Many people say pressure washing your roof is just a fast way to destroy it. This pertains mostly to composition roofs, those made of asphalt shingles. And there is merit to what they say.

When shingles are laid on the roof, there is a correct way to do it. Done right, a seal is made between one layer of shingles and the overlapping one. This seal keeps rain out of your house. There is a protective granular surface on these shingles that keeps damaging material and sun from destroying them. Asphalt shingles are soft, relative speaking. These granules keep them durable.

There are those roofing contractors who believe pressure washing your roof shortens the life of the shingles. If someone who doesn’t have experience with roof systems and pressure washing systems is doing it, they’re right. Regulating the pressure of the water is essential to appropriate pressure washing, as is the right angle of the spray head.

An inexperienced operator can wash away the protective granules and break the seal between the shingles when pressure washing your roof. But using low pressure and taking care in the washing will likely not cause any more granule loss than a normal rain.

Keep in mind some manufacturers have exclusions in their warranties regarding any kind of what they call aggressive cleaning of your roof surface. This is one way to void the warranty.

Also, you need to know breaking the seal between your shingles may lead to them being lost under a wind load in a storm. The seal makes your roof wind resistant.

In some areas of the country, moss on the roof can be at least an eyesore. Removing that moss is one reason some homeowners choose to pressure wash their roof. But, once again, knowing how to use the pressure wash equipment for this type of cleaning is important. Too much pressure and the wrong angle on the washing head may remove more than the moss.

You always want a professional when pressure washing your roof. To prevent damage to your roof, you may want an expert to do the cleaning for you. For the best power washing services in your area, contact Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

Stucco lends a southwestern air to your home, but power washing stucco can take that charm away unless done right. For all of its charm, stucco is fragile. Its texture can be easily hurt by power washing. But in spite of not needing paint, these walls do require cleaning every so often to keep them bright.

One concern when using stucco as a wall covering is its texture. This surface lets dirt, grime, and dust to collect and dull the finish. Power washing stucco removes this build-up and refreshes the beauty of the siding.

Power washing stucco requires care and preparation. With this, it can be a good, effective, and efficient way to restore the original charm. Many people hesitate to try to clean their stucco walls because they think the covering will crumble when it gets wet and that it’s too porous to keep clean. Both of these myths are wrong. Using proper preparation, stucco can be cleaned very well.

First, make sure there are no cracks of chips in the stucco. Water can seep into cracks and eventually damage the entire wall. Fill in cracks and chips, giving them a sufficient time to dry, usually a week, before power washing stucco.

Next, wet down and cover all vegetation around the area to be washed. Disconnect electrical power in the specific area to be cleaned and close windows and doors.

Use low pressure water on the power washer. Better to use too little pressure in the beginning and increase as needed than to use too much and damage the wall.

Divide the area to be cleaned into sections. Keep a sufficient distance between the nozzle of the power washer and the wall. Start from the bottom and work to the top of each section fairly fast so the detergent doesn’t dry. Use even, side-to-side motions in washing.

When you finish a section, rinse from top to bottom, going side-to-side in motion.

Always be careful around windows, doors, corners, and trim when power washing stucco. It’s usually most delicate in those areas.

To prevent damage to your stucco walls, you may want an expert to do the cleaning for you. For the best power washing services in your area, contact Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

Power washing brick homes is a good way to restore them to their “like new” look. However, there are some possible issues involved when doing this.

Not only are brick homes likely to last for a long time, they are beautiful, as well. Bricks are strong and durable, designed to last for years. But they’re vulnerable to the elements. Sun, dust, rain, snow, mold, mildew, smoke, and other factors can build up over time and dull the look of bricks. Left alone, these elements can not only cause your brick home to look less appealing, they can also damage the bricks themselves.

Power washing brick homes can remove these damaging elements and make you home “shine”.
You must remember, though, that bricks are porous. That means they not only soak up the things mentioned above that can lead to damage, but also the water and cleaners you use when power washing brick homes.

So, even though power washing is a safe way to clean brick homes, there are some cautions to keep in mind.

First, it’s important to patch up cracks or holes in the mortar joints between the bricks and let them dry thoroughly. Cracked mortar can chip off during the power washing and leave your home looking less attractive than before the washing. Also, these chips may become dangerous to you if you’re doing the washing. If they fly into your eye, they can cause very significant damage. A few days to a week are needed to let these repairs dry before you start washing.

Another caution when power washing brick homes is to use the right pressure in the power washing machine. You don’t need really high pressure to clean the bricks.

Also, it’s a good idea to test the pressure you intend to use on an inconspicuous place on the home. This way, you can make any adjustments in water pressure before you take on the whole house.

When you’re washing, wet down the entire wall with plain water before using any detergent. As mentioned before, bricks are porous. You don’t want them soaking up the detergent; therefore, wet the brick with water first.

As you’re power washing, work from the bottom to the top. This will prevent streaking. Always keep the surface wet.

Finally, rinse well, gently.

