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On average, pressure washing a house can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. The time frame to pressure wash or power wash your home, fence, or other property depends on the size of the project and the complexity and accessibility of the areas that need cleaning. Part of the time required to complete the job includes setup and removal of equipment needed. A two-story house with a steep roof may require working from scaffolding or a ladder, likely adding to the time required to finish the project. 

Maintaining a driveway depends on its material. For concrete and asphalt, it's best to clean the surface thoroughly twice a year with a stiff broom and a pressure washer to remove accumulated dirt and debris. Sealing the driveway is crucial to protect it from water damage and freeze-thaw cycles. Before applying a sealant, pressure wash the surface to remove any loose sealant, dirt, or stains, as sealing over them will trap them. Any cracks or expansion joints should be filled with a flexible polyurethane caulk or asphalt sealer. In colder climates, use sand instead of salt for de-icing. Sand helps melt snow and ice without accelerating the freeze-thaw process, which can cause cracks.

You should always power wash your driveway before applying a sealant. At any given time, your driveway could be covered with algae and moss, tire residue, oil and rust stains, and any combination of leaves, twigs, and dirt. If you skip power washing, you’ll be trapping the dirt and grime beneath the sealant and lowering its chance of cementing itself to your driveway. While you can expect the cost to pressure wash your driveway to average between $100 and $350, the few hundred dollars beats an unattractive driveway or paying extra to reapply your driveway sealer.

You should always hook up your pressure washer to the water supply before turning it on and ensure there’s a good water flow. If you try to turn the machine on without water in the system, it overworks and overheats the unlubricated pump. This can quickly lead to irreversible damage.