Cleaning aluminum, wood or vinyl siding is normally a fairly simple chore but if done incorrectly, you can damage your home, property or worse, yourself! Here are some of the most common mistakes homeowners make and how to prevent them.
Using too much water pressure and spraying at too steep of an upward angle can force water behind the siding where it could cause mildew and water damage and mold. An excessive amount of pressure sprayed at vinyl siding at an https://www.washingtonpost.com/newssearch/?query=Bergen County NJ upward angle forces water beneath the lip of the siding and in through the weep holes of the siding. The weep holes are made to drain moisture, not large amounts of water. Too much pressure can also leave unsightly wand marks on the siding by detatching oxidation; too much water pressure may also crack the siding, knock it loose, or totally blow it off the house.
Cleaning vinyl siding with hot water is also a mistake. Hot water can warp and distort https://www.instructables.com/member/powerwashingnj/ vinyl siding leading to it to loosen or pop out of place. Warm water is also very difficult on plant life and shrubbery and could even damage or eliminate them. The just benefit to warm water is usually it can speed up the cleaning process and cut down on the quantity of cleaning answer used but the risk isn't worthy of the incentive. The same results are achievable when using cold water and the right cleaners but without the chance of harm to the siding or landscaping that warm water can cause.
Letting the cleaners dried out on the home or using the wrong cleaners can cause streaks on the siding. Glass windows may also be broken or etched by allowing chemicals to dry on them. I recommend having a great knowledge of cleaners for cleaning houses. Some cleaners will not only leave your premises damaged but may also cause severe problems for you or others if handled improperly. Always wear the proper protective gear such as a gloves, safety glasses and respirator.
Utilizing a pressure washer from a ladder is very dangerous and is not recommended. Serious damage or death can occur. Without the correct equipment, some property owners are tempted to get up on a ladder and try to pressure clean their siding. Pulling the result in on a pressure actuated pump always causes the spray wand to kick and may easily knock you off of a ladder or any elevated system.
Follow a few of these simple DIY tips if you still program on doing your own pressure washing project.
Make sure the device you're using puts out less than 1000 psi. Even most big box shop bought machines will released 2000-2500 psi which can certainly damage vinyl siding, asphalt shingles and even real wood decks. By changing the nozzle at the end of the gun with one that has a bigger orifice, you can perform a lower pressure. The correct nozzle will still allow the maximum quantity of water circulation or gallons each and every minute, which is normally where your cleaning rate originates from, but will cut back the pressure concerning not cause damage to the top.
Be careful if you are making your own house washing chemicals. For example, blending bleach and ammonia can create a poisonous gas. We suggest that home owners purchase a siding wash that's available in most hardware shops and follow the manufactures guidelines for the merchandise. Leave the more powerful agents to the experts or you may end up doing more damage than good.
Allow the cleaning answer to dwell on the siding for a few minutes, then using low pressure, wash the product from the siding. Make certain when you rinse that you start at the top and work the right path down. Also begin at one end and function the right path across to the additional end. Rinse the siding by spraying the water reverse of the laps in the siding which means you don't force water behind the it. Do not stop or vary your length from the siding, or it'll cause the surface to end up being cleaned unevenly. Make sure to wash the siding and home windows thoroughly and to wash the landscaping before, during and again following the cleaning process to assure no soap is permitted to dry on them.
Following these recommendations and doing even more research can help eliminate the chance of damage or damage. If you are still uncertain of dealing with your very own pressure washing task, you can call a professional exterior cleaning contractor in your area and find what they are able to do for you.