Quick Guide to Power Cleaning Decks
A Quick Guide to Power Cleaning Decks
Decks are a cherished part of a home. It makes sense to properly clean them. We’ve found that power washing is the best way to do so. We’ve also found that many homeowners run into problems when they try to power wash their deck without being educated beforehand lasix australia. This quick guide to power cleaning decks will give you all the information you need to know to properly clean your deck.
Choosing a Pressure Washer
Make no mistake about it: chemical deck brighteners will not actually clean your deck. They might make it look nice and shiny, but the real cleaning work is left up to pressure washing. Choosing a pressure washer is simple if you know what to look for. Pressure ratings are important. Pressure ratings should be determined by the type of wood your deck is made of. Softer woods call for pressure ratings around 500-600 psi. Harder woods call for ratings around 1,200 psi. When cleaning a wood deck, you should never use a pressure rating greater than 1,500 psi. Doing so can ruin your deck.
Choosing a Tip
Expert Cincinnati exterior cleaning companies recommend a 40-60-degree fan or rotating tip. These types of tips allow you to tailor the pressure and speed to meet the surfaces you’re cleaning. They provide a huge advantage over set tips, which should never be used to clean wood.
Using Proper Technique
Using proper pressure washing technique is an important key to not damaging or ruining your deck. Always start from the house and work your way outward using the following sequence:
- Set the pressure to 600 psi and test it in a rarely seen area
- Adjust the pressure to one that cleans without damaging the deck’s surface
- Hold the tip approximately 12 inches off the deck’s surface and squeeze the trigger until the speed you want is reached
- Maintain a consistent distance between the tip and the surface while using a sweeping motion to clean the deck
Make note that you should always be working with the wood’s grain by spraying lengthwise.
Fixing Raised Wood Fibers
There’s no getting around the fact that power washing will cause some wood fibers to be raised. Even the best Cincinnati exterior cleaning companies admit to raising wood fibers on each and every job. The key is learning how to fix them. Spot sanding can be done on minimally damaged areas to smooth things out. For other areas, it’s recommended that the entire wood deck be sanded and then refinished. A 60-80 grit sandpaper should be used on the deck’s surface and a 100 grit sandpaper should be used on handrails if you have them.
Don’t become a homeowner horror story. Use this guide and its recommendations to have your deck looking clean without being damaged. Choose a proper pressure washer and tip, use proper technique, and fix raised wood fibers to make sure your deck looks as good as ever.
If you decide that you want to have a professional do it without all of the renting machines, buying chemicals, and the general mess that power spraying makes, give the guys at cincinnatipowerwashing.com a call.
4 Tips for Power Washing Sidewalks
4 Tips for Power Washing Sidewalks
Dirty Cincinnati sidewalks can be really irritating. They can be awful to look at and even cause accidental injuries when slippery mold or mildew is present. Both home and business owners have an obligation to keep their sidewalks clean. In some states, local governments have actually started issuing fines to encourage residents to take care of their sidewalks. One of the quickest and most effective ways to clean your sidewalks is by power washing. If you’re interested in power washing your sidewalk, the following four tips ensure the best results:
Choose a Pressure Washer with the Appropriate Pressure Rating
Pressure can be defined as the force on a surface. In the case of pressure washing sidewalks, it’s the force of the water on the concrete. Pressure ratings are expressed in units of pounds per square inch (psi). Your pressure washer should have a minimum pressure rating of 3000 psi to effectively clean your sidewalk. There are a few situations where a higher pressure rating might be needed, but expert Cincinnati exterior cleaning companies all agree and recommend that 3000 psi is appropriate for residential use. When renting or purchasing a pressure washer, always make sure it has at least 3000 psi rating.
