If you have never operated a pressure washer there is only one way to learn… get in there and do it! It is physical labor, but not terribly bad if done in moderation. There are a few things you need to know before cranking it up and blasting the old paint and dirt off of your home however.
All power washers are not created equally. That being said what you need to do is decide if you are going to rent one or buy one. Renting is a good option if you don’t see a need for the machine often enough to justify its purchase. Unless you plan on using it to clean the house, your vehicles, lawn furniture, and anything else you are tired of scrubbing, renting on is probably best.
Most rental pressure washing equipment is electrical in nature. You will need extension cords, and good ones. A good 12/3 (12 gauge, 3 wire) extension cord of 100 feet long is more than handy. Don’t get cheap here as a smaller, cheaper cord can harm electrically operated tools and equipment from voltage drop. You don’t want to end up buying the rental company a new pressure washer do you?
Extra hose will be necessary as well. You will need enough to go all the way around your home from the nearest faucet. Some older homes may only have one outdoor faucet so be prepared, especially if you are going to rent.
Do not point the wand at anything you do not intend to wash or harm… quite a few models of pressure washers are capable of peeling wood, much less skin or eye balls.
Wear rubber boots, eye protection, old clothes, and gloves. Do not aim the water stream from the power washer into vents, electrical masts (or boxes), directly at windows, screens, breakable items, people, pets, birds, or bees nests. You probably will not like what you end up with.
Start at the top and work your way down. This means a ladder, carefully placed to prevent tipping or falling. Do not try to wash upper walls from the roof. Your spouse might tell you that there is a chance of getting on “America’s Funniest Home Videos”, but the reward probably won’t pay the medical bills.
Keep the spray as close to your work as you need to, probably an inch or two away. As long as it is removing old peeling paint and dirt it is close enough. Too far away and it is ineffective.
Most electric pressure washers have a tank that you can add bleach or soap to. The chemicals will join the pressurized water in the wand for added effect. If you add bleach be certain to wear old clothing that you don’t mind ruining, because you will! Eye protection is mandatory as well; bleach and eyes don’t play well together.
A pressure washer will eat rotten wood. If it needs repaired or replaced now is as good a time as any to do so, saving useless wash time.
As I said before, do not spray into the gable or eve vents. There is a straight shot from the vent to your sheetrock inside, and pressurized water will find that path, believe me. Wet sheetrock falls in earth gravity, not a good thing.
Once you have the entire exterior clean, give it a once over with a wire brush and a putty knife. When dry it is ready for primer and paint.
I wish I could say pull up a chair and enjoy, but there is a whole lot of painting about to go on….
Based on personal experience from 30 years of construction work in various fields.
