Your deck becomes one of the most popular spots for your family to sit out in the sunshine and enjoy a nice summer day. You may have thought about getting your deck cleaned, but you may think it will take a lot of time and hassle. With all of the activity on your deck, your deck may become dirty and need to be freshened up with a good pressure wash.
Pressure washing is a great way to clean your deck when done properly. There are many tips for pressure washing your deck to make it easier to do as well as ensure that you do not ruin your deck by pressure washing it. Tips such as starting at the highest corner and working in small sections can make the task easier to accomplish.
Continue reading to learn how to properly pressure wash your deck as well as how to prevent your deck from being ruined by a pressure wash. Also, continue reading to learn five tips that can help make pressure washing your deck easier.
How Do You Properly Pressure Wash A Deck?
When it comes to pressure washing your deck, there are some steps you want to take before you begin the pressure washing process. These steps include:
- Having/renting a pressure washer
- Ensure there are no broken parts of the deck before you pressure wash. If there are, take some time to fix these parts
- Cover parts of your house along the deck as well as any plants and furniture that are on the deck in order to protect them
- Changing the nozzle on the pressure washer to ensure the nozzle is not too direct
Once you have done this preparation, you can begin pressure washing your deck. For better step-by-step instructions on how to properly pressure wash your deck, you can follow along with this video by Mi-T-M.
What Do You Put On Deck Before Pressure Washing?
While there are not many preparations you must do in order to pressure wash your deck, you can take a step in order to ensure that your deck is brighter after pressure washing.
This additional step involves applying a chemical stripper or chemical brightener to your deck. You would follow the instructions of the chemical stripper/brightener in order to give your deck a nice shine to it once you have pressure washed it.
Can You Ruin A Deck By Pressure Washing?
It is possible to ruin your deck by pressure washing. If you use too much pressure on the deck, it can cause for the wood to scar and leaves marks on the wood. This is why it is advised to change the nozzle on the pressure washer to ensure you are not using too much pressure on your deck as this can ruin a beautiful deck.
5 Tips For Pressure Washing Your Deck
While pressure washing may seem simple, it can be a difficult task to accomplish, and you must be careful, so you do not ruin your deck. Below are five tips that can make pressure washing your deck easier as well as help to ensure that your deck does not get ruined.
Start At The Highest Corner
When water hits the deck, there is often a direction that the water will flow off of the deck. When pressure washing, you want to find this direction and start washing in the opposite. This allows for all of the run-offs to go in the same direction, and you do not have to backtrack in order to wash the whole deck.
Wash/Work In Small Sections
If you want to ensure that you are able to thoroughly clean your deck, it is best to work in small sections. Working in small sections allows for you to focus on only one part of your deck at a time and allows for you to ensure that you are able to get the entire deck clean rather than missing spots.
Angle The Nozzle
One of the preparation steps for pressure washing your deck is to change the nozzle on the pressure washer, so you do not allow for a lot of pressure that can damage your deck. Since you will likely be using less pressure, it is important to angle the nozzle, so you are able to get a wider area rather than direct pressure on a single spot.
It May Take Some Practice
While instructions online and videos may make pressure washing seem simple and easy, pressure washing is actually much more difficult than you might think. It may be difficult at first to be able to hold the nozzle of the pressure washer steady or difficult to figure out how to work the pressure washer, but pressure washing can become an easier task with practice. Do not be disappointed if the first time you try to pressure wash does not work the way you plan.
Allow The Wood To Dry
After pressure washing, you may think you will be able to see the difference straight away, but this is not the case. It is best to allow the wood to dry in order to see the full effects of the pressure washing.
Do You Have To Seal A Deck After Pressure Washing?
Sealing the deck helps to protect the deck from rain and debris that may fall onto it. Once you have finished pressure washing your deck, you may wonder if you can seal the deck straight away. The answer to this is no. It is best to wait approximately 24 to 36 hours before you seal your deck once you are finished pressure washing.
This gives the deck time to dry, and you are able to see the outcome of the pressure washing and are able to note if you missed a section of the deck.
Looking to have your deck pressure washed? Affordable, professional deck pressure washing services are just a call away with All Pro Decks. We strive for customer satisfaction and will work with you to ensure your deck is cleaned to your liking. Get A Free Estimate Today!