Choose a Pressure Washer with the Appropriate Flow Rate
Flow rate is defined as the quantity of liquid moving through a pipe or channel during a given period. Pressure washers use the unit gallons per minute (gpm). Flow rate is an often overlooked, but important part of pressure washing. If your pressure washer has a pressure rating of 10,000 psi while putting out 2 gpm, your sidewalk will definitely stay dirty. Cincinnati exterior cleaning companies recommend a flow rate of five to six gpm. This will ensure you’re using an appropriate cleaning speed to rid dirt and contaminants from the concrete surface.
Use a Rotary Nozzle
Some areas of your sidewalk may be more or less dirty than others. Cleaning speed should be increased or decreased to clean these different areas. By using a rotary nozzle, you give yourself the option to adjust speed to meet cleaning demands. A fan or circular jet pattern can be adjusted to allow the water to leave the nozzle at the speed you wish to use.
Use Hot Water
It’s no secret that hot water cleans better than cold. Hot water pressure washers can be a bit more expensive than cold water ones because they have a heavy heating coil and burner system. While this might be concerning, you should take note that most experts agree that hot water is the way to go a fantastic read. In the end, it will save you time and money because the job will be done right the first time.
The above mentioned four tips will help you when power washing your sidewalk. Use them to make your life easier and sidewalk cleaner. The overall appearance of your home or business will improve. If you can’t or don’t want to do it yourself, it’s recommended that you contact an experienced Cincinnati exterior cleaning company that can help you.
You can also have your roof, the exterior of your home, or your decks powerwashed for a clean look around.
Dangers of do it yourself pressure washing
We all want grime-free pathways and a clean, sparkling exterior at our homes; it shows that we take
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pride and care in our Cincinnati home. Exterior cleaning using a power washer offers a way to achieve a great result without having to spend all of your weekend scrubbing. A power washer uses a motor, pump, and nozzle to increase the water pressure by up to 80 times that of a standard hose, generating up to 4000 psi. That’s a serious amount of power and for that reason, you should give serious consideration to whether you take this job on yourself or call in a Cincinnati pressure washing expert to help. Here are some of the dangers of DIY power washing:
Risk of Injury
The risk of injury is by far the biggest danger for all pressure washer DIY projects in Cincinnati. Pressure washing jets are an incredible force and will instantly tear through any skin they come into contact with. It’s estimated that over 6000 people each year end up in the hospital emergency room with injuries caused by pressure washers; the most common being lacerations, bruises, punctures and eye injuries. We hear a lot of injury horror stories here at Cincinnati Power Washing. We know you want to keep your house looking great but a Cincinnati exterior cleaning project which ends with someone losing an eye or falling off of a roof is a tragedy. Even though people are now very aware of the dangers of pressure washing, the casualties are not reducing. These are powerful pieces of equipment that require expert handling to ensure safety. Call in the professionals to help clean your Cincinnati house. Exterior cleaning jobs can then all be handled safely and efficiently.
Damage to your Property
The second issue with carrying out your own Cincinnati pressure washing project is that with the amount of power a pressure washer gives you, it’s very easy to do some inadvertent damage. An example of this is removing all of the cement from between your patio slabs in your garden; not a great look for any home in Cincinnati. Another example is removing shingles from your roof by too much pressure. Exterior cleaning issues such as this are common when people attempt to have a go themselves. This can lead to repair costs, which far exceed the cost of bringing in a professional to carry out the pressure washing at your Cincinnati house. Exterior cleaning projects are our specialty here at Cincinnati Power Washing.
A job for the Experts
Considering the risk of injury and how easy it is to create substantial damage, we really believe that hiring a professional is the best way forward for all of your Cincinnati exterior cleaning needs. Here at Cincinnati Power Washing, we have carried out residential and commercial cleaning jobs of all shapes and sizes. We’re experienced at all kinds of house cleaning, concrete cleaning, roof cleaning and more and will be able to advise you on the best way to tackle your cleaning job. As well as our trained staff, the latest tools we use ensure that we get a great finish, every time. Call today to see how we can help.
