Atlanta gutter cleaning

It was years ago, and I had just painted my newly bought old house. With the help of some
friends, we turned the rather dirty looking white into a cool and, should I say, very spunky
shade of yellow. Not too dark ... not too light ... more like a banana that's sat out on the
counter for only a day or two. I painted the floor of the wrap-around porch a light green,
getting rid of the awful gray the previous owner had apparently loved.

Within two years, though, the yellow was showing signs of weathering. It was a bit dirty, and
a trifle moldy. The pollen from the nearby maple trees stuck to it like flies on paper. The
porch floor was a disaster. That's what having big two dogs with muddy paws will do.
Instead of turning again to paint and brush, I bought a power washer and tried to scrub the
house clean. It worked, up to a point. I soon learned that power washers are not magic
wands, especially in the hands of novices (read: me). They are certainly not magic erasers
that can get rid of years of dirt, grim, pollen and mildew in one washing. Moreover, if you're
not careful, and don't use the right cleaners and attachments, you can damage your house's
siding, be it aluminum, wood or vinyl.

The Right Pressure Washer

As the name suggests, power, or pressure, washers are machines that spray water under
high pressure. Think of them as adult squirt guns on steroids. But, like everything else in the
world, you get what you pay for. I'll admit, the power washer I used was not the best for
washing a two-story house. I bought it on sale. Moreover, it was electric and not all that
powerful. It was better suited to cleaning lawn furniture and sidewalks. The ancient
Egyptians had an easier time wrapping their mummies than I had trying to wrap the
extension cord and garden hose around the house.

I digress. What I should have bought was a pressure washer that runs on gasoline. Since
the power of a pressure washer is measured in pounds per square inch (psi), gas-run
machines can tackle a tough job. The washers come with different psi. Do your research to
see which one is the best for you.

If you don't know which one to buy, talk to the experts at your local home improvement store
for advice. If your house is wood, stucco or aluminum sided, it is best washed with a
machine that can generate 1,200 to 1,500 psi. If your house is brick, stone or vinyl, a
machine that produces 2,500 to 3,000 psi is recommended.

Using the right nozzle is important, too. Some experts recommend using a 25- or 40-degree
nozzle tip. (More on nozzles later.) If your house is two stories, get an extension wand. You'll
thank me later. You don't want to use a ladder when power washing. Nothing good can
come of it. You can also use an attachment with a brush. Brushes are great, because they
allow you to scrub the dirt away. If you want to blast away at the insides of your gutters, no
problem. There are angled attachments to make the job easier.
Next, don't clean your house with just pressurized water. Ante up and buy detergent. For
one thing, it makes cleaning so much easier. Plus, it's fun to watch dirt melt and drip to the
ground in a miasma of suds. There's something cool about washing suds off a long porch.

I for one, love TSP Heavy-Duty Cleaner. I use it on the house even if I'm not power washing.
This stuff cuts through any type of stubborn dirt and grime. It destroys mold, so you don't
have to use bleach. You can mix it yourself, or just buy a pre-mixed jug. It looks like pink
lemonade, but please, don't let anyone you know drink it. You can use TSP on brick, stone,
wood and cement.

Safety Tips
Let's say you have your power washer, attachments and detergent. You're ready to go! Not
so fast. Like all DIY projects, safety comes first.

● Get yourself some bona fide eye protection. The water will f ly out of the wand under
tremendous pressure, and it could chip off bits of brick, rock and wood that can shoot
your eye out.
● Wearing the right shoes is key because the pressure of the water can strip right
through the wrong shoes and badly injure your feet. Heavy-duty boots are best.
● Wear protective gloves. Don't use gardening gloves, they'll get wet, which means
they'll be hard to get off. Break down and buy heavy duty ones.
● Expect to get wet.
● If you have an electric power washer, keep in mind it can be a shocking experience if
water comes in contact with electricity. Use a heavy-duty extension cord. They look
like long orange snakes. Also, be extremely careful washing around the electrical
service line. That's the line connecting your house to the telephone pole. Wash
gingerly around cable and telephone lines, too, not to mention the electric or gas
meter. If there are any outdoor outlets, tape them shut with electrical tape.
● As I said before, don't use a ladder, even if someone holds it. The washer could
recoil and off the ladder you go. Always remember water on metal ladder rungs might
as well be grease on m etal ladder rungs. You could rent a 6-foot (1.8-meter) scaffold
that locks. With the scaffold, you should be able reach the second floor using an
extension wand without a problem.
● Never point a power washer at another person or an animal. Remember that the
pressure from these machines is very strong and cause serious injury.

How to Wash
Before we get started, attach the water source (your hose) to the machine. Consult the
owner's manual. Work out the kinks in the hose before you begin. I don't need to source this
because I speak from experience. It's so annoying when the water suddenly stops and you
have to find and unkink the kink. Also, make sure your hose is long enough to wrap around
the house. That means you might have to connect two or more hoses. If you have a helper, I
suggest having them follow behind holding onto, and maneuvering, the hose.

Select the nozzle. Your pressure washer should come with several nozzles, each with a
different degree of angle. The higher the angle the more area you can cover. Most experts
recommend a 15- or 25-degree nozzle for general cleaning. Some are color-coded. Again,
check the owner's manual.

Never use the 0-degree nozzle. It can damage the siding. The 40-degree nozzle is probably
the best for cleaning the outside of the house as it covers a wide area but provides enough
power to dislodge the dirt. If you want a gentler nozzle, go with the 65-degree. Power
washers also come with rotary nozzles. They spin and are designed to remove tough stains.
(Important safety tip: don't linger on one spot too long, the rotary nozzle can do serious
damage. I know. I screwed up using it once. Ugh.)

