 Summer is here, but is your deck ready for company? If you haven't cleaned your deck in a while, it might be time. However, your tried and true garden hose may not do the trick, especially if your deck is covered in pollen. So how do you clean your deck and get it ready for summer barbecues? The answer is simple: pressure wash your deck. However, pressure washing isn't as easy as you may think it is. To learn all about the correct way to pressure wash your deck, keep reading. This guide will teach you how to pressure wash a deck the right way. Let's get to it! Safety First
When pressure washing anything, you want to make sure you are taking safety into account. Safety items like waterproof pants, safety goggles, and gloves will protect you from some physical damage. Depending on the pressure washer you have or rented, they can get up to 1700 to 2800 psi. This type of pressure can be dangerous if you don't know how to handle the washer correctly. If you are just learning how to pressure wash a deck, you may want to start with the pressure washer on the lowest setting to test it out. If you go too hard, too fast, you can damage the wood of your deck, which can be costly to fix. Prep the Area Before you turn on the pressure washer, you want to make sure you've cleared off the entire deck. There shouldn't be any plant pots, furniture, or other items hanging around. If you don't remove these, they can become a safety hazard if the pressure washer hits them. Cleaning Supplies You may want to determine if your deck needs special attention. If you have mold or mildew, you may want to consider treating these areas with something that will kill the mildew before starting up the washer. How to Pressure Wash a Deck Wait! Before you turn it on, you want to consider what type of tip would work best. A 40 to 60-degree nozzle will work best. A rotating nozzle is also a possibility, but they can be a little trickier to handle. Hold the pressure washer nozzle a few feet away from the wood planks and make sure the pressure is not above 500psi to start. Use a sweeping motion with your arm and bring the nozzle down slow. You want to move the pressure washer nozzle along the grain of the wood away from your house. You want to avoid turning your arm because this can cause you to change the distance of the spray nozzle. Try to maintain as even of a spray as possible. The closer to the deck you get to the nozzle, the more likely you will damage the wood. If there are some rough or uneven spots because you got too close to the deck with the nozzle, you can try to sand these down. Once you're done, you can apply a sealant if you wish! Want to Bring in a Professional? If you want to make sure your deck and home won't be damaged, it might be a good idea to hire a professional. Even if you know how to pressure wash a deck, finding the right company to pressure wash a deck efficiently can save you precious time and money. Give us a call, and we'll put together a free estimate! We'll get your deck cleaned in no time.
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