Get matched with top pressure washers in Ipswich, SD

The amount of pressure, measured in psi, that you should use depends on what you’re washing. Very tough materials like concrete, stone, and masonry can handle a high psi of 2,500 to 3,000, but materials like wood require a bit of a lighter touch. To clean your wooden deck, you’ll want to use your pressure washer on the lowest setting, around 600 psi, especially if it’s made of soft wood like pine or cedar.

No, asphalt shingles should not be power washed. A power washer or pressure washer is too strong to use on asphalt shingles and will loosen the adhesive holding them to your roof, causing them to fall off. It’s best to hire a local roof cleaner to clean those shingles safely and without damaging them. 

If you don’t thoroughly clean your deck surface before staining, debris, grease, and mildew can get trapped on top of the wood. As well as looking unsightly, the stain won’t effectively penetrate the wood surface. You won’t have such a well-protected deck, and you’ll likely have to restain sooner. Beyond just the appearance and adhesion issues, any existing mold or mildew left untreated can continue to grow beneath the new stain, potentially leading to wood rot and structural damage over time, ultimately shortening the lifespan of your deck and requiring costly repairs.

While power washing isn't a requirement before you stain a fence, it can make the job much easier and faster while reducing manual labor requirements. The stain will not work if the wood is full of dirt and dust, so power washing, sometimes called pressure washing, is a fast and effective way to prepare the wood for staining. Remember that you need to stain or repaint relatively soon after the wood has dried so that there isn’t time for dust and dirt to build up again.