Yes, you can damage your home with a pressure washer, and we see it almost every week. The good news is that most of it is avoidable when you know what to watch for.
I'm Troy Hillard, founder and franchisor of Wash Rite. I've been in the exterior cleaning and pressure washing industry since 2015, when I started the business. Today, the Wash Rite group runs 142 trucks across Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, we cover Geelong, Melbourne, Wollongong and the South Coast down to Batemans Bay, Sydney, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, the Gold Coast, South Brisbane, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast.
Here's what goes wrong, where your home is most at risk, and how to avoid it.
The damage we see most often
By far the most common damage we see from DIY pressure washing and inexperienced operators is ripped timber. On decks and timber cladding, too much pressure or the wrong use of a turbo nozzle tears up the timber fibres.
We also see:
- stripped paint
- broken window seals
- etched concrete
The two areas most at risk
On the standard Australian home, two areas take the most damage from pressure washing.
Old terracotta tile roofs. Too much pressure cracks the pointing that holds your ridge cap tiles down.
Young concrete. Believe it or not, concrete less than about two years old hasn't fully cured, and its top layer is still quite fragile. Hit it with too much pressure and you'll etch that surface, leaving permanent marks.
Pressure washing vs soft washing
The main difference is the pressure used to rinse.
- Pressure washing uses the mechanical force of the water to remove dirt and grime. I'd class anything above 800 psi as pressure washing.
- Soft washing uses soaps and chemicals to do the cleaning. The water is just there to rinse the soap off, at 800 psi or below. You can soft wash with a pressure washer, as long as you turn the unloader pressure down.
Soft washing isn't a magic ticket
Soft washing done wrong can cause as much damage as pressure washing, if not more. Some chemicals used in the soft wash industry are extremely harsh. Caustic soda, the main ingredient in paint stripper and oven cleaner, is one. Hydrochloric acid is another. At the right concentrations they're very safe, but at the wrong ones they can do massive damage.
At Wash Rite, we use both methods. What matters is choosing the right technique for each surface to get the right result.
Doing it yourself? Distance is your friend, and your enemy
If you're going to pressure wash your own house, remember this: the closer the nozzle is to the surface, the greater the pressure. The further away it is, the more you reduce the pressure and the risk of damage.
Start well back, ideally about 2 metres from the house. You can always move closer if you need more pressure. Start 10 centimetres away and you'll begin causing damage straight away.
The calls we get every week
Ripped timber decks. Almost every week, someone calls us after they, or an inexperienced operator, used the wrong equipment or too much pressure on a timber deck. Once the timber fibres are ripped, there aren't many options. The deck usually has to be stripped of its sealer, re-sanded and re-oiled.
Oxidised aluminium windows. We're regularly asked by lawyers and insurance companies to inspect and report on homes with damaged, oxidised aluminium window frames. Usually an inexperienced operator has used too strong a soap and let it dry on the aluminium joinery. We prepare an expert report so the homeowner can claim on the other operator's insurance for repairing or refinishing all the aluminium joinery in the house.
How Wash Rite prevents damage
- In-depth training. Every Wash Rite technician goes through detailed training before they're allowed to service a customer's home.
- Prescribed soaps and chemicals. All franchisees must use our approved products, and each one is formulated to reduce the risk of damage through misuse.
- Ongoing support. Training and support continue right across the network.
How to prepare your home before a clean
- Close every window and door securely.
- Clear a 2-metre space around the house. Move pot plants, outdoor furniture and entertaining gear so we have good access.
- Cover anything fragile. A tarpaulin over delicate plants or belongings works well.
- Tell your technician about anything that mustn't get wet. Our team can wrap it in plastic to keep it dry throughout the clean.
If something goes wrong
Let's face it: in any business, something will go wrong at some point. What matters is how it's handled.
Every Wash Rite franchise holds $20 million in public liability cover and $20 million in faulty workmanship cover. If something does go wrong, the customer is looked after and put back whole. After our health and safety obligations, customer satisfaction is our top priority.
Before booking any provider, ask to see their insurance documents and health and safety policy. Also ask for references or reviews from previous customers in your area.
The one thing to remember: check their history
The best way to avoid damage is to look into a provider's background before you book. Have they been in business for 5, 10 or 15 years? Do your own digging online, and check whether their Google reviews go back multiple years. If they can't show you that kind of history, they may not have the experience your home needs.
Want your home cleaned safely by a team that's been doing it since 2015? Contact your local Wash Rite for a free quote.
