Posted on June 21st, 2022.

Why Should You Pressure Wash Your Deck?

Now that spring is in full-force and summer is just weeks away, homeowners everywhere are preparing their outdoor spaces for the warmer weather. If you have a deck, you can probably hardly wait to get it all set up for various gatherings. But before you get too ahead of yourself, you’ll want to make sure your deck is in good shape.

Pressure washing your deck is a key component of proper deck maintenance and preparation. If you don’t have a pressure washer or know how to use one, you can always hire professionals on an annual basis to get the job done. Let’s explore six reasons why it’s so important to pressure wash your deck at least once a year.

1. Efficient Cleaning

It might go without saying, but cleaning with a pressure washer (or power washer) is leagues faster and more effective than any manual cleaning process (so long as whoever is operating the pressure washer is standing at the proper distance, aiming at the correct angles, etc.). Sure -- you could spend hours on your hands and knees scrubbing your deck with warm water and detergent, but your results may vary and your body will pay the price.

2. Remove Dirt, Dust, and Debris

The main purpose of any cleaning method is to get rid of any unwanted particles and residue caked on a surface. Once again, pressure washing eradicates dirt, dust, debris, grime, you name it, with relative ease. The friction and heat delivered by the pressurized water/detergent mixture loosens and blasts away these materials. As a result, your deck will be restored to its previous beauty and, more importantly, free from various health and safety hazards.

3. Stop Mold and Mildew in Their Tracks

Standard debris shouldn’t be your only concern when cleaning your deck, of course. Most types of wood are highly attractive and susceptible to fungal growth such as mold and mildew. This is especially the case if there is moisture present (and there is bound to be at least some). Manual cleaning cannot always effectively remove all traces of fungi, but proper pressure washing certainly can. By fully removing mold, mildew, and other fungi, you protect your deck from serious issues like rot.

4. Prepare Your Deck for Paint or Stain

Pressure washing is also a key prerequisite for applying new coats of deck stain or paint. If you fail to prepare your surfaces ahead of time, your sealing products will not fully adhere and/or soak into the wood itself, rendering them virtually useless. In other words, you need a clear canvas if you want your stain or paint to do its job properly and last as long as possible. Pressure washing makes it easy to achieve this.

5. Prolong the Life of Your Wood

As mentioned earlier, pressure washing is a necessary component of regular wood deck maintenance. Wood is a sturdy material, but it’s also porous and vulnerable to many environmental factors, such as moisture, sunlight, pests, extreme temperatures, and more. If you want your deck to withstand the elements and retain its integrity for years to come, you have to keep these threats at bay and be able to identify problems when they occur. A poorly kept, dirty deck tends to hide its problems, while simultaneously encouraging more of them. By pressure washing at least once a year, though, you help boost your deck’s immunity and reveal potential issues like mold, rot, fracturing, etc. In turn, you can make necessary repairs and take preventative measures to prolong your deck’s life.

6. Boost Your Home’s Value

Your deck is a part of your home. Therefore, anything you do to enhance its structure and appearance increases your home’s overall value. You might not be looking to put your house on the market anytime soon, but, still, the more your home is worth, the better. And the better care you take of your deck, the easier it is to keep up this value. In this way, hiring pressure washing services to thoroughly clean your deck can be viewed as a key investment on which you will receive a future return.

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