1425 California St.               Daily 7:00 - 5:30
(812) 379 - 9566                      Sat. 7:00 - 12:00
Columbus, Indiana

If you have a project you would like help with, CLICK HERE. Power Washing Your House

Do it once a year, and your siding will look great. What you will need: Power Washer Garden Hose Duct Tape Plastic sheeting and drop cloth Cleaning agent (optional) EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED IS AVAILABLE AT BRANDS LUMBER The inside of your house, and your yard, usually get an annual or "spring cleaning", but why stop there? A complete house cleaning should include power washing the exterior. After all, it's the first thing your guests see. A thorough power washing will remove not only dirt, mildew, and moss, but also paint that is peeling, flaking, and chalking. Chalking is a problem with white aluminum siding that's 15 to 20 years old. Powere washing gets rid of the residue so that new paint will adhere. Power washing is a good way to perepare your houses's surface for repainting, too. Once the siding is clean, you may just find out that you don't have to paint after all. HANDLING THE EQUIPMENT: You'll be working with a lot more water presure than the average garden hose delivers. A power washer delivers about 1,200 to 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi), compared to 60 psi from a garden hose; making the washier wand a dangerous tool. But with a little practice you can control it. You will get tired from fighting the pressure, so when you begin to feel tired, take a break. A power washer is not a toy and should not be operated by children. Never put you hands or fingers near the tip of the wand when it's operating or aim the wand at a person or animal. The water will penetrate the skin and cause severe injury. When you're working near the main overhead electriclal service line that runs into your house, be extremely careful. Accidental contact of the wires by the wand will kill you! Keep the wand at lease 10 feet from the power line. If needed, clean the area around the line by hand, using a wood handled scrub brush. PSI'S, NOZZLES, AND SOAP: The recommended pressure rating of a washer intended for residential use is from 1,200 to 2,500 psi. Units rated less than 1,200 psi won't do the job effectively, washers rated above 2,500 psi could cause damage if not handled properly. The nozzle design and the width of the spray pattern are also important. The three recomended patern sizes for power washing a house are 15, 25, and 40 degrees. You'll get better results with either a 15 or 25 degree nozzle, with the 15 degree nozzle probably working the best, giving you a thorough, yet controlled cleaning. Whether you need to use a cleaning agent depends on how dirty the house is. A power washing with clear water only usually does the trick. However, if your siding is marred by chalking, oxidation, moss or mildew, you'll probably need to use a general purpose cleaner. CORRECT WASHING TECHIQUES: Step 1: Wash from the bottom up to prevent the dirt and cleaning agent from running down onto the unwashed surface and streaking it. Step 2: Rinse from the top down to thoroughly wash away the cleaning agent and dirt to avoid leaving streaks on the clean surface. Step 3: While you have the machine, clean other areas around the house, such as concrete patios, brick steps, decks, driveways, and trash cans. POWER WASHING DO'S AND DONT'S: * Do keep the nozzle 10 to 12 inches from the surface, at about a 45 degree angle to the surface. * Do make sure all windows are closed tightly. * Do cover all outside light fixtures with plastic bags; secure the bags with duct tape. * Do cover all electrical outlets on the exterior of the home with polyethylene film and duct tape. * Do use extra caution on houses with aluminum or steel siding and fascia. A power washer can bend sections even blow them right off the house. * Place drop cloths over plants and shrubs. Move lawn furniture and other portable objects away from the house. * Do watch the weather. If it's too windy don't wash. There will be a lot of nuesance overspray, even if it's only water. * Don't spray directly at windows. The water pressure can break them. If you have questions about renting a power washer or need any additional information be sure to contact a sales professional at Brands, Inc. (812) 379-9566.