GFWC Indiana - Cleaning & Home Improvement

With so many people out of work many are starting up their own businesses trying to make ends meet. Every new business starts for a reason; to make more money, sick of the boss, tired of making someone else rich, and so on. Many businesses get started for these reasons and as of late many are getting started because people have been laid off and lost their jobs.

One of the most appealing business start ups is a pressure washing business. Like lawn mowing and handyman services, most think that pressure washing is easy and can be started with little capitol. The pressure washing industry has always drawn in people whom don’t have much money to get started. It is because of this the industry has a poor public perception.

Pressure washing is not as easy as one would think. Equipment, chemicals, techniques and methods have come a long way in recent years. Pressure washing is a skilled trade and in inexperienced hands a pressure washer can cause some serious damage to many different surfaces. Start up is NOT cheap if you plan on being professional and ethical. What happens is most guys will cut corners on proper equipment, chemicals, insurance, advertising, and so on. Most will rely on doing jobs cheap to get things going but once hired they cut corners, cause damage, and give poor customer service, and then within a year they are gone.

It is this type of fly-by-night contractor that leaves a bad image on the industry. Be leery of the start up company that is cutting corners. Ask for proof of insurance (that is your right and your responsibility as a consumer). Ask how long they’ve been in business, if they have any pictures of past jobs, and for customer testimonials. Besides having basic knowledge a professional quality contractor will have all of these things. Also be sure the company you are dealing with is a full time company, often a part timer that is only working weekends will not provide the same quality a full time pressure washing company would.

How often your vinyl siding needs cleaned is really dependant upon the area you live and the climate. Homes that are further south in the warmer and more humid climate tend to need cleaned every year or so. Homes further north are more commonly washed every one to two years depending on the situation.

The most commonly used cleaner for vinyl siding cleaning is a mix of bleach and soap, not only is this combination very effective, it is recommended by the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI). The bleach will kill and remove things like mold, algae, and mildew and the soap will clean any dirt and grime. In combination, at the right ratio, this recipe will do a great job on vinyl siding without harming it.

When using the proper cleaners as described earlier, there is no need for extremely high pressure. Too many people are under the impression that because they are using a “pressure” washer they have to blast the siding. This is not true at all and actually does more damage than good. Too much pressure will produce wand marks on the siding, can force water behind the siding, and will blow out window seals. High pressure is just not necessary when using the proper cleaners.

An average home can be washed by a professional in about 2-3 hours with excellent results. With today’s equipment there is no need for scaffolding or lifts if the home is 3 stories or less and ladder work can be minimal. With the proper equipment vinyl siding cleaners and chemicals can be applied at a 40 to 50 foot distance. The cleaners are then allowed to dwell before performing a wash/rinse method starting from the top down. A good amount of water flow is necessary for this to work at low pressures, only a commercial grade power washer that is setup for this type of low pressure washing will be adequate.

It is worth noting that it may be necessary to get up on a step ladder at a fair distance away from the house so that the water stream is at a flatter trajectory to the vinyl siding. This will keep water from penetrating under the bottom lip of each lap. Water intrusion can occur when leaning an extension ladder directly against the house and spraying high pressure at a severe upward angle, not to mention it is very dangerous.

Cleaning vinyl siding can be done efficiently and very effectively with the proper equipment. The old school ways of using high pressure, ladders against the house, scaffolding, and taking all weekend to do it are over. Professional contractors that are involved in the industry and that keep up with industry standards do not use these caveman like methods anymore. Like with any industry, methods and results are always evolving for the benefit of both the professional vinyl siding cleaning contractor and the homeowner.