Many property owners take a do-it-yourself mentality when it comes to upkeep and maintenance. Does this sound like you? If so, we applaud your can-do attitude. However, we also recommend you leave any pressure washing to clean your sidewalks to the professionals like Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services.
Oh sure, you could head to a home improvement store or an equipment rental company and acquire a pressure washer to use. It looks easy enough, doesn’t it? You just point the nozzle where you want the water to go and pull the trigger, so how difficult can it be? In reality, safe, correct use of a power washer is a learned skill. You might be able to pick up the basics in a few minutes, but you run the risk of doing all kinds of damage. The CDC website issues its own disclaimers about pressure washer safety.
The risks include:
- Wounds from the strong spray, which may appear minor but could be serious, thus increasing the risk of complications such as infection, disability and even amputation
- The power of the spray can propel objects through the air, injuring people or animals or doing property damage
- The risk of electric shock from improper use of the pressure washer and/or failure to follow safety instructions
You also face a risk of property damage: stripping paint off of homes or vehicles, knocking loose siding or shingles, or devastating a wood deck.
Why do all these mishaps occur? It’s too easy for someone who lacks experience with a pressure washer to choose the wrong nozzle, holding the wand too close to whatever you’re cleaning, or spraying one area for too long. You also might select a pressure setting that is too high. In many cases, accidents related to pressure washer use happen because someone doesn’t realize the potential power of a pressurized stream of water.
There’s a specific set of risks entailed with pressure washing sidewalks, as well as bricks and paving stones. Use too much pressure and you can create small pits in the bricks or degrade the general surface. If your sidewalk was recently installed or repaired, there’s a high risk of damage to the new slabs, as the pressurized stream of water could damage the mortar.
The Right Tool
Using a surface cleaner, which is a key implement in all our concrete cleaning jobs, minimizes the risk of concrete damage. This device is the choice of any qualified professional pressure washing technician. It helps us clean your concrete thoroughly while also keeping it protected. Remember, concrete always can be repaired—even if it means the installation of an entire new section—but matching the color of new concrete to the concrete in your existing sidewalk can be next to impossible. That’s going to create a permanent mismatch and, with it, have a constant effect on the curb appeal of your property.
Concrete Pressure Washing in Fort Myers
From sidewalks and walkways to driveways and pavers, Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services can meet all your concrete cleaning needs in Fort Myers and throughout Southwest Florida. We can transform the exterior of your property. To find out more, give us a call at (239) 218-5085.
