Vinyl siding can withstand a powerful gas pressure washer (2,500-3,000 psi). Aluminum, stucco or soft-grain wood homes will do better with a less powerful washer (about 1,200-1,500 psi). Determine whether you will rent or buy your machine.
Choose the Right Pressure Setting: - Use a pressure washer with an adjustable pressure setting. Generally, a pressure of 1500 to 2500 psi is safe for vinyl siding. Avoid using higher pressures that can cause cracks or damage.
Typically, a pressure range of 1300 to 1600 PSI is sufficient for most types of residential siding, including vinyl, wood, and aluminum. Always refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for the specific material you are cleaning.
Siding. Wood siding should be cleaned at 400-800 PSI, depending on condition. Vinyl can handle 600-1200 PSI. Brick and concrete siding can tolerate even higher pressures of 800-2000 PSI and 900-2500 PSI respectively, without damage.
I have the 600 psi one too and it's great for cleaning stains off the patio and dirt off the siding. It's enough pressure to semi-deep clean but not enough that I'm worried about doing damage.
Vinyl siding can withstand a powerful gas pressure washer (2,500-3,000 psi). Aluminum, stucco or soft-grain wood homes will do better with a less powerful washer (about 1,200-1,500 psi).
The average cost to pressure wash a house ranges from $500 to $900, with most people spending around $700 to pressure wash a 2,000 sq. ft. vinyl-sided home with normal grime levels, including the cost of all labor, equipment usage, and other materials.
Final Verdict. The Ryobi 1900 PSI Corded Electric Pressure Washer is our pick for the best pressure washer. After testing, we found it highly effective at cleaning typical surfaces around a home's exterior, including walkways, decks, fences, patio furniture, and cars.
A pressure washer can quickly ruin vinyl siding by cracking it with a high-pressure stream of water, so it's necessary to know which pressure level and nozzle to use. Starting low and gently working your way up is the safest bet. Never start off on the highest pressure setting.
For general home use, a pressure washer with a PSI of 1300 to 2400 should suffice. However, for more demanding tasks, you might need a model with a higher PSI. Always consider both PSI and GPM to ensure you choose a pressure washer that offers the perfect balance of power and water flow for your cleaning projects.
Damage to siding arising from improper cleaning or maintenance may not be covered by the James Hardie warranty. Using wide fan tips that are kept a minimum of 6 feet from the wall and at pressures under 1500 psi will minimize the chance of damaging the siding.
Using too high of a pressure setting is perhaps one of the most common and highly damaging mistakes when power washing a siding. The pressure applied should be apt, as too much water at very high pressure can even dent and crack apart vinyl siding.
The yellow, 15-degree nozzle is the best choice for cleaning siding with a pressure washer. When cleaning siding, start at the top and work your way down. Be sure to stand a consistent distance of 3-4 feet from the surface you are cleaning. Keep the nozzle moving to avoid damaging the surface.
Medium-duty pressure washers provide between 1,500 and 2,000 PSI. They're suitable for almost any surface, including concrete, brick and wood. They can also effectively clean patios, sidings, roofs, decks, cars, vans, trucks, and fences.
What is the Ideal Water Pressure for My Home? It's important to maintain your home's water pressure within an acceptable range. The ideal water pressure ranges between 40 and 80 pounds per square inch, with the recommended home water pressure at 60 psi.
Resiliency should be a key consideration when choosing siding. As the most durable siding on the market, engineered wood combines the aesthetics of real wood with engineered strand technology for superior durability.
The general rule of thumb is to use no more than 1/4 gallons per square foot for different types of siding materials. For example, you should only direct about 25-50 PSI at vinyl siding, 50-150 PSI at stucco or brick, and 150-200 PSI at wood.
Surface Material: If the areas you are trying to wash are durable surfaces like concrete, pressure washing may be more suitable. For softer surfaces like siding or roofing, opt for soft washing.
When cleaning your vinyl siding, it is important that you not use any cleaners containing organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover, or furniture polish or cleaners. These products can potentially damage the surface of the siding.
Professionals use a gas-powered pressure washer, a surface cleaner attachment, and a careful selection of specialized nozzle tips, surfactants, bleaches, degreasers, and oxalic acid for pressure washing.
Gas pressure washers typically cost more than electric pressure washers. But they last longer and offer more power. You'll also need to pay for the cost of fuel for gas pressure washers, and the cost of the electricity to run an electric pressure washer.
2,000 PSI is enough to power to effectively clean concrete surfaces. You will have to use an aggressive nozzle, keep the tip closer to the surface and spend more time than you would when using a more powerful product, but you can obtain good results with a bit of hard work.
It typically costs between $0.08 and $0.35 per square foot to do pressure washing. This figure depends on the average rates in your region. A pressure washer will charge $0.40 to $0.80 per square foot if there are problems like stains, dirt, or mold that take longer to clean, according to CostHelper.
Size of house: In pressure washing, size matters most. Here's a breakdown of the average time it takes to pressure wash a home based on size: 1,000 sq ft: 2–3 hours. 1,500 sq ft: 3–4 hours.
Most power washing companies hook up to your water spigot or well to get the cleaning water. Since the water is on site, the power washing company won't need to bring water to your house which simplifies the process and cuts costs. Some power washing companies will bring their own water storage tank.