A pressure washer is an effective method of revitalizing your fences, but remember that it must be powerful to remove grits and mucks.
A typical unit used for home cleaning produces 1,500 to 3,000 PSI. Such a powerful unit canlead to a danger if the same is in the hands of an untrained user. It only takes one poorly mnaged spray to break a window.
The high water pressure in pressure washers can easily splinter softwoods i.e. pine and cedar, which can cause major damage.
A pressure washer can be taken on rent
The PSI rating of gas-powered proucts is typically higher, and they deliver more water gallons per minute ascompared to the electric models. A gas pressure washer can prove to be much powerful for you especially if you’re new to pressure washing.
Electric pressure washers aren’t a bad idea, but be aware of the fact that they need to have power outlets. You can get gas pressure washers and practice with them prior to beginning your project if that is inconvenient based on the size of your fence.
The grass and plants within or around the fence can be protected by laying down plastic sheeting.
An electric pressure washer uses high-pressure water to loosen dirts and grimes, and the same can also do spraying of the dirts and grimes back onto your yards andmaybe you too. It is a good idea to cover delicate plants growing near your fence’s base with tarps, so they are protected.
Make sure you use the right nozzle heads.
Using a nozzles (of 25 degrees) with a green tip, start spraying. You should use this nozzle for all-purpose pressure washing, but if your fences are heavily stained or dirty, you should change to a 15-degree nozzle (yellow-tipped).
To avoid damaging the fence, keeping the nozzle one-two feet awayis recommeded.
If you need to move forward from the fence, start two feet away and gradually move closer if necessary. High-pressure water can cause significant damage at close range, so start farther away. You may have to clean at different distances, but moving slowly is better than gouging the wood.
Make sure the water is cold.
The majority of pressure washers available for residential use, especially those rented, only offer settings/configurations for cold water.
Stick to cold water when pressure washing wood fences. Staining or sealing a fence can be more difficult with hot water because it raises the wood grains.
Follow all safety measures.
Do not point water streams at people, pet(s), or power lines. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Protect your ears as well. Cleaning with pressure washer can be quite loud, so be sure to protect your ears. Make sure you wear waterproof clothing. Make sure you dress appropriately.
You will need to exert lots of pressure when doing the same for a fence, so don’t lose momentum. It’s just as crucial to seal the wood as it is to clean it because it’s this last stage, which prevents the fence from declining.
Choosing between staining and sealing your freshly washed fence will be your major decision once it has dried.
