When it comes to revitalizing your wood fence, you want to be sure you’re doing everything possible to make the fence look brand new, no matter how old it may be. One of the essential steps for achieving that goal is with fence pressure washing. You absolutely must clean your fence before you can do anything else and getting a pressure washer to eliminate years of caked on dirt, grime, and soot will leave you with a blank canvas to paint or stain as you see fit.
But many of us have never used a pressure washer before which can make this kind of equipment kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. They also exhibit an incredible amount of power which can be damaging and destructive if utilized improperly. So, before you hook up your equipment and start spraying your fence, let’s review the five most important fence pressure washing tips that you absolutely must keep in mind. These will not only keep you and everyone around you safe, but it will also prevent you from ruining your fence in the process of trying to restore it.
1.Safety First
Before you start the process of washing your fence, you must ensure that nobody is in the path of your washing stream. These machines expel water at high speeds with a lot of pressure, enough to badly injure or possibly even kill another person or animal. So never aim the nozzle at someone else, even in jest. Safety first and it begins with you.
2. Test Your Surface
The water that is being expelled is expected to clear away thick accumulations of dirt and grime. The force of pressure should be enough to get the job done but it can also be too much for the surface of the wood to withstand. As a result, you could end up damaging the fence and that will make your job even tougher (and more expensive). So, check the fence for any cracks, fractures, or loose parts and then work accordingly.
3. Choice of Nozzle
You have multiple options to work with in your choice of nozzle. The one you select will have a specific size stream and strength attributed to it and different nozzles are ideal for different jobs. Selecting the proper nozzle will be the difference between cleaning your fence, cleaning it well, and avoiding any damage.
4. Temperature of The Water
Pressure is a big part of what makes pressure washing so effective. Another is the temperature of the water you are expelling. Hot water is best for those stubborn jobs but just be careful you don’t burn yourself or others in the vicinity. Cooler water is suitable for surfaces with less resistant layers of dirt and grime.
5. Leave It to The Pros
Perhaps you are feeling uncomfortable with so much power in your hands or your fence is too delicate for a pressure washer you rented from the local hardware store. Whatever the case, calling the experts to do the work instead may be the most useful tip of all. They have the equipment and know-how to make your fence look brand new.
