Residential Pressure Washing
WHETHER YOU’RE A HOMEOWNER WITH A DIRTY DRIVEWAY, OR A BUSINESS OWNER WITH A GRIMEY STOREFRONT, CHANCES ARE YOU’VE CONSIDERED HIRING SOMEONE TO PRESSURE WASH YOUR PROPERTY.
But how exactly does pressure washing work, and what kind of pressure washing service is right for your home or business? Read on to learn all about how professional power washers, such as the experienced team at Ross Property Services, can help restore your property to its former glory as quickly and easily as possible.
How Do Professional Pressure Washing Services Work?
Although pressure washing may appear to blast away years’ worth of algae, grime, and dirt as if by magic, there’s a little more that goes into it than that. Pressure washers consist of a long, thin hose, an engine and pump to pressurize the water, and a nozzle where the water is blasted out. The pressures of residential and commercial pressure washers can range from roughly 1300 to over 4000 PSI (pounds per square inch), which can be high enough to cause serious injuries for untrained users.
Ross Property Services considers a variety of factors other than just PSI to clean surfaces so that surfaces are cleaned as thoroughly as possible without causing additional damage. The professionals at RPS will select an appropriate PSI and GPM (gallons per minute) to dictate how much water flows through the pressure washer.. They’ll also determine what temperature the water should be (as hotter water can often clean surfaces more thoroughly) and what chemicals they should add (i.e., soap, detergent). Our team will assess a given surface and its level of dirtiness and determine what combination of factors will help them restore it to its original condition as safely as possible.
The bottom line? If you’re looking for a safe and effective deep clean, you need the capable and experienced pressure washers at Ross Property Services.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Pressure Washing Services vs. Soft Washing Services
If you’ve got a dirty surface that needs deep cleaning, it’s tempting to immediately assume that you need pressure washing. But while pressure washing is great for blasting away dirt and debris from hard surfaces with tiny dents and grooves, some surfaces can be damaged by the high pressures of pressure washing. For surfaces that would be damaged by a high-pressure, highly concentrated flow, soft washing is ideal. This technique uses low-pressure (less than 500 PSI) water with a wider spray. Soft washing also typically utilizes special chemicals that can help remove dirt, organisms, and grime without damaging the softer surfaces beneath them.
PRESSURE WASHING
Recommended for these applications:
- Brick
- Concrete
- Aggregate
- Gum Removal
SOFT WASHING
Recommended for these applications:
- Stucco
- Wood Material
- Metal Building
- Asphalt Shingles
- Cedar Shake
Materials to Use Power Washing or Pressure Washing
As stated above, hard materials that can handle extremely high-pressure water flows need to be treated with a pressure washer. Some of these materials include:
Brick: A timeless building material used in many homes, brick can be easily discolored or damaged by dirt and grime. The key to cleaning brick is to use plenty of detergent to detach any grime from the tiny pores in each brick and then to use a relatively low-pressure flow to remove the loose grime.
Concrete: Driveways, sidewalks, and patios are heavily trafficked surfaces that can undergo lots of wear and tear. Fortunately, they can also handle high PSI and high flow rates to fully blast away stains or contaminants, with or without the help of a specialized concrete cleaner.
Aggregate: Aggregate, which is commonly found in driveways and sidewalks, is a great candidate for power washing. Although it’s necessary to avoid loosening pebbles or damaging the cement in which they’re held, when it comes to pressure washing, aggregate can generally handle high pressures of roughly 3000 to 4000 PSI.
Materials to Use Soft Washing
In contrast to brick, concrete, and aggregate, some materials can be damaged by cleaning procedures that call for high PSI and GPM. Here are some materials that can be safely subjected to soft washing:
Stucco: Stucco’s famous texture includes tons of grooves, nooks, and crannies for dirt, mold and debris to accumulate. Because it’s a relatively soft material, cleaning stucco requires first applying a special chemical cleaner to the surface and then removing it with a low-pressure wash.
Wood: Fences and patios are two common surfaces that require cleaning, but the soft and porous nature of wood makes it unsuitable for pressure washing. Instead, a combination of wood-specific cleaning solutions and low-pressure washing are ideal for removing algae and dirt that have accumulated on wooden surfaces.
Metal buildings: Metal buildings should be washed roughly once a year. Using a low-pressure wash and metal-specific cleaners is a good way to restore a metal building’s original shine without blasting away its paint or damaging the metal.
Asphalt shingles (Roof Washing): Asphalt shingles need to be cleaned to remove lichen and moss, but pressure washing can remove the UV-protective granules in your roof’s asphalt shingles. A combination of low-pressure washing and appropriate cleaning products will preserve the integrity of your roof while also cleaning it. The black streaks you may notice on your roof are gone in the same day while the moss and lichens are killed in the process. Consider a soft washing for your roof similar to using the correct soaps in the shower. Too strong of a water pressure would hurt you but the right soaps will get rid of any dirt and keep you clean. Our roof washing services protect the asphalt shingles with a soft water pressure but target lichen, moss, and dirt with the best cleaning products to help your roof look brand new again. Learn more about our Roof Washing Services.
Whether your business’s storefront or parking lot needs a boost or your sidewalks and pools are tarnished from years of staining, pressure washing can help restore your surfaces to their original condition. There’s nothing that will attract new customers faster than a bright new exterior or a gleaming poolside area. When your business simply isn’t looking its best, RPS commercial pressure washing can help make it shine once again.
–> More on Commercial Pressure Washing
Industrial Pressure Washing
Cleaning heavy equipment and factories and warehouses can be difficult and exhausting work. Pressure washing can reduce the amount of time spent cleaning and create a sanitary environment for workers to enjoy as well as extend the life of equipment. When the heaviest-duty messes call for the heaviest-duty cleaning, the professionals at RPS are here to help.
–> More on Industrial Pressure Washing
Final Thoughts
If you want to pressure wash your home or business but don’t know where to begin, we’ve got your back. As Northeast GA’s premier family-owned and operated pressure washing company, Ross Property Services is here to help. We have years of experience with pressure washing and soft washing to help you get the job done quickly and well — and thousands of satisfied customers to prove it. If you have any questions or want to learn more about whether professional pressure washing is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
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