How To Avoid Four Power Washing Rip-Offs
Rip-Off #1: Unbelievably Low Price. To some degree, all of us are attracted to low price because we want to work within a budget. But some contractors use low pressure washing prices as the bait in order to land a job. They are hoping you are basing your buying decision on price alone and if they are the cheapest, they will get the job.
Unfortunately once they get the job they have to take shortcuts in order to make a profit. Professional power washing is not as cheap as some unethical power washers would like you to believe. Make sure you are paying for the level of quality you expect.
Rip-Off #2: Crafty Claims Like: Specializing in Hot Water Washing or No Bleach Roof Cleaning . You may read these in ads, or hear this from contractors. The truth is hot water can be beneficial but most of the benefit is to the contractor. Hot water speeds up the washing process. However the same end result can be achieved by cool water and the right detergents. Hot water isn’t bad it just shouldn’t be a reason you hire someone as long as they achieve the results you expect. In addition, hot water needs to be used with care. It can warp vinyl siding, damage wood and asphalt shingles, and can be detrimental to plants and shrubbery.
No bleach roof cleaning. What does this mean to you the homeowner? We don’t really know. Again as long as you are getting the end results you expect it shouldn’t really matter what the company uses to clean the roof. We will note however, that the major shingle manufacturers do recommend using a bleach solution to treat roofs suffering from moss, algae, and lichen. The bleach kills these organisms and will not harm your shingles. What does harm shingles is using high pressure so be leery of companies advertising No Bleach roof cleaning because it’s likely they are using excessive pressure to clean your roof, which damages the shingles.
Rip-Off #3: Outdated Beliefs: “Just Power Wash the Deck and Use an Expensive Sealer.” Many people believe that using an expensive sealer will make all the difference.
The fact is: the number one reason a sealer fails, no matter how much it cost, is because the wood is not prepared properly. Wood goes through many stages while being cleaned. When using the proper cleaner the wood turns very dark, as the ph level goes up. A neutralizing process is necessary to lower the wood to a more acidic level, so the sealer will adhere properly.
With the wood prepared properly, it can then be sealed with a contractor grade sealer. If an old sealer is present, the deck will need stripped so the new sealer can adhere to the wood properly. This stripping process is only done properly using a stripping agent, NOT high water pressure.
Obviously, each contractor will be biased toward his own method. You should look to what wood professionals say. There are wood restoration classes that contractors can take to become certified, check to see if the contractor you are considering is certified.
Rip-Off #4: Offering To Wash Anything and Everything. Contractors wash many different things, from houses to tractors and from decks to parking lots. A company offering to wash almost anything may look impressive but is a sign of not being established.
There are a lot of fly by night companies that come and go, who will offer to wash anything for a dollar, they never really get good at one thing. Make sure you hire a contractor that specializes in just a handful of the services you are interested in.
Choose Another Report To Continue Reading
We have written each report to cover the most common problems related to hiring a pressure washer. Please take the time to read each one so you will be prepared and understand the risk.
- 6 Costly Misconceptions About Power Washing
- 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Power Washer
- The Most Detailed Exterior Cleaning Ever Or It’s FREE!
- 4 Steps to Protecting Your Investment
We provide numerous home exterior cleaning and pressure washing services for houses, decks, roofs, driveways, and more. If you live in our Indiana or Michigan service area, please give us a call or fill out the online estimate form. All estimates are free.