How to Prepare for a Pressure Washing Appointment
Ten minutes of preparation makes the job faster and the result better. Most of it is obvious once someone says it out loud.
Before the day
Confirm water access. We need one working outdoor spigot. If yours is shut off, frozen or behind a locked gate, tell us in advance.
Gate codes and access. If the work is in a back yard behind a locked gate, we need the code or an unlocked gate. This is the single most common cause of a wasted trip.
Mention anything fragile. Loose mortar, damaged siding, a window that does not seal, an outdoor outlet with a missing cover, low-voltage landscape lighting. We would rather work around it than discover it.
On the day
Move vehicles off the driveway and away from the work area.
Close windows and doors fully, including any left cracked overnight.
Clear the surfaces. Move planters, furniture, door mats, toys, grills and anything light enough to be pushed around by water.
Bring pets inside. Equipment is loud, and cleaning solutions should not be walked through by animals.
Take down anything hanging on the walls being washed, including wreaths, wind chimes and hanging baskets.
What you do not need to do
You do not need to be home, as long as we have access and a working spigot. Many customers are at work while we are there.
You do not need to pre-clean, sweep or move heavy furniture. You do not need to provide anything beyond water. We bring equipment, hoses and solutions.
What happens while we work
Expect noise from the machine and water running off the work area. Landscaping adjacent to what we are cleaning gets pre-wet and rinsed, which is the standard way of protecting plants from runoff.
When we finish, walk the property with us if you are home. If something was missed, the time to say so is while we are still there with the equipment set up. If you are not home, we will send photos.
Afterwards
Surfaces are wet for a few hours depending on weather. Avoid walking on freshly cleaned steps until they dry, since wet clean concrete is briefly slick.
If you plan to stain a fence or seal a driveway, wait for it to dry fully first. That is usually a couple of dry days, longer in humid weather.
Questions
Do I need to be home for pressure washing?
Usually not, provided we can reach the work area and there is a working outdoor spigot. We will confirm access when scheduling.
Do you need to use my water?
Yes, one working outdoor spigot. We supply hoses, equipment and cleaning solutions.
Will it hurt my plants?
Landscaping next to the work is pre-wet and rinsed afterwards, which is what prevents solution from concentrating on foliage.