Whichever nozzle you use, make sure it is securely fastened to the wand. You don't want to
rocket the nozzle through a window, do you? (Important safety tip: cover any flowers or
shrubs around the house.) Shut your windows. Your wife will thank you later.

Practice Makes Perfect

Start slowly. Practice in a low area first so you can get the feel of the machine and the spray
blasting from the wand. Work horizontally and at a slightly downward angle. Guide the wand
with two hands moving from side to side. When you're ready, begin washing. Start from the
top down to avoid streaking. When you get the feel, go slowly, deliberately and don't linger
on one spot for too long. You could damage the siding. Be tentative around screens and
windows.

There are many jobs a pressure washer can tackle, including cleaning decks, sidewalks and
even washing a car. And to be truthful, it's kind of fun to operate. I don't know why. It just is. I
guess it brings out our inner kid in some fashion.

Be safe! And if you don't want to wash your house yourself, call an expert. The only thing
you have to do is write a check.

Power Washing
Pressure washing and power washing sound like the same thing, but there are a few
distinctions. Power washing utilizes the same idea of blasting water at a high pressure, only
with hot water. This sets power washing apart because the hot water not only acts to sanitize
surfaces, it is also superior at breaking down organic materials.
Power washing machines are usually heavier duty machines, as well. You can't acquire a
professional-strength power washer, nor should you. These are extremely dangerous to you
and your property without training.

Power washing is mainly for outdoor cleaning of driveways, stone walls, and rough concrete.
They are more commonly seen in commercial and industrial settings.

Pressure Washing
Pressure washing is an extremely effective home solution to cleaning various surfaces of the
home. Pressure washers don't heat up water. However, the pressures are still high enough
to be dangerous. Amateurs often learn the hard way about the cutting power of a pressure
washer.

Water is being pushed out at such a high rate, it can cut through a finger to the bone in a
split-second. It can also do stuff like carve a pumpkin or descale a fish.

Special care must also be taken when pressure washing home sidings. You need to be at
the correct distance to avoid wearing down vinyl sidings, wood shingles, and so forth.

Pressure washing is meant for walking surfaces, decks, stone pathways, patio furniture, and
so forth. Anything that is hard, but has deep grooves that allow dirt to be embedded is a
great candidate for pressure washing.

Soft Washing
Now, you may be thinking that soft washing has nothing to do with pressure washing.
Ironically, pressure washers are used to soft wash, but they are modified to lower the PSI, or
pressure per square inch.

Soft washing is done using less than 500 PSI for rinsing or cleaning application. The tip of
the pressure washer is replaced with one that widens the spray, dropping the point of
pressure. On top of this, soft washing utilizes special cleaning solutions to break down dirt
and organisms living on surfaces.

These cleaning solutions are eco-friendly and will not strip protective coatings on your
home's exterior. Soft washing methods are preferred in a variety of situations over pressure
washing.

Soft washing is recommended for soft surfaces, such as:

Cedar shake siding

Wood panel siding
Outdoor rooted plants
Stucco and coquina
Outdoor wood furniture
Screens, enclosures, and lanais
Vinyl siding

Health Benefits of Professional

Washing
Giving your home or business a deep cleaning is important, not just for aesthetics. Your
health is impacted by the long-term build-up of dirt, mold, pollen, algae, and decaying matter.
All that stuff piles up over time in between cracks, underneath sidings, around stones, and
on patio furniture.

All these contaminants embed themselves into your exterior surfaces where the garden hose
can't penetrate. Standard cleaning soaps don't do enough, either. The end result is you
getting sick more often and not even realizing the source.

This is why investing in a professional cleaner is worth every penny.

When Should You Pressure/Soft

Wash?
The type of washing is going to depend on how your home is built, the materials used, and
its surroundings. Typically, you'll be getting one or the other done to your home, that is,
unless you're getting your entire home done top to bottom. In that case, you're going to want
a soft wash for the roof, windows, and sidings.

The job would need to be broken into two phases. The first phase would be pressure
washing all the hard surfaces. The second phase of soft washing requires the changing out
of cleaning solution and nozzle for the rest of the home.

Can You Rent a Machine to DIY?

The short answer is "yes." The question that should be asked is "should you?" Pressure
washers can be rented at home supply stores, but, again, they require care operation. As for
soft washing by yourself, you run into similar hazards with no experience.

You'll need to use the right chemicals, equipment, and have the nozzle that allows you to
soft wash. These chemicals are very strong, so you have to use the correct dilution to get
results without leaving a film or damage to the surface.

We know there are some very adamant DIY'ers out there who live for the challenge and
want to save money on home projects. We ask you to reconsider this project and hire a
professional. You'll get it done faster, like-new restorations, and you won't risk property
damage.
Get it Clean the First Time
Cleaning the outside of a home or business is a big job. You can easily spend a whole week
trying to tackle it alone. Throw in some bad weather and the sun's unrelenting rays and you
have a recipe for frustration.

It's much harder to focus on what you're doing, especially if it's with something like soft
washing or pressure washing. That's when mistakes are made, which can mean bad news
for you or your wallet.

Take a break, let the professionals handle all the outside cleaning and detailing. At Labor
Panes, we pride ourselves on being perfectionists. We offer a wide range of services,
including a comprehensive window cleaning offering.