Why Professional Power Washing is a Smart Investment
While the visual transformation is often the main motivation, the benefits of professional power washing extend much further. Investing in a proper clean is a practical measure that protects your property, enhances safety, and can even increase its value.
- Prevents Costly Damage: Moss, algae, and mould don't just look unsightly; they can cause real harm. On paving and driveways, these growths can work their way into small cracks, expanding when they freeze in winter and causing the surface to crumble. On brickwork and render, they can trap moisture against the wall, potentially leading to penetrating damp and damage to the mortar. A professional clean removes these harmful growths at the source.
- Improves Safety: A patio or path covered in a layer of green algae becomes incredibly slippery when wet, posing a significant hazard for you, your family, and any visitors. This is especially dangerous during the autumn and winter months. Power washing completely removes this slick layer, making your garden and walkways safe to use again.
- Boosts Kerb Appeal and Property Value: The exterior of your home is the first thing people see. A clean, well-maintained driveway, patio, and facade significantly enhance its kerb appeal. If you are thinking of selling your property, a professional power wash is a relatively low-cost way to make your home more attractive to potential buyers, potentially adding thousands to its perceived value.
- Prepares Surfaces for Decorating or Sealing: If you are planning to paint an exterior wall, stain your decking, or seal your driveway, the surface must be impeccably clean. Power washing is the ideal preparation, ensuring that new coatings adhere properly and last for years to come.
- Healthier Environment: Mould and mildew around your property can release spores into the air, which can be problematic for people with allergies or respiratory issues. Removing these contaminants creates a healthier environment immediately surrounding your home.
What Can Be Power Washed? A Comprehensive Guide
Professional power washing equipment is versatile, and an experienced tradesperson can safely clean a wide variety of surfaces. They will know how to adjust the pressure and select the right nozzle and technique for each material, avoiding the damage that can be caused by a DIY attempt.
Patios and Paving
Patios are constantly exposed to the elements and foot traffic. Over a year, they can quickly become covered in green algae, black spots (lichen), and general grime. A professional power wash can restore everything from Indian sandstone and limestone slabs to concrete and block paving. For block paving, a crucial part of the professional service is to re-sand the joints after cleaning. This kiln-dried sand locks the blocks in place and prevents weed growth, a vital step that is often overlooked.
Driveways
Your driveway is the entrance to your home, but it takes a lot of punishment from vehicles, oil leaks, and tyre marks. Whether you have block paving, tarmac, or imprinted concrete, a power wash can lift stubborn stains and remove the build-up of moss and weeds, making it look smart and cared for once more.
Decking
Wooden and composite decking can become dangerously slippery when algae takes hold. However, wood is a soft material that can be easily damaged by excessive pressure, leaving it splintered and 'furry'. A professional will often use a lower-pressure technique, sometimes called soft washing, combined with a suitable cleaning solution to clean the decking gently but effectively without causing damage.
Brickwork and Exterior Walls
The walls of your house, whether they are brick, stone, or have a rendered finish, can become discoloured by pollution, particularly in urban areas, and affected by green or red algae growth. A careful, low-pressure wash can remove this staining and revitalise the appearance of your entire property. This is a job that requires particular expertise to avoid forcing water into the wall cavity or damaging the mortar.
Fencing and Garden Furniture
Wooden fences can quickly turn grey and weathered. A gentle wash can strip back the grime and prepare the wood for a new coat of paint or stain. Similarly, wooden, metal, or plastic garden furniture can be brought back to life, ready for you to enjoy your garden at the weekend.
Roofs
Roof cleaning is a highly specialised task and should only ever be undertaken by experienced professionals with the correct safety equipment. High pressure should never be used on roof tiles as it can strip their protective granular coating and force water up under the tiles, leading to leaks. Professionals use a soft wash method from a secure platform to kill moss and algae, which is then gently rinsed away.
The Difference Between Power Washing, Pressure Washing, and Soft Washing
The terms are often used interchangeably, but there are technical differences that a good professional will understand.
- Power Washing: This method uses heated water. The heat helps to break down stubborn, greasy stains more effectively, making it ideal for tough jobs like removing significant oil patches from a driveway.
- Pressure Washing (or Jet Washing): This is the most common term used in the UK. It uses unheated, mains-temperature water delivered at high pressure. It is highly effective for general cleaning tasks, such as removing ingrained dirt, weeds, and algae from robust surfaces like patios and block paving.
- Soft Washing: This technique is essential for more delicate surfaces. It involves using a much lower pressure, comparable to a garden hose, combined with a specific, biodegradable chemical cleaning solution. The solution does the work, killing off moss, lichen, and algae, which can then be gently rinsed away. This is the correct method for cleaning roofs, render, pebble-dash, and older, more fragile brickwork.
A reputable tradesperson will assess your property and determine the safest and most effective method for each surface, ensuring a perfect finish without any risk of damage.
