Yes, you might think this is obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people get it wrong. Of course, jet washing can make light work of cleaning your patio, driveway or decking, and let’s face it, that’s not everyone’s favourite job. But done incorrectly or too often, jet-washing can cause costly damage to paving and joints.
So let’s brush up on the basics…
A stiff brush and soapy water is usually enough to clean stains, so it is always a good idea to use this method most of the time and jet wash only occasionally.
Before you go near your paving with a pressure washer…
Always check it is suitable for jet washing and test a small discrete patch first. Avoid jet washing natural stone as it can damage joint pointing and loosen the natural layers of some stone. Light jet wash concrete only occasionally to avoid damaging the surface of the paving.
10 pointers for a perfectly clean patio
- Make sure your hose is fastened securely to the tap and attach the appropriate fitting
- Turn on the tap, making sure water is running freely before you turn on the power
- Always point the hose at a 45o angle to the ground. This is enough to loosen dirt, but not enough to pound the surface
- Hold the washer 30-40cm from the surface you are washing
- Always use the fan spray. A small nozzle will increase the power significantly which can dislodge jointing material and cause water to get into and eventually break up some surfaces
- Avoid joint lines
- Never use a rotary nozzle on block paving or between slabs as it will be too forceful and could damage the pointing between them
- Don’t use a strong spray on areas where paving is chipped as it can cause more damage
- Work from one corner of the area, blasting dirt away from you as you go
- Rinse off using a lower pressure, allow to dry, stand back and admire!
The post How to pressure wash properly appeared first on Kebur.