As I go through life I realize that some projects really are better left to the professional. I work in the contract cleaning/pressure washing industry and have turned my companies attention toward the exterior wood restoration area. In regards to wood restoration a pressure washer is merely a tool to save time and should not be relied on to do the work. It is a tool just like a hammer or saw is only a tool to a carpenter. Wood restoration can be accomplished by cob-blasting, sanding, the use of the proper chemicals, and many other methods than blasting away with a pressure washer. Going further in this line of thought I will state that, in my opinion, that it is highly irresponsible for the Do-It -Yourself Stores to even sell pressure washers that rate over 3000psi without the proper education. A pressure washer with over 3000psi in the hands of many homeowners and weekend warriors only leads to damage. More often than not the damage is irreversible. Most professional contractors do not need to use much more than 1500psi to clean most residential projects.

Lets take a look at this in more detail. First of all the typical homeowner and some so-called professionals have little to no knowledge of the Clean Water Act (http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/cwa/ ) or water run off. More often than not homeowners are breaking the laws that a professional contractor needs to abide by. Basically, the only water that is to go into storm drains is rainwater. No wastewater is run into the waters of the United States. I often see folks washing their cars, driveways, homes, etc. and the water runs down the driveway and into the storm drains. In parts of California they have passed laws to ban residential car washing for just this reason. The true professional using a pressure washer will have knowledge and have the proper equipment to comply with the regulations.

As far as cleaning is concerned it isnt pressure that cleans surfaces, it is the proper chemicals and cleaning supplies used. Pressure usually causes damage and scarring and does very little cleaning. Yet often I see homeowners and some of these so-called professionals using nothing but a pressure washer and water to blast away on folks properties. Any person who uses this practice in this business, in my opinion, is considered a vandal and their work vandalism! If you have mold, mildew, and algae on surfaces that needs the proper chemicals to clean and remove the spores. Rust and grease stains are removed with the proper chemicals and not pressure. The use of biodegradable chemicals and dwell times(the time you leave the applied chemicals on a surface to be effective) is more important. I compare this to using an oven cleaner. If you try and scrub your oven with elbow grease only it will take you a whole day and you still wont like the result. When you use an oven cleaner properly you merely let it sit then come back and wipe the surfaces, no elbow grease, like new looking oven. This applies to the uses of a pressure washer as well. Remember that I most cases pressure causes damage, it does not clean.

In regards to wood restoration it is baffling to me that anyone can believe that blasting wood with pressure is going to restore it. It is going to splinter it, cause furring, or even scar and etch the wood. Yet I go to many projects that folks have tried to do on their own because they thought it was easy or nothing to it , just a pressure washer, water, and BLAST OFF! Because of this I have seen folks most precious asset, their home, scarred beyond repair. I have seen cedar-sided home, log cabins, decks, fences, etc. scarred and splintered to where they needed extreme sanding and even actual replacement of the wood. This comes from not realizing the capabilities of the equipment that is available to them as well as not having the proper education.

We havent even gotten to safety issues. I see people all the time using these machines without safety goggles. As they are pressure washing any number of things can fly off the surfaces and become lodged in an eye. Many projects require the use of ladders and I so often see people trying to use a pressure washer from a ladder which to the novice can be very dangerous. If one is using the proper chemicals it is also very important to wear the proper clothing. I have seen many homeowners and contractors attempt to chemically strip off a deck with store bought chemicals. Many times these chemicals will soak through a sneaker and eat away at their skin. Safety is a huge concern and is usually thought of after the damage is done.

What makes it even worse for the industry is that anyone can go to these outlets and purchase a machine and go into business and say they are a professional contractor. This is so far from the truth and the problem within the industry. It is like the person who buys a hammer, saw , and other tools and is now a carpenter. These trades are easy access but by no means that because they have equipment are they a professional contractor. Pressure washing, pressure washers, and the related industry trades do not get the credibility they deserve. It really is mind boggling that within this industry we are discussing the use of chemicals, working on others properties, waste water run off and the environment, and personal safety and there isnt the credibility or proper respect for this industry.

For anyone looking for a reputable contractor within the industry there is an organization that is the recognized leader, that is the Power Washers of North America (PWNA). You can even find a contractor in your area by visiting their website at www.pwna.org. This organization is setting standards and has educational tracts that even certify contractors in the related fields.

Written by Everett Abrams 4/30/05. Everett Abrams is the President of Deck Restoration Plus Franchises (www.deckrestorationplus.com ), Wood Instructor for the PWNA, and serves on the Board of Directors of the PWNA.