Commercial Power Washing
Cincinnati Power Washing offers commercial power washing services in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati marketing area. Commercial buildings, parking lots, and concrete buildings can accumulate grime and dirt, oil, pollution, chewing gum, and general filth. This makes your business have curb appeal and makes you look more professional.<img class="alignright wp-image-59 size-medium" src="http://cincinnatipowerwashing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/coimmercial-building-300×145.jpg" alt="Cincinnati Power Washing" width="300" height="145" srcset="http://cincinnatipowerwashing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/coimmercial-building-200×97.jpg 200w, http://cincinnatipowerwashing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/coimmercial-building-300×145.jpg 300w, http://cincinnatipowerwashing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/coimmercial-building-320×156.jpg 320w, http://cincinnatipowerwashing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/coimmercial-building find this.jpg 323w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” />
Without a professional power cleaning and maintenance program in place, your property can fall into disarray. Cincinnati Power Washing can keep your commercial property looking its very best! Our team at Cincinnati Power Washing employs top-quality cleaning services at affordable prices. We only use environmentally safe cleaning detergents that are safe for pets, people, and your property. Our cleaning process leads the way for commercial pressure washing in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. We offer free estimates right on our site on the home page.
We can restore and maintain your business property with our commercial pressure washing. Cincinnati Power Washing offers service for all sorts of business such as:
- Retail Stores and Storefronts
- Office and Storage Buildings
- Apartments and Condominiums
- Shopping Centers and Strip Malls
- Restaurants
- Banks
- Churches
- Convenient stores and Service Stations
- Parking lots
Cincinnati Power Washing services Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati market. We also serve in the residential market for concrete and driveway cleaning, house cleaning, roof cleaning, and deck cleaning. We are fully insured and bonded to guarantee the highest quality in cleaning your home or business.
We can also help you find a Cincinnati gutter cleaning service and a high quality Cincinnati roofer. Please call us today for a free quote.
Power Wash away the Clogs
Getting a good Cincinnati power washing for your gutters a couple of times per year is a good way to prevent clogged gutters as well as clogged downspouts. While you are up there you might as well clean the whole roof of mold and grime that eats constantly at your house. It not only makes your house look better but power washing your gutters can prevent a lot of problems.
Clogged Gutter s create serious issues
Clean flowing gutters create a clear path for snow melt and rainwater to end up in the sewer pipes rather than where it will do mischief to you yard and home. A Cincinnati Pressure Washing can make that pathway smooth and effortless. Clogged gutters cause a lot of problems from the top down in a home. Problems can manifest in the basement, the attic, the roof, and the foundations. Health issues can occur due to the mold problem that can be caused by these water issues.
These are some of the possible results of a clogged gutter system:
Basement water issues– When water overflows from a clogged gutter, it follows gravity to the foundation of the house. This is where it can slowly seep into the basement. If you find yourself with a flooded basement, it probably started a while back so check your gutters and cut off the flow.
Water damage to the foundations can occur even if you don’t have a basement. Sitting water can cause damage to the mortar of your house or dissolve the foundation of your home. Make certain that your downspouts are pointing away from the foundations by a couple of feet Buy lasix. Be careful that the downspouts don’t direct the water towards your neighbor’s house and cause problems on their foundation.
Mold– Where there is darkness; water, and heat, mold will find a home there and eventually grow a lot of company. Mold is a severe health issue in some people and can even cause death in some.
Roof Algae– Ever wondered what those black and white stripes are on your roofing shingles? That is algae that love the minerals in the shingles of roofs. It often starts in the gutters and grows up from there, especially on the north side of your home. These algae can weaken the roof shingles and may cause further damage. A Cincinnati Power washing will strip that algae off and keep it from eating your shingles.
If you are not up for doing it yourself, you can call the team at Cincinnati Power Wash. We use an adjustable pressure washer that will take it easy on your shingles. Call us for an appointment at (513) 479-8800