Homeowners in certain areas must contend with dirt, mildew, and mold growth on their property, making regular pressure washing essential to keeping it looking its best.
Not only does an unsightly exterior make your building less appealing, but it can actually wear away at certain building materials over time. Regularly cleaning roofs, gutters, and surfaces helps lower structural risk. Here are some factors to consider when deciding how often to pressure wash your home.
Weather
How much dirt builds up on the exterior of your home depends on local weather conditions. Mold and mildew flourish in humid environments while beach homes accumulate sand accumulation. Rain, wind, and debris also leave their mark by depositing dirt onto your house’s siding.
Pressure-washing your home should take place between spring and fall when temperatures don’t become extreme. Avoid pressure-washing under direct sunlight, when temperatures become extremely hot or when air becomes dry as this could damage surfaces such as wood.
If you live in an area with harsh winters, it’s a wise move to conduct two pressure washes per year – one before and one after winter seasons – in order to protect the exterior from mold and mildew growth and maintain its beauty. Winter provides an opportunity to remove debris collected from fallen leaves and branches that have collected in gutters or collected on surfaces like driveways and roofs.
Season
Homeowners may view pressure washing as an optional task, but it plays an integral part in many home projects. Paint cans, sealant tubes, and stain bottles all stipulate that a clean surface must be present prior to their application.
Pressure washing your property regularly not only enhances its appearance but also helps prevent the growth of harmful mold and mildew that could compromise building materials and cost thousands to fix down the line.
Springtime is an excellent time for pressure washing as weather conditions tend to be warmer, which enables deeper cleaning while helping surfaces dry more quickly afterward. Pressure washing also removes pollen and other allergens that may trigger respiratory problems in children and adults alike, and removes pollen that causes respiratory difficulties for some people.
Fall also presents opportunities to power wash as leaves can accumulate moisture in your yard which promotes the development of fungus growth.
Materials
Power washing your property regularly can bring many advantages. Not only does it enhance curb appeal and extend roof shingle life expectancies, but also it protects other exterior materials such as vinyl siding.
Before hiring a professional to spray, move anything that may obstruct their work – such as patio umbrellas or soft material outdoor furniture – away from surfaces you want to be cleaned, such as an umbrella. In addition, remove or cover light fixtures, air conditioners, or electrical outlets that could become submerged by water spray.
Ask the professionals you hire what the optimal cleaning frequency should be, especially for certain materials like tile roof tiles that collect grime quickly or vinyl siding which is more prone to mildew and cobweb buildup.
Also, keep in mind that certain materials require more frequent washing – tiles being one example where dirt builds up easily while cobwebs form easily on vinyl siding surfaces can warrant pressure washing more frequently as well as pressure cleaning more regularly if they feature these features.
Typically, pressure washing your home once or twice a year is plenty, but in some cases, you may want to do it more or less. Work with the right professionals and you can set up a regular maintenance schedule to follow for pressure washing.