5 Reasons you Should Never Pressure Wash your House

Pressure washing your home is a popular way to clean it, but did you know that it can actually do more harm than good? Here are five reasons why you should never pressure wash your home.

1. Pressure washing can damage your home's exterior

Pressure washing can force water into cracks and crevices, causing long-term damage to your home. No matter what kind of siding you have there is a good chance that the pressure will force water into small cracks and crevasses. Water is getting underneath the protective layering of your home where little airflow or sunlight is, leaving a saturated area perfect for mold and rot or even electrical damage.

2. It can remove mortar from brick and stone.

Many people think that since they have a brick house, they are safe to pressure wash. Think again! Brick and mortar are soft enough and can be easily blasted away with high-pressure water. We've seen brick houses with the mortar almost completely blasted away by pressure washing.

3. It can remove granular from your shingle roof.

When pressure washing a shingle roof, you will permanently lose many surface granules from your shingles, regardless of how carefully you are. These granules play a vital role in protecting the shingle and helping to reflect the sun’s rays, so your attic stays cool. The older the roof, the more granules you will lose in the washing process. There is also a high probability that some shingles will get lifted and have their seal broken. This could leave your shingles “flapping in the wind” during the next storm.

4. It can gouge, splinter and saturate wood

Pressure washing wood can fur the wood grain up and digs holes in the surface damaging the siding or decking. It also forces water into the grain and fiber of the wood making it more prone to mold and rot.

5. It can damage or peel paint

A pressure wash will easily chip paint off most surfaces. Not only will your home look worse than before you started, but you could wind up with a hazard for your family and environmental concerns if the paint is lead-based.

The Right Way

Consider soft washing if you're looking for a safe and effective way to clean your home. Softwashing uses low-pressure water to gently remove dirt and organic growth without damaging your home's exterior. If you would like more information on soft washing or a free estimate, please reach out to us: call (814)-758-6738 or email wethosepro@gmail.com