GFWC Indiana - Cleaning & Home Improvement

To achieve great results when cleaning and re-sealing a wood deck, it is crucial that the proper deck cleaners and sealers are used to clean and treat the wood. The number one reason that a deck sealer fails is because the wood was not prepped correctly. It is also important to use the right pressure washing equipment and the correct amount of pressure in order to prevent the wood from being damaged.

Applying the wood deck sealer evenly to a clean surface is also a very important step that must be done with care so you do not end up over applying the sealer which will result in runs or puddles that will not cure properly. Applying the deck sealant products evenly will also ensure a long lasting deck.

Hiring an expert deck cleaning contractor may be your best bet. Anyone with a desire to work and a quality pressure washer can clean siding or rinse a driveway, but when it comes to wood restoration, not everyone has the know-how to clean traditional lumber not to mention the more exotic timber used for building decks like ipe and cedar. Only a professional has the experience, equipment, and methods it takes to apply deck stains or sealers to get the best results possible.

It takes time, patients, and lots of skill to restore decks to a better than new appearance that not only looks good, but will stand up to the elements like rain, snow, and harmful UV rays. So having the job done right the first time is important to the life of the decking and will determine how appealing the deck will be for years of enjoyment.

As fall is well upon us the mornings are cooler and it seems that it takes forever for it to warm up outside especially in the more northern states. As colder air is only a month or so away people are rushing to get their homes cleaned before it is too late. One thing some pressure washing companies market is that they use hot water. On cooler days warming up the water a little can be very beneficial. It helps the chemicals work better and cleans more efficiently but there is some risk involved that you should be aware of.

Vinyl siding is meant to expand and contract with temperature changes. Ask any vinyl siding installer and he’ll agree. This is why vinyl siding is not nailed tight when it is installed, it is actually “hung” on the house instead of tacked or nailed. The nails are left out an 1/8 inch or so to allow for movement. This is also why there are long slots for the nail holes, again to allow for movement and flexibility. With that in mind, there can be a bit of a risk of warping the siding on a cold day if you wash it with extremely hot water. It may not look as bad as siding that has been overheated by having your gas grill too close to it, but it can definitely warp the siding to where it does not lock into place correctly or tends to sag a bit.

Unfortunately, too many contractors depend on their hot water and are uneducated about the risk involved. I have actually witnessed a vinyl sided home being washed with super hot water in the middle of January in northern Indiana. Steam was flying everywhere as this fly by night company was going to town melting ice and cleaning mold off the siding. This is not something you want to have done on your home. Even cooler days in the 50’s or 60’s can warrant risk if the contractor is not careful. At best the water should be heated up a little bit just to aid in warming the surface a little and helping the chemicals. Normally around 80-100 degrees is more than efficient when it is cool outside. The water is that temperature coming out of the gun and will be even a little cooler before it hits the siding.

Some hot water washers will go up to 300 degrees or more and it only takes one time for one unethical contractor to mess up your siding, hopefully they are insured for your sake. This is not to say a home cannot be washed during cooler months, but simply that care needs to be taken and if hot water is going to be used it should be just slightly warm and that’s it. Ask your contractor this time of year if he is going to use hot water and just how hot he plans on making it. Let them know you are aware of the risks and that you just want the water warmed up a bit and that’s all. If he is using the right house washing soaps like he should be, then he will not need super hot water to clean vinyl siding.

It is almost impossible to say what you can pay for a particular pressure washing service because it varies too much from one area to another, but here are a few things you should consider when determining pressure washing prices.

A professional contractor will almost never give a rock solid quote right over the phone. An experienced contractor knows there are way too many variables that can affect the price of a job. The good news is that most pressure washing contractors will offer a free estimate and will put a proposal in writing so you know exactly what the project will cost. A contractor may give you a ballpark figure so you have an idea of price, but if they willingly quote you a fixed price over the phone it may be a sign of a fly-by-night company.

Should you hire the pressure washing company that offers the lowest price? Maybe, but not always.

(1) The price you see in an advertisement may not be the price you pay. Many disappointed homeowners have learned that the cheap pressure washing price they saw in print was only good until the estimate. Then they were bombarded with a variety of up sells and add-ons. This is called the old bait and switch marketing gimmick and to most consumers it is unethical.

(2) Many fly-by-night contractors panic after finding out it’s a lot harder to close jobs than they had predicted. So their market strategy becomes being the lowest bidder in order to land the job but then they are forced to cut corners in order to turn a profit.

(3) Due to a low start up cost, many pressure washing companies come and go. When first starting out, a lot of companies do not educate themselves because pressure washing looks easy. But unfortunately they lack the right equipment, cleaners, insurance, knowledge, professionalism, and normally, will charge an extremely low price.

When it comes to pressure washing prices, it is best to remember the old saying “you get what you pay for”. Don’t be fooled into thinking any type of home improvement project is cheap especially pressure washing. A good value is one thing but just plain cheap is a definite red flag. If you get that felling “it sounds too good to be true” then it probably is. Just don’t find that out after your plants are all dead and your home is damaged.