By Pamela Hill
It is clear that most people associate pressure washers with cleaning. However, only a few people think of it as a surface preparation tool. A pressure washer can be used to clean a surface before it is painted. It is especially effective against chalking residue. It scours off all dirt and grime ensuring that a good bonding surface for the new coat is left behind. This is worth knowing about Pressure washing decks and wood preservation.
When latex paints or old oil wears, it forms a powdery substance known as chalking. When a pressure washer is used to clean surfaces with chalking, it is so effective such that a cleanser will not be needed. On the other hand, a cleanser is usually necessary after a surface with chalking has been hand-washed. This is necessary before new paint is applied. One must ensure that they check for dirt under the soffits.
Availability of chalking can be identified by having the painted surface rubbed. If the surface was coated using one hundred percent acrylic latex paints, there are minimal chances for chalking to be observed. Surfaces that are in a good state demand little washing to ensure proper adherence of new paint. Old paint should never be removed using pressure washers. This method should strictly be utilized to get rid of chalking.
When one is working close to brick walls or wood siding, then the stream of water used should be of low pressure. If the stream is of high pressure, then there are chances it may gouge wood or knock mortar from between the bricks. Another limitation of using this method for surface preparation is that it performs scraping jobs unevenly. It is therefore time consuming since one will have to do the scraping task separately.
It is effective on almost all surfaces including masonry, vinyl, aluminum siding, and wood. Hardboard siding should be exempted from this list considering its vulnerability to moisture. The other reason for its exemption is the level of difficulty involved in repairing it in the event that it is accidentally gouged.
As a process of preparation prior to painting, power washing additionally rids surfaces of mildew. It is critical that at the time of cleaning, one ascertains whether they are combating mildew or blackened dirt. This ensures that the appropriate action is taken. Both surfaces with mildew and dirt appear black. This can be confusing. Surfaces with mildew, however, upon application of bleach lighten in a couple of minutes. In the event that the surface remains darkened, a pressure washer needs to be employed because it contains mildew and not dirt.
This cleaning method may be an effective paint preparation method but it is not advisable to use it on surfaces with lead paint. Houses built before 1978 in the US have exterior paints that are lead-based. This is because during that time, lead paint was still legal. In case one is not sure of the type of paint is present, it is advisable to have it tested.
Should the test for lead paint give positive results, individuals need to seek guidance from a nearby health department concerning safe removal. Using pressure washing on lead paints increases the peril of lead contamination. Lead has been identified as poisonous in humans, plants, the environment and animals.
When latex paints or old oil wears, it forms a powdery substance known as chalking. When a pressure washer is used to clean surfaces with chalking, it is so effective such that a cleanser will not be needed. On the other hand, a cleanser is usually necessary after a surface with chalking has been hand-washed. This is necessary before new paint is applied. One must ensure that they check for dirt under the soffits.
Availability of chalking can be identified by having the painted surface rubbed. If the surface was coated using one hundred percent acrylic latex paints, there are minimal chances for chalking to be observed. Surfaces that are in a good state demand little washing to ensure proper adherence of new paint. Old paint should never be removed using pressure washers. This method should strictly be utilized to get rid of chalking.
When one is working close to brick walls or wood siding, then the stream of water used should be of low pressure. If the stream is of high pressure, then there are chances it may gouge wood or knock mortar from between the bricks. Another limitation of using this method for surface preparation is that it performs scraping jobs unevenly. It is therefore time consuming since one will have to do the scraping task separately.
It is effective on almost all surfaces including masonry, vinyl, aluminum siding, and wood. Hardboard siding should be exempted from this list considering its vulnerability to moisture. The other reason for its exemption is the level of difficulty involved in repairing it in the event that it is accidentally gouged.
As a process of preparation prior to painting, power washing additionally rids surfaces of mildew. It is critical that at the time of cleaning, one ascertains whether they are combating mildew or blackened dirt. This ensures that the appropriate action is taken. Both surfaces with mildew and dirt appear black. This can be confusing. Surfaces with mildew, however, upon application of bleach lighten in a couple of minutes. In the event that the surface remains darkened, a pressure washer needs to be employed because it contains mildew and not dirt.
This cleaning method may be an effective paint preparation method but it is not advisable to use it on surfaces with lead paint. Houses built before 1978 in the US have exterior paints that are lead-based. This is because during that time, lead paint was still legal. In case one is not sure of the type of paint is present, it is advisable to have it tested.
Should the test for lead paint give positive results, individuals need to seek guidance from a nearby health department concerning safe removal. Using pressure washing on lead paints increases the peril of lead contamination. Lead has been identified as poisonous in humans, plants, the environment and animals.
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