Pressure Wash Loose Paint From Siding

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.

Pressure wash loose paint from siding. Never start off on the highest pressure setting. Attach the 15 or 25 degree nozzle to the wand for general paint cleaning then test the effect on the siding photo 6. When pressure washing a lot of painters will get right up close to the surface to try to blast loose paint off. Bob vila interviews a contractor in the process of using a pressure washer to remove paint from exterior wood siding.

Once you have identified the type of material beneath the paint you can measure the pressure accordingly to make sure it removes the paint but keeps the siding intact. Use a low pressure and wide sprayer angle while applying the cleaning solution. Based on our experience we recommend getting a pressure washer with at least 3000 psi. They often succeed and then that 3000 psi water is blasting right into bare wood.

The pressure you use also depends on the type of paint you are removing. A power washer increases the water pressure at your outdoor faucet up to thousands of pounds per square inch enough to blast dirt grime and peeling paint off any surface. Pressure washers usually have three or four nozzles with spray patterns of varying widths. It digs holes in the surface and furs the wood grain up damaging the siding.

Learn how to give your pressure washer a tune up. The spray should clean away all dirt and chalk without damaging the siding. For more on house painting visit. Fill up your pressure washer s tank with cleaning solution then spray the siding with the water solution mixture working from the bottom up.

Your pressure washer s instructions will indicate the proper settings for applying the cleaning solution. Never use this method on hardboard siding as it s more susceptible to moisture and can easily be damaged by the high pressure. Pressure washing will easily chip paint off of most surfaces so only use a low pressure flow of water to wash painted items such as a porch floor or painted outdoor furniture. Starting low and gently working your way up is the safest bet.