Power washing a deck is a great way to prepare it for summer activities, make it feel nice and clean on bare feet, as well as improve its appearance. It’s also the quickest and the most effective way to get that job done, as the high-pressure water flow will allow you to get all the dirt out of the wooden deck boards and make them look as good as new just in 30 minutes or so. However, while power washer is an irreplaceable machine that removes the dirt embedded into the surface and the grain of the wood, you need to operate it carefully not to cause substantial damage to your deck, ruin the boards and call for an early replacement. There should be a reason why people hire professionals to pressure wash a deck right?
Well, the matter is that before squeezing the trigger and blasting your deck with a jet of water, you need to do a bit of research to learn the safest way to do that. Otherwise, you risk removing the top layer of the deck boards along with the dirt, make the surface quite rough and cause premature wood disintegration. The right choice of a power washer plays a critical role, but the application method is just as important. That’s why if you’re considering renting that tool for the first time in your lifetime and using it to deep clean your deck, you should probably hire an experienced pressure washing contractor from HireRush.com instead.
Still willing to attempt? Stick to this guide then, as it will help you select the right power washer and teach you how to apply it to clean a deck without causing raised wood fibers or even more serious damage.
Steps to pressure wash a deck
Step 1 – Pick up your gear
Unless you have your own power washing machine at home, you will have to go to the nearest home supply rental to borrow one for a couple of hours. As this machine is quite versatile and may be used for multiple purposes apart from deck cleaning, you’ll be overwhelmed with the variety of pressure washers available there.
But, experienced pressure washing contractors warn that there’s no need in renting a powerful machine. In fact, the one that exerts 1500 pounds per square inch (psi) or less will be just perfect, while more powerful tool will cause improper wash and boards’ damage. Additionally, you need to be aware of the kind of wood your deck is built of. If it’s quite soft (cedar or pine), aim for a pressure washer providing not more than 500-600 psi.
Once you find the most appropriate machine to pressure wash your deck, select a tip for it. A 40-60 degree fan tip will be the best choice for deck cleaning, especially for beginners. A pressure washer surface cleaner attachment is quite handy as well, but it’s better to use it on flat, even surfaces like concrete patios or driveways as it’s not the best when it comes to cleaning out the spaces between deck boards.
If your deck is particularly dirty and you would like to apply chemical cleaner as well, ask a consultant to bring you a separate tip design for cleaner distribution, as a regular fan tip may get damaged by the chemicals.
Step 2 – Clear the space
Obviously, before connecting the hose to the water source and starting spraying your deck, you need to remove all furniture and outdoor decor from it. Sweep the deck before you pressure wash it to get rid of the debris and larger particles.
If you plan to use a commercial cleaner prior to the actual washing, read the instructions on that product to see if it’s damaging to the plants. If it is and there’re flowers or bushes growing within the pressure washer’s influence zone, protect your plants with the plastic cover or at least wet them with water prior to the cleaner spraying. Don’t forget to get a scrub brush, put on rubber gloves, boots and long-sleeve shirt beforehand as well.
Step 3 – Cleaner application (optional)
If you plan to wash with a cleaning product, make sure that it’s gentle on wood and wear protective clothes during the application. To spread the cleaner all over the deck, fill the pressure washer’s soap dispenser with it, attach the soap dispensing tip and start spraying the deck in overlapping strokes.
If you feel like the cleaner need some help with loosening up the dirt, scrub the deck’s surface with a brush. This will help distribute the cleaner into the areas the pressure washer may have missed. You may totally skip this entire step if you pressure wash your deck quite regularly and it’s not too dirty.
Step 4 – Wash the railing
Washing the railing before the deck seems quite reasonable, as you don’t want the dirt from the rails end up on your freshly cleaned deck, do you? You may apply you cleaning product on the railing, scrub it with the brush and rinse off with the pressure washer.
Step 5 – Pressure wash a deck
Replace the soap dispensing tip with a regular fan one and start washing. Don’t set the machine on the high pressure yet. Begin with 500-600 psi at first, see how your deck responds to the pressure and how the dirt is coming off, and add the pressure if necessary. Decrease the pressure if you see wood particles chipping off the deck or if the wood surface starts etching.
Wash the deck in sweeping motions, moving away from the house and with the wood’s grain. Overlap the sweeps not to miss any spots and keep a consistent distance of 12-10 inches between the power washer’s tip to prevent damage.
Don’t like even the thought of this fuss? Head over to HireRush.com to get matched up with a skilled local pressure washing contractor and get the cleaning done effortlessly!
