Deck Power Washing
Power washing for your home or business deck
AF Deck
Power Washing
Full-service deck pressure / power washing in American Fork, UT
Call for a free estimate today at 801-877-1793
Our Deck Power Washing Solutions
Power Washing For Your Deck
Deck Power Washing
- Wood
- Composite
- Vinyl
- Dirt Removal
- Stain Removal
- Grime Removal
- Food Removal
The Benefits of Deck Power Washing
A power washer is a simple device that cleans very effectively using only water. However, if it’s not employed correctly, it might wreck your deck. This is a tool with enough strength to etch masonry yet delicate enough to wash siding in the right hands. You risk extensively etching the wood and splintering the fibers if you use it with too much jet pressure or position the tip too close to the deck’s surface. This is why our team of qualified deck power washing specialists is available to assist you.
You may host a party on your deck where your visitors can enjoy some freshly prepared food and beverages by using a portable bar and an outdoor grill. In order to maintain your deck’s hygienic standards though, you should keep it clean regardless of how you use it. In addition to regular at-home deck cleaning, professional deck power washing services are required to remove lingering stains and pollutants from your deck’s surface.
The lowest pressure level that is still functional will serve you best for cleaning a hardwood deck. Typically, this is in the range of 500 to 600 psi for soft woods like cedar or pine. It can reach 1200–1500 psi for harder woods.
Also, pick the appropriate tip to use. Generally speaking, a fan tip or rotating tip will work best for cleaning wood when used cautiously. Always start the water pressure in a safe location, away from people and glass windows. Start at least two feet from the wood deck, and then feather the pressure into the range of around a foot to 18 inches. Unless you’re using low pressure, never come closer to the deck than 12 inches.
Always begin in a spot that would be simple to fix or replace. For instance, instead of replacing a whole deck board, try starting with a stair tread. Once you’re confident that you have the ideal pressure setting, start from the house and move outward while maintaining a constant distance and sweeping across the grain of the wood while holding your arm steadily. You must sand your freshly cleaned deck before applying stain if the washing causes elevated soft wood fibers.
Professional Deck Power Washing
How We Use a Pressure Washer to Clean a Deck
Re-staining can extend the lifespan of your deck if it has aged over time, with its once-vibrant desert tan or chestnut brown color fading into a silvery gray tone. Full replacement, which might cost you up to $14,000, is not necessary.
But first, you must thoroughly clean the surface to ensure a smooth application before adding that new layer of stain. If you know how to use a pressure washer properly, it can be your greatest friend when the layers of dirt and grime are too deep and ingrained to remove with a simple broom sweep and spray-down.
A pressure washer will do a better job of deep cleaning than a chemical deck brightener when it comes to washing your wood deck in preparation for refinishing.
Here is how we may go about cleaning your deck:
Select a Tip and Pressure Setting
We choose the spray tip and pressure setting that are most appropriate for the application. We employ the least amount of pressure necessary to be effective. Harder woods may be able to withstand greater pressure, but you shouldn’t exceed 1,200 psi for soft woods (like cedar or pine). For soft timbers (like cedar or pine), pressure should be between 500 and 600 pounds per square inch (psi). We might employ a fan tip with a 40–60 degree spread.
Check the Pressure Washer’s Settings
Pressure washer use necessitates some practice. We t est your pressure and its efficacy in a hidden location, such a corner or the tread of a staircase. A stair tread is simpler to replace than a surface deck board if you find that you need to replace a piece of wood that you carved. We generally start off with a 500–600 psi pressure. Eventually increasing the pressure until we find the ideal setting for thorough cleaning.
Power Wash the Deck
Instead of arbitrarily moving our arms, which would cause an inconsistent gap between the spray point and the deck surface, we sweep the deck to clear it. We shift lateral back and forth, trying to keep a constant distance. From the house outward, we clean the deck boards. Cleaning parallel to the deck boards while gently over-spraying each section, we work with the grain by feathering the spray lengthwise. A uniform cleaning without “hot spots” or discernible cleaning edges is the objective.
Optionally Apply a Chemical Stripper/Brightener
Washing the wood with a sodium hydroxide-containing deck cleaning solution will help restore its brightness if it has been severely discolored or mildew-stained. Similar to pressure washing, we apply the stripper solution, rinse, then wash with plain water again. It’s important to keep in mind that stripper/brightener solutions often roughen up the wood fibers, so you’ll typically need to totally sand the deck before re-staining or sealing the wood.