DIY or Hire a Pro? When Professional Power Washing Makes Sense
If you’re tired of looking at your house’s dingy brick exterior, faded deck, or algae-covered painted wood surfaces, power washing could be the solution.
But when it comes to power washing and pressure washing, should you do it yourself or hire professionals? After all, isn’t a power washer just an over-glorified, high-powered hose? Not quite, actually.
What’s more, there are several different types of power and pressure washers and attachments out there. You want to be sure to use the right tools for the job.
While it’s certainly possible to try your hand at power washing, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could put yourself or your property at risk of injury and damage, respectively.
Let’s dive a little deeper into this topic so you can figure out whether bringing in the pros or DIYing it is the better choice for you.
Compare DIY vs Professional Power Washing
Professional power washing is just like the power washing you can do yourself at home. Right? Perhaps not. Here’s why.
The Case for Hiring Professional Power Washers
Not only do professionals have the right tools for every type of power washing job, but they also have the knowledge and experience required to do the job right the first time, every time.
Of course, some handy types profess to be experienced when they’re really not. So when hiring so-called professionals, you should be sure to vet them carefully and check out their reviews.
That said, true professionals use industrial-grade equipment and know when to use it. For example, things like higher or lower pressure for a certain job, or attachments like surface cleaners and extension wands.
There’s also the matter of using pressure washers, which are unheated, vs. power washers, which do offer heat to break up stubborn stains and baked-in dirt and grime. Professionals will also know when it’s appropriate (or not) to use cleaning solutions or bleach solutions.
The Case for DIY Power Washing
Experience, knowledge, and professional-grade tools are benefits of hiring pros to power wash your home.
But why should you power wash yourself?
If you have your own power washer or can rent one fairly affordably, you could save a significant amount of money on labor costs.
Keep in mind, however, the time value of money. In other words, you should think about how long it will take you to research the right types of power washers, attachments, and solutions you need for a given job. Then, you’ll have to teach yourself safe & effective power and pressure washing techniques. You may also need to invest in power washing gear, such as a dedicated suit, goggles, gloves, and more.
I’ve you’ve already got everything on hand and you are fairly handy, then doing your own power washing might not be such a bad idea, so long as you’re comfortable with:
- The potential dangers of using high-pressure equipment, especially at heights.
- The possibility that you could damage your personal property with improper technique or the wrong products and wind up spending more than you would if you’d initially hired a professional power washing service.
- Devoting a large portion of your time to prep work and getting the job done right.
The Cat Rental Store offers great advice to consider when weighing if DIY power washing or hiring pros is better for you:
“The best choice for your pressure washing project depends on your situation — you might not have easy access to a professional pressure washer, or your project could be too large to do alone. Pressure washing effectively cleans grime and buildup off a surface, but it can be challenging depending on the project. Ask yourself what you're willing to do and pay for your pressure washing job.”
When to Choose Professional Power Washing Services
If any of the above makes you even the slightest bit squeamish or uncomfortable, then you’re probably best off hiring professional power washers for your next job.
This is especially true if the job at hand is a big one (i.e. power washing a large deck or patio or an entire home’s exterior), or if you’re dealing with relatively delicate surfaces that are easy to damage (i.e. windows or softwood).
Get Your Power Washing, Soft Washing, or Window Washing Quote Today
Still wondering if hiring professionals is the right choice? Why not get a no-obligation quote for our top-rated professional power washers? Doing so will help you get a handle on the associated costs and make the right choice for your needs and your budget.
Learn more about what makes Groovy Hues different for your power washing needs.
