Pressure Washing Old Wood Siding

Wood siding can benefit from a pressure wash as the grit that accumulates can be totally removed.

Pressure washing old wood siding.

They may be perfect for cleaning driveways but they will blast right through wood siding especially if there is any wood rot. Don t pressure wash shingle siding the pressure can knock the shingles loose. The jet of a pressure washer can actually damage the wood. From there water can damage insulation electrical wiring and can spur mold growth.

Pressure washer safety pressure washers come with nozzles ranging from 0 degrees to about 40 degrees. Master the proper technique and you can use a pressure washer to clean the wood siding on your home safely without incurring damage to the material. Pressure washing can also remove many stains but care must be taken. If you have a wood frame house with any kind of wood siding clapboards shiplap board and batten shingles etc there is an excellent chance that washing your house with a high pressure washer will shoot water up under the siding potentially soaking wall cavities insulation wiring flooring plaster etc.

A high powered pressure washer can also dent aluminum and vinyl siding. Bob vila interviews a contractor in the process of using a pressure washer to remove paint from exterior wood siding. For more on house painting visit. Pressure washer damaged wood photo by jon chapman.

Starting low and gently working your way up is the safest bet. If the wood is badly darkened or stained with mildew washing with a deck cleaning solution that includes sodium hydroxide can help brighten it. The exact procedures you will use depend on the condition of the old stain and the type of new stain that will be applied. I prefer a 1500 psi pressure washer.

The grit can cause damage as the wood moves with the wind and the changes in temperature. A pressure washer can quickly ruin vinyl siding by cracking it with the high pressure stream of water so it s necessary to know which pressure level and nozzle to use. A pressure washer can be used on any type of exterior wood siding including cedar shake or rough sawn cedar siding and t1 11 wood siding. How to safely clean wood siding on a house.

Look for a product designed for brightening deck wood and for use in a pressure washer and make sure your pressure washer allows for the intake of cleaning solutions.