At times when power washing brick homes, there will be some white powder come to the surface of the brick. This is called efflorescence. The powder is a kind of salt that isn’t bound to the bricks. Not damaging, not pretty. Use an efflorescence remover that you apply with a brush.

To prevent damage to your brick home, you may want an expert to do the cleaning for you. For the best power washing services in your area, contact Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

Your deck is part of your home’s interior that extends outside. Like it or not, people will judge you based on how clean you keep your deck. If it’s clean and inviting, many people will think better of you. On the other hand, if it is stained and mold has grown in spots, they will probably stay away.

Fair? No, it isn’t. But it is human nature.

So, if you have a deck, it’s important for you to keep it clean. This can be tedious and a labor-intensive job. Regular cleaning is required whether your deck is wood or composite.

Thus, power washing your deck may be an option.

But there are some cautions. To begin, the water pressure you use is important. Too little, and your deck doesn’t look clean. Too much, and you have lap marks on your deck at the very least. With too much water pressure, you can damage the wood on your deck and actually leave more places for mold to grow later.

Less is more when you’re power washing your deck. The cleaner you use should be what takes off the mold and other contaminates, not the water pressure.

It’s important to know the degree of angle of the water coming out of the tip of the power washer when you’re power washing your deck. This is the degree of “fan” of the water. A zero fan is a solid stream of water. Don’t use this on your deck! Anywhere from 40 to 60 degrees of fan is best for your deck.
Sweep the fan across your deck from the house outward. Be consistent so you don’t leave lap marks. You want to remove the dirt, stains, and mold from the deck without leaving any trace of the pressurized water.

There are a lot of terrible stories of what can happen if you don’t know what you’re doing when you’re power washing your deck. Your power washer can turn into a power etcher. The best result when this happens is your deck needing serious and very involved sanding. The worst is a completely ruined deck that must be replaced.

Both of these outcomes can be expensive.

For the best outcome when you’re power washing your deck, have a professional do it.

For the best power washing services in your area, contact Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

Power washing concrete is a good way to clean one of the largest surfaces around your home: your driveway. That large stretch of concrete is exposed to the weather and to the wear and tear brought to it by automobiles. This can lead to a lot of dirt and stain.

Power washing concrete driveways can lead to problems, however. Many of these problems have to do with the unique structure of concrete itself.

Naturally, you must be careful when power washing concrete because the pressure and volume of water can produce “blow-back” that can be dangerous to you. This makes it necessary to wear protective gear when power washing concrete.

Some of the things that can possibly harm you include chips and flakes of concrete, spalls, and popouts that can fly up and into your eyes. These are in addition to the dirt and debris that can be dislodged by the power washer.

But another potential problem can be brought on because concrete is both porous and permeable. This means it has tiny, microscopic holes or pores that may be close to the surface. If the concrete is of poor quality, it may have relatively large and even interconnected pores that allow water to enter and penetrate the concrete.

Power washing concrete of poor quality, and even fairly good quality, can add to the amount of water that penetrates the concrete. This brings on accelerated erosion of the surface of the concrete. Since concrete has a relatively thin layer on top that protects it, this erosion and the abrading that comes from the pressure will shorten the life of the concrete.

Filling these pores with water that shouldn’t be there can also lead to freezing during winter months, aging the concrete even faster.

For these reasons, power washing concrete surfaces probably should not be a frequent task. If you do this, it likely sets in motion a potentially devastating cycle that will lead to your concrete surfaces not lasting as long as they could.

Professionals know and observe these power washing cautions. If you choose to have a pro do your power washing either inside or outside, keep Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299 in mind. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

There may be times you want to try indoor power washing to do things around the house. Power washers are good for removing old paint from walls in preparation for re-painting. There also may be areas in your garage or basement where the floors have heavy stains. Indoor power washing can remove these stains very efficiently. You may want to bring your patio furniture inside during the winter months to clean them.

When using any power washing tools, safety is your highest concern. This becomes especially vital when you do any indoor power washing. The space will be more constricted, with more things that could be damaged or destroyed by the stream from a power washer.

So, careful planning and preparation are very important.

Be sure to wear protective clothing. Especially wear goggles for eye protection. Cover electrical outlets and take any material that could burn or could be hazardous out of the area where you’re working.

Don’t let the power washer idle with no water running through it. The running water cools the pump mechanism. The washer will overheat if left idling.

Be sure to check the amount of water pressure you use when you’re indoor power washing. You don’t want to damage the surface you’re cleaning by using too much water pressure. The nozzles on power washers are marked in degrees, with zero being most powerful. Start with the lowest power (the highest number on the nozzle) and work up from that.

You’ll also have to have a way to get rid of the excess water you use when doing indoor power washing.

A shop wet vac may be able to handle most of it. But if you have a bigger job that uses more water, figure out some way to deal with the excess water. You’ll need to understand your local regulations that deal with disposal of wastewater into storm drains.

Electrical power washers may be your best choice for indoor power washing. They have sufficient power and don’t emit any exhaust. This is good for restricted spaces with less ventilation. The noise level is also lower with electric units.

