Power Washing a Home’s Exterior

As Spring sets in, you might start to see a green or brown tint on your house — especially if you have light-colored siding or brick. What is that? That green or brown is probably algae, moss or mildew. If left alone, it can damage your house.  

But there is no need to worry about home damage from algae or mildew, because they’re easy to take care of. You can power wash these nuisances away yourself with items from a home improvement store, or hire help to get it done for a few hundred dollars. 

If you’re planning on power washing to rid your home of algae, moss or milder yourself, here’s what to do and what you need. 

1. You need a pressure/power washer and a cleaner recommended for siding or brick, whichever one you have. 

2. You need to be sure the pressure washer has a nozzle that will not damage your house. If you rent or buy the power washer, ask for a nozzle specifically made for this purpose. It is a nozzle that gives a wider spray than you would use to clean a concrete driveway. 

3. Protect plants. Use drop cloths or plastic to cover any plants, shrubs, light fixtures etc. that you need to protect from a powerful water spray. For light fixtures, you can put a plastic bag over it and use duct tape to secure it. 

4. Follow the directions for the power washer and spray your house. Start from the bottom up so you can see what you are cleaning. Use smooth strokes so you don’t miss a spot. Let the solution set for a few minutes and then rinse off. 

If your house has not been cleaned for a few years, you might need to clean it more than once. Just let dry in between cleanings so you can be sure and get all the dirt and grime. Then plan on doing this every year to protect your home’s exterior. 

Protect your property. Call The DeLuca Agency at one of our locations for more information on home insurance.