Pressure Washer

[6sunset6]

FWIW- your going to do some damage(if you're not very careful) with what you want to buy(4000 psi). It will peel your siding off if you get close to it. Anything loose on the ground will blow away.

I am starting to lean towards the Simpson unit. Looks like Lowes has a Dewalt that is the same thing. Pressure is adjustable I believe. Anyone no the brand and model no of the pump on those things?

 

[EddieWalker]

I need a bigger one. I have 9000 sf of patio blue stone and underground gutter run off pipes to clean. Plus the cedar siding on the house.

Never, ever, ever pressure wash a house. Nothing on a house is designed to withstand anything stronger then a garden hose. While you might make what you are washing look pretty, you are destroying your seals, your paint and putting water into places that it's not supposed to go. Then it just sits there and either turns to mold, or starts the process of rot. Mositure is also what bugs look for when invading a house, and what the flying termites are trying to find when establishing a new colony. It can take weeks or even longer to dry out!!!

This Old House had a really good episode that showed how much water got into the house from pressure washing it. If I remember correctly, they waited a month and then cut open the walls to show what was wet and how wet it still was.

To wash a house, you have to use a house cleaning detergent, a scrub brush and a garden hose. Anything more and you will damage your house.

Eddie

 

[6sunset6]

Hmm Interesting point about the house. I have seen many pros pressure wash houses.

 

[ray66v]

Using a powerful pressure washer on things like a house, or a deck, without damaging or destroying them, requires experience. The learning curve can be expensive.

4000 psi is exactly the kind of machine that will shred things, if not used with a great deal of finesse. Most of the time you will need to turn it down significantly, or work from far away, so it would be a waste.

For a general purpose homeowner machine, 2400 psi, at 2.5 gpm or more, is plenty of power. Don't worry, that's still capable of doing damage, just a lot less of it.

Tip #1, Avoid ever using a nozzle less than 25 degrees. Many people take the 0 degree tip to their concrete, deck, or siding, not realizing you can cut things with it. If you learn this before you start, you will be way ahead of most. :thumbsup:

 

[6sunset6]

Actually cutting things is what I want to do in my underground roof drain pipes. When I started a thread about clogged roof drains the answers were that PW would not work. But I saw a you tube of a guy cutting a skid in half with one so I think it might.

 

[sdkubota]

Never, ever, ever pressure wash a house. Nothing on a house is designed to withstand anything stronger then a garden hose. While you might make what you are washing look pretty, you are destroying your seals, your paint and putting water into places that it's not supposed to go. Then it just sits there and either turns to mold, or starts the process of rot. Mositure is also what bugs look for when invading a house, and what the flying termites are trying to find when establishing a new colony. It can take weeks or even longer to dry out!!!

This Old House had a really good episode that showed how much water got into the house from pressure washing it. If I remember correctly, they waited a month and then cut open the walls to show what was wet and how wet it still was.

To wash a house, you have to use a house cleaning detergent, a scrub brush and a garden hose. Anything more and you will damage your house.

Eddie

Thanks Ed, you saved me some serious problems.

 

[Steave]

Using a powerful pressure washer on things like a house, or a deck, without damaging or destroying them, requires experience. The learning curve can be expensive.



Many pro painters pressure wash a house with bleach before painting. I've watched them and they are careful how they do this. Pressure down while spraying the cleaner or bleach, then pressure up to knock off old paint and for general cleaning to give the new paint a clean surface to adhere.

 

[ray66v]

Many pro painters pressure wash a house with bleach before painting. I've watched them and they are careful how they do this. Pressure down while spraying the cleaner or bleach, then pressure up to knock off old paint and for general cleaning to give the new paint a clean surface to adhere.

Yes, that's the best way.

I only use bleach if there are spider webs. Little known fact: A strong solution of bleach in a spray bottle, or pump sprayer, quickly dissolves spiderwebs. Washing does not.

If your going to paint, and you just want to remove loose paint, you probably won't need any cleaner. Unless it's really dirty, or there is mold, you can usually just blast everything off. If a cleaner is needed, I use: Simple Green, Crud Cutter, or Moldex. Depending on the situation.

Your also SUPPOSED to collect the paint chips, if the house is old enough to present lead pain hazards. This can be done by placing a mesh tarp on the ground before you pressure wash. The water drains through the mesh, and leaves the chips collected in the tarp.