Professionals know and observe these power washing cautions. If you choose to have a pro do your power washing either inside or outside, keep Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299 in mind. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

Once you decide to do the job, there are some power washing cautions you need to keep in mind. Power washing is wonderful for cleaning away the layers of grime that accumulate on surfaces around your home. It can also be dangerous. Thus, these cautions.

Protect yourself. Water is forced out of the power washer at a very high rate of speed. This makes it a force to be reckoned with. During the power washing process, small particles can be knocked off surfaces and fly around. Be sure to wear protective eye goggles; don’t take the chance that some of these particles might fly into your eye. Some professionals wear masks that cover their entire faces. Long sleeves are also a good idea.

Check the distance between the tip of the power washer and the surface you’re cleaning. Some surfaces may require more distance from tip of the power washer than others. Holding the tip of the power washer too close could cause significant damage to some surfaces. You might want to start farther away and work in closer as a gauge for this distance.

Another of these power washing cautions is: Don’t power wash windows. Possibly the least you can do is crack the windows. More likely, you’ll break them or destroy any weather stripping around them.

Never point your power washer at animals or other people. We all remember how much fun it is to spray others with a garden hose and how much they enjoy it. No one will enjoy being sprayed by a power washer. Permanent, painful injury can result.

Keep your own hands and feet away from the stream of water. Just like the power washer will strip away the grime and grit from surfaces, it will strip away the skin from your body as well.

Keep the spray at least 6 feet away from electric wires and boxes. Spraying these fixtures can result in painful and even fatal electric shock.

Another of these power washing cautions you may not think of is: Don’t power wash from a ladder. The power washing unit has a kickback and could knock you off the ladder. For surfaces out of reach, use an extension wand.

Professionals know and observe these power washing cautions. If you choose to have a pro do your power washing, keep Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299 in mind. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

Fall is a good time to think about power washing your home. The cool, crisp days will bring falling leaves and an accumulation of dirt and other things that can lead to your home looking the worse for wear.

Power washing your home will not only leave it looking newer and more attractive, but will also protect it. A clean exterior will lead to longer life for your home.

Removing the accumulated dirt and debris from summer’s storms and wind will preserve your brick, wood, and siding exterior. Keeping your outside clean is an important part of the upkeep of your home.

The snows and winds of winter will bring with them a significant amount of dirt and dead leaves. Power washing your home now will decrease the effect of these winter storms. No need to let everything brought in by winter storms accumulate on top of what is already there.

Something you might not consider is power washing your driveway and any sidewalks. Through the summer months, these surfaces get a lot of use. Cleaning them thoroughly now will make it easier to keep them looking good next spring and summer.

Porches, patios, and decks also get a lot of use in the summer. Power washing your home and being sure to include these parts of it will decrease wear and tear on these surfaces through the winter. Once again, accumulations of snow and ice during the winter will bring their own contaminants to pile up on these surfaces. Cleaning them now will make them easier to keep clean next spring.

Your roof is an important part to include when power washing your home. Moss, mildew, and algae grow on your roof through the summer. Cleaning the roof now will increase its insulating ability and get rid of these things that would hold the dirt and debris that will come with winter storms.

Include your gutters when power washing your home. During fall, leaves and twigs will accumulate in your gutters, making them much less efficient in draining water off your roof. If the leaves and twigs are left in your gutters, the water from rain or melting snow from your roof will overflow, possibly damaging the wood of your roof and maybe even getting into your home.

For the best power washing services in your area, contact Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.

DIY power washing is a task that you can undertake. When you do, there are a number of things you must keep in mind.

First, pressure washers are not tools that should be taken lightly. They are dangerous. The pressure generated is enough to slice through flesh when held close enough. Never point a pressure washer toward another person, a pet, or any part of your body.

Another thing to keep in mind when DIY power washing is to know how much pressure you need for your job. Most of the time, 1300 to 1600 psi is plenty for the types of jobs you’ll do around your house. Even with this relatively low psi, go slow.

When doing your own power washing, be sure to stay away from any outdoor electrical components. Anything with electricity in it is a potential source of electrical shock when water hits it.

Don’t spray upward, be careful around the areas where siding overlaps and around flashing, stay away from gutters. Also stay away from doors and windows as well as vents. Remember not to hold the spray nozzle too close to whatever you’re spraying. The force behind the water when you DIY power washing can strip the finish from siding and damage wood.

You also have to know what cleaning products to use. You’re washing areas of your home that usually have mold, algae, dirt, bird droppings, and cobwebs. If you use bleach, be sure to wear good protection for your eyes and hands, along with a ventilation mask. Don’t mix any cleaners you’re not absolutely sure of.

Wet down any plants that might get solution on them when DIY power washing. This needs to be done before, in the middle of, and after cleaning. You don’t want any cleaning solution to dry on your plants.

For the best power washing services in your area, contact Elite Pressure Washing at 603-828-8299. They are trained and experienced in pressure washing just about anything around your home. Call today.