There are many misconceptions about power washing that many people aren’t aware of. Here they are:

Misconception #1:
It’s easy enough that we can do it ourselves. This may be true to some extent, but you can easily cause damage to yourself and your home if you’re not careful. I don’t recommend that anyone pressure wash from a ladder, this can be very dangerous and should be left to a professional. Washing your vinyl siding from the ground at an upward angle with high pressure could cause water damage behind the siding. Even small consumer grade pressure washing units put out too much pressure to wash vinyl, wood or composite decking. Having the right equipment allows you to turn down the pressure, so you’re not causing damage.

Misconception #2:
High pressure is the only way to get it clean. Not true at all. Only contractors that use inferior cleaners have to depend on high pressure to do the job. High pressure can do a lot of damage to your home. Too much pressure will force water to get behind the siding of your home causing mold and mildew problems. Wood and composite decking should not be cleaned with high pressure. Using too much pressure to wash a deck can cut into the wood, leaving marks and scars that will show through the sealer. High pressure cleaning of your home or deck is a thing of the past. Professional power washers use a low pressure technique called soft washing.

Misconception #3:
The cleaners being used will damage your plants. Quality contractors use environmentally safe products that will not harm your plants. A professional power washing company will take precautions to make sure your landscape is not harmed. The contractor should pre-wet the plants or cover them when necessary. When the job is complete, a thorough rinsing of all plant material should be performed.

Misconception #4:
You should hire the power washing company that offers the lowest price. Maybe, but not always. Here are some points to consider:

1. The price you see advertised may not be the price you pay. Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised lasted only until the contractor did the estimate. Then they were pressured into paying a lot more for a variety of add-ons.
2. Some contractor’s marketing strategy is to get jobs by being the lowest bidder. The contractor will then cut corners in order to turn a profit.
3. When first starting up a lot of companies do not educate themselves because power washing looks easy and profitable. So, they lack the right equipment, cleaners, insurance, knowledge, professionalism, and normally, will charge an extremely low price.

Misconception #5:
Any honest power washing company should be able to give an estimate over the phone. It would make things easier if this was true, but it is not. A reputable power washing company will never give a power washing estimate over the phone. A rough estimate maybe. There are too many variables that can change that price from one home to another. For instance, different types of terrain or landscaping can affect the price. What type of wood is your deck? Has it ever been sealed? Is water accessible at the job site? Maybe your house is not extremely dirty and could be done for less than a dirty house the same size? The good news is, once an estimate is given by a quality contractor, you know that that’s the price you will pay with no last minute surprises.