Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Cleaning Different Surfaces: Condition, Materials, & Chemicals

"The front of my house is looking kinda dirty... I'll just rent a power washer and take care of that this weekend."

This seemingly quick and simple solution is, unfortunately, not nearly as quick and simple as it sounds. At best, untrained homeowners may not be able to get a thorough or effective clean. At worst, they may cause accidental damage to their homes because they do not realize the harmful effects many pressure washers have.

Different types of surfaces also require different approaches in order to effectively clean them. Last week, we received an excellent question on Twitter from Keyhouse Media. We decided that it deserved a longer answer than what we could fit on Twitter, so we decided to feature it in this week's blog.



Condition Matters. 

Many people believe that the type of surface you want to clean dictates the cleaning methods you should use, but this is actually incorrect. In reality, the condition of the surface matters much more than its type.

Worn surfaces that have not been maintained well are the toughest to clean. These surfaces are more easily damaged with aggressive cleaning, so they must be handled much more delicately. Obviously, then, carefully examining the condition of the surface is very important.


Material Matters Too.

While the condition of the surface plays a bigger role in determining how you should clean it, the material it is made of does also have an impact on the cleaning methods that should be used. Here are a few examples.
  • Stone can be more challenging to clean than brick because algae can actually take root inside the material (not just along the surface). When this happens, several applications of the cleaning chemical may be required.
  • Brick that has been glazed may be cleaned more easily, but the mortar may have been subject to previous freeze/thaw damage and must be treated delicately. 
  • Concrete that does not have a skim coat on top must also be treated carefully. Aggressive washing can actually wash away the top layer, making it more susceptible to spalling after a freeze. ("Spalling" means breaking, splitting, or chipping.)

Don't Forget About the Cleaning Chemicals.

As if the condition and material of the surfaces weren't enough, cleaning chemicals are another factor that must be considered when formulating your cleaning strategy. Cleaning chemicals are made specifically for removing certain things (such as algae, rust, or paint) from certain materials (such as wood, brick, or stone), so it's important to make sure you're using the right one.

Professional Experience Can Help You.

If you don't have a lot of practice power washing your home, it can be incredibly difficult to determine which method will be the best. Having an experienced professional on your side can make a world of difference! Save yourself the hassle by contacting Best PowerWash Dallas today. We can help you with all of your commercial and residential power washing needs!


Estimates are always free, so give us a call today at (214) 553-0431!



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