A pressure washer cleans old paint fast. Here’s how to push wash your whole house so that the brand-new coat of exterior paint will stick much better and last longer. DIV Cleaning Service (House Washing). By the DIY specialists of The Family Handyman MagazineYou may also like: TBDA pressure washer is among the best time-saving tools to come along in years.
Pros like pressure washers not only due to the fact that they’re quick, but since they scour the old paint so the new coat will adhere much better. Utilizing a pressure washer to remove paint is certainly beats the old garden hose, scrub brush and TSP cleansing technique, a job so sluggish that many individuals simply avoid it.
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If you’re lucky and your paint is sound (no peeling), pressure washing might be the only prep work required. Rub your turn over the painted surface area and try to find a powdery light-colored residue, the sure sign of chalking. Pressure-washing will search it off to make sure a great bonding surface area for the brand-new coat.
A pressure washer excels at searching away dirt, gunk and specifically chalking, the powdery pigment left on the surface when old oil and some latex paints weaken. Window Cleaning. The scouring action is so strong that you won’t require a cleanser (TSP or non-phosphate replacement) like you would if you cleaned the surface area by hand.
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And after that rub the paint surface to inspect for chalking (Image 1). If the previous coating was 100-percent acrylic latex paint, it most likely will not chalk. If the painted surface is clean and not chalking, pressure washing is optional. However many pros do it anyhow to make sure the new paint will adhere well.
The high pressure can quickly gouge wood siding or knock the mortar from between bricks – DIV Cleaning Service. Besides, the pressure washer can’t do a total scraping job. You’ll need to scrape off extra paint anyhow, so you will not conserve much time. Pressure washing deal with wood, vinyl, aluminum siding and masonry, however due to its high pressure, we don’t suggest it for hardboard siding.
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Pressure cleaning will not stop mildew. (It’ll clean the majority of it away, however the mildew will soon grow back.) Mildew looks like a dirty-looking blackened location. To determine it, apply a little bleach. If the black areas vanish, you have mildew. Utilizing a scrub brush instead of the pressure washer, clean the location with a mix of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
Warning: Pressure washing is not a safe paint prep approach if the outside paint consists of lead. If your home was built prior to 1978 (when lead paint for residential real estate was prohibited) or if you’re not sure, have your paint evaluated or call your local health department for safe handling directions. Connect the pressure washer to the outdoor faucet through a common garden pipe, connect a nozzle (see “Picking the very best Nozzle,” below) and start the engine.
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You WILL get wet. Spread old sheets or painter’s cloths on the ground and over bushes to catch paint chips. Lease a washer that produces at least 2,000 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure. It’ll cost about $70 to $100 daily, and anticipate to keep it for a complete day.
The washer will probably be gas-powered and weigh more than 75 pounds. Depending upon its size, you may require a pickup or van to carry it and assist to dump it. Ask the rental agent to show you how to hook it up and operate it, and to evaluate security preventative measures with you.
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Don’t point them at anybody or try to rinse your hands or feet (Gutter Cleaning). They can tear your skin right off. If you don’t feel confident operating it, employ a pro. Lastly, make sure you get a 6- to 12-ft. extension wand to help reach high locations (Picture 9). Pressure washers usually have 3 or 4 nozzles with spray patterns of varying widths.
The spray ought to clean up away all dirt and chalk without damaging the siding. Rub the surface with a tidy glove to make certain the chalk comes off. If it does not, try a nozzle with a narrower pattern. Do not use the narrow, zero-degree nozzle. It’s powerful and can rapidly harm wood, stucco and other materials (Photo 7).
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Hold the wand with two hands and move it across the siding from side to side at a constant rate. Start about 2 ft. from the siding, then move closer until you discover the ideal cleaning distance. In basic, work at a horizontal or somewhat down angle to avoid driving water up under the siding.
Wash the gutters and soffits as well as the siding (DIV Cleaning Service). Direct the spray away from breakable items like windows and outdoors lights, and get rid of home numbers and flowerpot whenever possible. Pressure washers will get rid of loose paint, however they’re not an alternative for scraping. We’ll need to scrape extra loose paint after pressure cleaning this location anyhow.
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We’ll need to fill this area with wood putty prior to repainting. Gouging is inescapable if you attempt to strip paint. Direct the nozzle away from windows, holding the wand at an angle so you don’t drive water into joints, spaces or versus the glass. However, check the sill on the inside and dry up any water that dripped through.
Utilize an adjustable extension wand (6 to 12 ft.) to clean high areas. At complete length, the wand takes some muscle to handle. Great control takes some practice, but it’s more secure than pressure cleaning from a ladder. Keep in mind to close all the windows!Clean high locations beyond the reach of the pressure washer extension with a scrub brush and an option of cleaning agent and TSP blended in water.
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