13 Sep The Benefits of Pressure Washing Before Exterior Painting
The Benefits of Pressure Washing Before Exterior Painting
When it comes to exterior painting, preparation truly is everything. You want to ensure that your home’s exterior surface is clean and free of mold spores or debris before any painting begins. One of the essential first steps in the painting preparation process is pressure washing. Pressure washing is the process of using high-pressure water to clean and remove any dirt, mold or mildew from a home’s exterior surfaces. Pressure washing your home’s exterior before painting involves a specific process and has a lot of benefits. In this blog post, we will walk you through both the process and benefits of pressure washing before exterior painting.
Pressure Washing Process
Pressure washing and home cleaning prior to painting require attention to detail and precision. Our team customizes our cleaning process to each home. Pressure washing is not as cut and dry as it may initially seem. “Pressure washing in general happens on a really individualized basis,” says Dane, a member of our pressure washing crew. “If a house has pine on the exterior, for example, we can’t get that wet for any length of time. If water beads on that wood, it will leave a dark spot that we can never get rid of. When there’s wood of any kind involved, we always err on the side of careful.”
The basics of our typical cleaning approach for residential repaints includes inspecting the home to identify areas that may require special attention such as mold, mildew, or severe dirt buildup. Next, a low-concentration bleach solution is applied to the exterior surfaces. This helps to loosen dirt and grime and kill mold and mildew. After applying the solution, high-pressure water is used to rinse the surfaces thoroughly. Once the pressure washing is completed, the house is allowed to dry completely before the painting process begins. On homes where there is stained or clear coated wood we take a different approach to cleaning as to safeguard these substrates.
Benefits of Pressure Washing
Improves the Paint’s Adhesion
The most significant benefit of pressure washing before exterior painting is that it enables primer and paint to adhere properly to exterior substrates. At Amsberry’s Painting we use a low-concentration bleach solution in combination with power washing to remove all dirt, mold and mildew that might otherwise interfere with the paint’s ability to adhere to a home’s exterior surfaces. This is critical because if the paint doesn’t stick well to the surface, it can start to peel, chip and even bubble. Bubbling can occur specifically when mold is not cleaned off prior to painting.
Detect and Repair Any Damages
During the pressure wash, our pressure wash team is up close and personal with the exterior of your house. This proximity, along with enhanced visibility resulting from the elimination of grime and dirt, allow us to identify issues with siding, trim, shingles, or exterior substrates that require repair prior to painting. The identification and repair of these issues make for a smoother and quicker painting process, and a longer-lasting paint job.
Conclusion
In summary, pressure washing and cleaning are essential preliminary steps for exterior painting. They not only enhance the adhesion of paint, preventing issues like peeling, chipping, and bubbling, but also enable the identification and repair of any underlying damage to your home’s exterior. This ultimately improves the durability and longevity of your paint job. By leveraging professional pressure washing services, you can ensure a meticulous cleaning process tailored to your home’s specific requirements, contributing to a seamless painting experience and a stunning end result.
If you have exterior painting or pressure washing needs, schedule a free estimate with us today! We have over 50 years of painting experience and would be happy to help with your home cleaning, painting and staining needs.