Power washing precedes perfect painting projects
Power washing a painted house before repainting removes dirt, mold, and mildew that prevent paint from adhering properly to your siding.
Pros charge $25 to $100 per hour for pressure washing, while renting equipment costs $35 to $175 per day for DIY work.
Wait 24 to 48 hours after pressure washing before painting so your siding dries completely and prevents moisture from getting trapped under new paint.
Hiring a local power washing professional keeps your siding safe from damage and ensures proper cleaning techniques that prepare surfaces for long-lasting paint adhesion.
When gearing up to revamp your home exterior, you may look at the siding and wonder if you should pressure wash your house before painting or just forge ahead. Pressure washing is a great tool in the fight against grime, but it’s not the gentlest cleaning procedure out there. Understanding exactly when and how to power wash your exterior surfaces is the best way to ensure you make the most of your money and time.
Pressure washing your home before painting removes the dirt, mold, mildew, and other grime that can prevent paint from properly adhering to a surface. Pressure washing will also make your paint job look nicer while enhancing its durability thanks to the clean, smooth surface it creates.
It’s possible to hand wash your siding in lieu of pressure washing, but it’s an incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive process. It’s also not nearly as effective as pressure washing.
Plus, pressure washers can better reach higher surfaces and hard-to-reach cracks and crevices. For that reason, it’s typically best to reserve hand washing for small areas or more fragile surfaces that can’t withstand powerful streams of water, such as stucco and old, brittle vinyl siding.
| Pressure Washing | Hand Washing |
|---|---|
| Less labor required | A lot of labor required |
| Easier to reach high surfaces | Need a ladder for high surfaces |
| More effective | Easier to miss spots |
| Not good for delicate surfaces | Better for delicate surfaces |
| Costly equipment rental or purchase | Can clean with tools you already have |
Be prepared to discuss your home size, number of floors, and home layout with your pro.
Mention what materials you have on or around your home that you want pressure washed.
Ask your pro if they use cleaners and ensure they’re safe for use around plants and pets, if applicable.
Discuss any add-on services you want, like soft washing for your roof, concrete sealing, or gutter cleaning.
You can hire a local pressure washer to get this job done, but it’s also a great project to DIY if you’ve got patience and some experience with power tools. Here are the basic steps to pressure wash your home all by yourself.
Pressure washing sure looks fun, but don’t get carried away. This tool can do a lot of damage if you don’t practice caution while you work. You’ll want to wear goggles and sturdy, close-toed shoes to protect yourself from high-powered streams of pressured water. Also, cover up anything near the area to be pressure washed, like plants and fixtures with electrical components.
If it’s your first time using a pressure washer, it’s a great idea to practice in a safe, open space before you really get started. Once you have control over the stream of water, test out how to use the different nozzles to ensure you get the right angles and spray distribution. This helps avoid damage when you apply pressure to your walls.
Work in small sections on the exterior of your home. Most experts recommend applying the cleaning agent from bottom to top and then rinsing top to bottom. Wash one side of the house at a time, and take extra care if you’re working on multiple stories.
Be sure to allow adequate time for your siding to dry once you’ve finished washing. You can’t start laying down paint immediately after pressure washing, or the paint won’t set right. Give it at least one full day before moving ahead.
Some materials aren’t meant to be pressure washed, like very porous wood or damaged siding. In that case, you can always clean your walls the old-fashioned way: with time and elbow grease.
First, sweep away any cobwebs, leaves, and dirt. Dilute a mild detergent with water and apply it to a brush. Clean the walls with the brush until they gleam in the sun. Rinse everything off with water and then let it dry for a full day.
It’s a real bummer to watch your freshly-cleaned walls slowly descend into grime-filled madness. Here are some basic maintenance tips to make sure your walls stay clean for as long as humanly possible.
Spot clean when necessary. Whenever a bit of grime appears on the wall, blast it away with a mild cleaning solution and a brush or cloth.
Keep up with yearly pressure washes. This not only helps the walls look as clean as the day they were put up but also lengths the lifespan of exterior paint.
Clear away debris from the roof. Collected debris on the roof, like leaves and detritus, eventually travel down to the walls and cause a mess. Keep this in check by clearing out the gutters and clearing away debris from the roof.
Conduct repairs immediately. A small crack in the siding can quickly become a big problem as moisture seeps in, so fix it up as soon as you see one.
Pressure washing is easy enough to do yourself with a rented machine, but going the DIY route carries some risks. Pressure washers can damage the exterior or cause bodily harm if you aren’t careful.
Depending on the size of the project, the cost to pressure wash a house on your own may actually not be that much less than hiring a local pressure washing pro to do it for you. Pros charge $25 to $100 per hour, while renting a machine for the day will set you back $35 to $175. Unless you already own a pressure washer or can borrow one from a neighbor, bringing in a professional can save you time and hassle.
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U.S.A. Dryer Vent, LLCBest cleaning I've had at my property
The technician was very professional and friendly. He answered all my questions and was very thorough. He left the fireplace area very clean . He inspected from the roof and advised me as to other work that might need to be done. There was no pressure there. I was very satisfied with the...
Supreme brick & chimneyMary Cleaning Service is fantastic! The entire team is professional and pay a great deal of attention to detail. They do such a thorough job of cleaning my house. I would definitely recommend!
The workmanship is perfect, I did not have any complaint with that. It was the brick I chose not matching the brick that want I to use. There was a problem with discoloration of the brick. I thought that the rain was gonna wash it off but it didn't. I call them. All communication was coming...
Bone Dry Roofing & Masonry - CincinnatiI purchased the "Big Deal": $199.00 for exterior pressure-washing of one- or two-story home up to 2,000 square feet. They cleaned the siding only. I wasn't aware when I bought the Big Deal that they would not do any other surfaces other than the siding (i.e. sides of the gutters or stucco). I...
Complete Home ServicesFrom the initial sales presentation to the installers final clean up, this project was a total pleasure. Gary Coper, sales consultant, showed up exactly on time and provided an informative, no pressure description, of every material and step required to complete the remodel. We were always in...
Simple Bath & Simple KitchenThey were prompt, careful and thorough. I have also had them wash interior floor to ceiling windows which were perfect.
Technicare Carpet CleaningThe work went great! Couldn't ask for better. Joel set a work start date. About the time of the storms that may have been associated with Sandy. He was half a day late. They set up on a Thursday. On Friday they had a full crew at work. By Monday they were finishing up. Now, the best...
NJW ConstructionNo hassle, no pressure, no mess left in my basement. ...and now I have a better understanding of our furnace.
KNOW HeatingFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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