Your driveway is grimy and covered in potentially dangerous and corrosive or acidic chemicals, dirt, sand, salt and more. The hazards of ignoring a dirty driveway and the benefits of routine pressure or power washing are numerous. Routine pressure washing doesn’t only benefit the current homeowner but can also impact the value of the home and increase the overall curb appeal of the property. Cleaning concrete periodically will extend its service life and enhance its beauty. It can be difficult to tell when concrete is in need of cleaning because the dirt and grime can build up so slowly. However, once the process is done, the results of freshly cleaned concrete are undeniable.
Want the freshest looking house on the block? Rain isn’t going to take care of those black streaks on your roof and siding. Everything from your driveway and sidewalks to your patio and deck, roof and house siding can be expertly restored by our team of trained professionals. Need to boost curb appeal because you’re selling your house? The condition of your home’s siding, deck, patio and driveway are all under a microscope during an open house and during inspections. A dingy, dirty, cracked, moldy home does NOT sell. As with window cleaning, regular pressure washing keeps your home’s vinyl, wood, concrete and brick surfaces not only looking good, but in great working condition. Allowing years of dirt, grease and grime to cake onto and penetrate these surfaces will surely lead to irreversible damage that prospective home buyers WILL notice. Potential home-buyers want to envision themselves enjoying the new home, they do NOT want to envision themselves moving in and inheriting a mess of expensive fix-ups.
Contrary to popular belief pressure washing can be done year round. As long as the temperature is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit there won’t be any issues with ice. The most ideal time to pressure wash, however, is during the spring and summer months. During the warmer wetter months algae and mold will begin to grow. This is also a great time pressure wash because this is when pollen is usually at it’s highest. Power washing can improve your allergy symptoms. If you’re used to suffering from bouts of sneezing every time you step outside, there could be more at play here than just the trees and flowers on your property. Pollen, mold, and dirt stuck to your house and concrete could be the sources of your allergies, which disappear completely after having your home or business pressure washed.
The first thing you will want to do is to remove everything that might be in your way. Move cars, furniture, grills, any decorations, plants, etc. If you don’t have a pressure washer and you are planning on doing it the old-fashioned way, grab a push broom and sweep the concrete. This will get any big chunks and help you avoid getting things like nails and glass into the yard or street. Next, put a tarp over any delicate plants and anything else that might get damaged from the chemicals. Finally, cover any electrical cords and outlets. If a scrub brush and bucket sound like too much work. You can rent or buy pressure washers from many big-box stores. Big-box department stores carry cheap models, while hardware stores typically have higher quality versions available. Garage sales, rental shops, and family equipment loans are the most common way that people get their hands on their first pressure washer, and that can be a problem. Outdated or unregulated models could pose a safety hazard both to you and your property. Try to find models with modern safety features such as quick-release triggers, warning labels, ground-fault circuit interrupters, temperature control switches, unloader valves, back-flow protection, rupture disks, and thermal overload motor protection. If your model lacks any of these, look elsewhere.
As far as chemicals are concerned there are many options. pH-Neutral cleaners are mild and are most commonly used for cleaning interior concrete like garages. These cleaners will not remove heavy grease or embedded dirt. Acidic cleaners are much more powerful and are great at removing tough stains. Alkaline cleaners are used to remove oil and grease.
Who Should Clean My Concrete?
Pressure washers have become extremely popular rental options among homeowners looking for fast and efficient cleans. Pressure washing your siding, deck, and driveway is extremely effective if done correctly. Unfortunately, many are unaware that there are different types of equipment meant for different surfaces… and that without proper training, one can easily damage their property. Pressure washing concrete isn’t as difficult as washing your deck or siding. But there are still difficulties.
Many DIY pressure washers also only load their washer with water. Without the proper ratio of cleaning solution mixed in, your cleaning effectiveness will be significantly reduced, and probably lead you to apply too much pressure to make up for lost power. Water-only mixtures also spread mold spores around. The extra pressure and mold-related damages can cost you big money.
Many homeowners will find that once the cost of the rental, transport to and from the rental location, and a wasted day’s effort are factored together, they would have been better off investing in a Window Genie house pressure washing service. When first-timers try and fail with DIY attempts, this cost-effectiveness ratio is skewed even more, so that they end up paying big repair money for what was a long, hard day that produced a sub-par clean.
