21 Apr Should You Power Wash Stucco?
From season to season, the exterior of your home can really endure a great deal. Pollen, dirt, and mildew can build up on the outside surfaces of your home. Many people wish they could just wash it all away, but is that an option with a stucco home? Knowing just when and how to pressure wash your stucco is important. Here are a few things that you need to consider before you forge ahead with a DIY pressure washing:
Look for Damage
There is no easy way to say it. Pressure washing can be very dangerous for the exterior of your home. It applies a great deal of force to the paint which can cause chips and cracks. Once the force of the pressure washer causes those chips and cracks, it is easy for the moisture to get behind your stucco and cause structural damage to your home. Mould and rot can more easily get to the structure of your home through the cracked stucco and cause thousands of dollars in damage.
If you are going to pressure wash your house gently, then you need to ensure that there is no damage to begin with. Make sure all cracks and chips are sealed. Look for areas that are stained or have visible damage. Correcting these areas is not something that you want to tackle on your own. Call a professional painting company to do your touch-ups so that they are seamless and are extremely thorough. This is essential if you want your home to last for decades.
Low Pressure
Deciding to power wash your stucco is a risky endeavor, but there are few guidelines for if you decide to try. First and foremost, you need to use a low-pressure spray pattern. You should never connect with the wall at a ninety-degree angle. This sets you up to cause damage to the textured exterior of your home. Instead, the nozzle should always spray at a 45-degree angle. A softer angle can help you to prevent some damage to the beautiful texture of your stucco walls.
Keep it Back
Along with the low-pressure spray pattern, you also need to stand a bit further back from the wall. With vinyl siding and other types of exterior finishes, you can often stand closer with the power washer. However, stucco requires that you stand a minimum of 61 cm (2 feet) away from the wall. Start rinsing your stucco from the top and slowly work your way down, always maintaining a careful distance from the wall.
Call the Stucco Professionals
If you accidentally damage your stucco walls or just need someone to touch them up, make sure that you call the professionals. This ensures that you can keep your home clean and prevent major damage from cracks and chips. Pinnacle Painting is your one-stop shop for stucco painting in Winnipeg. We can help you protect the structural foundation of your home with our top-of-the-line painting services. Give us a call today!