather, and the surface material. In some cases, every other year makes more sense so that the siding isn’t subjected to such heavy pressure every year, and a quick rinse with a strong hose can suffice in between. Allowing dirt to build up on the outside of a home can reduce the efficiency of the siding’s inherent insulation. Worse, it can clog, coat, or cover critical ventilation that allows the home to breathe and vent the byproducts of heating and cooling systems. If the energy bill has been edging up, consider whether cleaning the exterior and vent system would let the house do its job better. The immediate perimeter of the building will be flooded with water as the house is cleaned, and that water may have diluted cleaner in it.

If you see any mold or mildew, treat those areas with a mix of bleach and water on hard surfaces, or with undiluted vinegar on porous surfaces such as wood. For houses with more than two stories, setting up scaffolding is a smart move. It’s safer than using a ladder (which we never recommend), as the force of the water can throw off your balance. Scaffolding provides a stable platform, allowing you to reach high areas without the risk.

Yet other pieces resemble popular causes that progressives want Biden to get behind, like expanding Social Security and legalizing marijuana. A classic Italian restaurant off West Hollywood's famous Melrose Avenue, Cecconi's frequently appears on lists for the "top power lunch spots" and has been known to attract everyone from Beyoncé to Prince Harry. You’ll know how much your project costs even before booking a pro. And finally, roofers save you time by getting the job done quickly and with a high degree of quality.