Power Washing Siding And Deck Surfaces?

The simple answer to whether power washing damages siding and deck surfaces, is “perhaps”. That’s really not an attempt to be evasive, because there are several variables and conditions that will determine the ultimate outcome and result. Of all the possible power washing engagements, siding and outdoor decks can be among the most challenging and problematic.

Siding and deck surfaces are often chosen from a limited set of alternatives, with each having its own set of both good and bad characteristics.

3 Reasons Why Siding And Deck Surfaces Are A Power Washing Challenge

Power Washing outdoor surfaces that have been damaged and weakened by weather exposure, insect and pest infestation, or simply the wrong choice of original material, are a particular challenge for property owners and their power washers.Attempting to power wash in the wrong circumstance can be a recipe for disaster, with extensive damage to the underlying material, even to the point of requiring replacement. Why does this happen?

1. Weather Weakens Even Sound Underlying Material

Every outdoor surface is vulnerable to weather extremes, even in temperate climates. This is especially true for those based on natural or organic materials, like wood, and even more pronounced when the exposure is over an extended set of seasonal transitions spanning a large number of years.

Damage from the sun, wind, and rain accumulates over time. Wooden surfaces are especially prone to the fibers weakening under their surface coatings as time passes. This can result in the visual appearance of structural integrity, while the underlying material is held together mainly by the old paint or other surface coating that might still remain.

2. Mold, Insects, Pests, and Bacteria Can Do Invisible Damage

Threats like mold, insect infestation, and bacterial challenges, make this problem even more pronounced. Often, the underlying damage is not immediately visible and may be obscured by remaining paint, stain, or other surface treatments, as well as the dirt and other grime that has accumulated over the years.

In extreme cases, Power Washing material that has been weakened underneath can easily tear out the surface itself, resulting in extensive repair effort and cost.

3. Some Materials Are Simply Better Than Others

Builders and property owners generally select the material for building sidings and decks from these most popular alternatives:

Of these, wooden siding, shingles, and decks tend to be the most problematic. Wooden materials are especially prone to the wear and tear of weather and tend to provide the greatest challenge for the power wash technician. While wood can be a special challenge, Fiber Cement and modern Composite Materials seem to deliver a sound and lasting material able to withstand even vigorous power washing.

Can The Risk of Damage Be Avoided?

I would like to be able to tell you that the risk can be avoided simply by engaging All Clean Exteriors NJ to do the work. However, the simple fact is that every challenge is unique. All Clean Exteriors is in the power washing business, and we love to clean. But we have, on occasion, advised property owners not to engage us as a power washer for a specific situation. We’ve explained that the underlying material has been so weakened or damaged that it will not withstand the process of power washing without serious deterioration or damage to the material itself.

Thankfully, at All Clean Exteriors NJ we’ve only encountered this situation a few times over the years. This is because our power washing technicians are trained extensively for situations that require a novel or more gentle approach than usual. This can be as simple as dialling-back the nozzle pressure, or it may be appropriate to combine that with the selection of a gentle cleanser that is especially well-suited to the job. Or both.

The critical aspect for the homeowner is the training and supervision of power washing technicians.

Checkout this article “How to Power Wash Painted Concrete”. One of the most sensitive surfaces to clean.

So, What Should The Property Owner Do?

The property owner may be faced with a situation where the building’s siding or decking is so far gone and has been neglected to the point that the material simply must either be cleaned and refreshed – or replaced.

It may be readily apparent even to the uninitiated that completing the job could be risky. In that case, All Clean Exteriors NJ strongly recommends that the property owner go through a diligent and straightforward process to mitigate the possibility of unintended consequences and a costly aftermath and recovery resulting from a botched job:

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you should trust your instincts when selecting a provider. The chemical composition of the material in question and the most appropriate cleanser for it may be difficult to understand for many people, but most of us are pretty good at detecting insincerity or over-eagerness, and these are two key warning signals.

All Clean Exteriors NJ has an unrivalled track record of performance. We have the equipment, the expertise, and the staff capability to take on even the largest and most challenging engagements and deliver impressive results. Contact us to prevent any power washing damage!