How to Power Wash Decks
Brad Forrest, Owner
Power washing decks is a fairly similar process to power washing
houses and fences, although extra care is taken to avoid
damaging the floor.
Materials:
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A gas power washer (at least 2500 psi for a wood-sided or
vinyl-sided house)
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A garden hose
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Gasoline
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Ear protection
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Soap
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Anti-vibration gloves
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Setting up the Power Washer
We will start by connecting the power washer to the hose, power hose, and power washing wand and turning the water on.
2. Testing the Power Washer
Once the power washer is set up,we then squeeze the trigger to
check to make sure the water is in an evenly dispersed “V”. If it is
not, the nozzle is most likely clogged and we clear it out with a pin.
3. Turning the Power Washer On
Once we’ve checked that the power washer is functioning properly, it is time to turn it on. This will involve pulling on the cord and may involve experimenting with different positions for the "choke/run"lever to see which works best (it varies by day).
4. Making Sure the Power Washer is Up and Running
Once the power washer is turned on, we will then squeeze the trigger to make sure that it is up and running properly. This sometimes takes a couple minutes for the power washer to warm up.
5. Starting on the Railings
Since it’s always best to work from the top down, we start at the top of the railings. If we're using soap, we'll apply that first and wait the necessary amount of time before power washing. If it is white vinyl, the dirt and mold will likely fall off pretty easily. However, no matter which type of railing we're washing, it is typically difficult to get in every nook and cranny; we make sure to go on both sides and look from several different angles.
6. Moving onto the Floors and Steps
Now it’s time to move onto the flooring. If we're using soap, it will be applied first and then we'll follow the directions for how long to wait before power washing. If it is a wooden deck, we will generally stay about 12 inches away from the surface to avoid damaging it. If it is a composite deck, we'll need to be about 24 inches away (see our article on Can the Power Washer Damage Property). We will repeat this for the entire deck and it will be finished!
