DIY Power washing for your Indianapolis Deck
Indianapolis decks are a cherished part of a home. They make your backyard feel more like a home. It makes sense to properly clean and maintain them. We’ve found that power washing is the best way to do
so. We’ve also found that many homeowners run into problems when they try to power wash their deck without being educated beforehand. These are a few tips on how to power clean decks and will give you all the information you need to know to properly clean your deck.
The chemicals don’t work by themselves
Make no mistake about it: chemical deck brighteners will not actually clean your Indianapolis deck. They might make it look bright and shiny, but the real cleaning is left up to Power washing. When Power cleaning decks choosing a pressure washer is simple if you know what to look for. Pressure ratings are important. Pressure ratings should be determined by the type of wood your deck is made of. Softer woods call for pressure ratings around 500-600 psi. Harder woods call for ratings around 1,200 psi. When cleaning a wood deck, you should never use a pressure rating greater than 1,500 psi. Doing so can ruin your deck and require a handyman service to clean up the mess.
Choosing a Power Washing Tip
Expert exterior cleaning companies recommend a 40-60-degree fan or rotating tip. These types of tips allow you to tailor the pressure and speed to meet the surfaces you’re cleaning. They provide a huge advantage over set tips, which should never be used to clean wood.
Using Proper Technique
Using proper pressure washing technique is an important key to not damaging or ruining your Indianapolis deck. Always start from the house and work your way outward using the following sequence:
• Set the pressure to 600 psi and test it in a rarely seen area. This will give you a standard.
• Adjust the pressure to one that cleans without damaging the deck’s surface
• Hold the tip approximately 12 inches off the deck’s surface and squeeze the trigger until the speed you want is reached
• Maintain a consistent distance between the tip and the surface while using a sweeping motion to clean the deck
Make note that you should always be working with the wood’s grain by spraying lengthwise. If you see that you are causing any damage, stop immediately and adjust your pressure.
Fixing Wood Fibers that are raised by Power Washing
There’s no getting around the fact that pressure washing decks will cause some wood fibers to be raised. Even the best exterior cleaning companies admit to raising wood fibers on each and every job. The key is learning how to fix them. Spot sanding can be done on minimally damaged areas to smooth things out. For other areas, it’s recommended that the entire wood deck be sanded and then refinished. A 60-80 grit sandpaper should be used on the deck’s surface and a 100 grit sandpaper should be used on handrails if you have them.
Don’t become a DIY horror story. Use this guide and its recommendations to have your deck looking clean without being damaged. Choose a proper pressure washer and tip, use proper technique, and fix raised wood fibers to make sure your deck looks as good as it ever did. Your family, friends, and guests will be thankful as they admire and enjoy time spent on your beautifully cleaned deck.
If you decide that it is just too much work then call a professional power washing company and let the professionals do the job for you.
