Four Tips on Using a Pressure Washer for Your Deck Restore Work

Without the right tools, washing your deck can be back-breaking work. But your deck restore work doesn’t have to be this way if you use a pressure washer. Pressure washers get the job done quickly and with far less effort. However, there is a catch to using this tool because improper technique can damage your deck. You must take great care in not applying too much pressure or holding the nozzle too close to the boards. These tips will help you clean your deck quickly:

Safety

Never wear flip-flops and shorts when working with a pressure washer because accidentally hitting the skin of your foot or leg at high pressure can cause serious injury. Likewise, you should use eye protection in case the wand gets away from you or grit sprays back at you. Make sure there are no pets or other people in or near the work area. Make sure the pressure hose is securely locked into both the pressure washer and the wand. Click the nozzle solidly into the wand to prevent it from shooting off when it’s under pressure. Point the wand away from yourself, other people, and objects when you pull the trigger.

Flow And Pressure

Flow and pressure are two different things. Flow is the amount of water that comes out of the wand at any given time, while pressure is the cleaning force of the water for a given area.

Smaller less powerful pressure washers such as electric washers can deliver a high pressure but at a lower flow rate. This means you’ll have to concentrate the spray on a small area to get adequate pressure for doing the job. However, this also means the job will take longer to complete because the small spray area forces you to make lots of sweeps. It’s like mowing a lawn with a very tiny mower.

Sweeping Motion

Wash with a sweeping motion and keep the nozzle moving at all times. Always reverse your sweep at its high point. Direct your back and forth motion along the boards while maintaining a distance of 12 inches between the nozzle and the deck. Each pass should overlap the last pass. Use this technique consistently for the entire deck. When stopping the water flow, release the trigger at the high point of a sweep.

Cleaning Heavily Soiled Surfaces

Attempting to clean heavily soiled surfaces with higher than recommended pressures risks damaging your deck. Instead, apply DeckMAX Cleaner from a spray bottle while power washing at the recommended pressure for your wood type.

For more information and useful tips on your deck restore process, contact us at DeckMAX.