Do you have a fence at your property? This fantastic addition to any home or business has a variety of different uses. For one, it lends additional security to your property, keeping unwanted intruders out. What’s more, it can give visual appeal to an otherwise plain-looking lot. However, this visual appeal only lasts if the fence is kept clean and beautiful. So what should you do if your fence isn’t clean? The answer: learn how to pressure wash a fence!
In this blog, we’ll review how to pressure wash a fence, from start to finish. Master the process for yourself and give your property the care it needs. Or reach out to Spotless Abode—our professionals in Windsor, OR will happily do the work for you!
Why Pressure Wash a Fence?
You might be wondering if it’s even important to learn how to pressure wash a fence. What’s stopping you from just leaving your fence the way it is? Ultimately, nothing, but if you were to ignore your fence’s well-being, a world of negative consequences would unfurl.
First and foremost, the longer your fence goes without cleaning, the uglier it becomes. That’s because debris is allowed to accumulate on it nonstop. Eventually, a fence that was once bright and beautiful will be a dark, dirty shadow of its former self. This especially won’t do you favors if you’re a business owner—the bad impression a dirty fence gives off could even result in lower foot traffic.
Furthermore, a fence that isn’t properly cleaned is more likely to become damaged over time. That’s because particles of debris will grind against the fence and slowly wear it down. This could eventually result in the need for costly repairs. Your wallet definitely won’t like that!
What Will I Need For Fence Cleaning?
To learn how to pressure wash a fence, you’ll need to purchase all the necessary equipment. The first and most important of this equipment is the pressure washer itself. If you’re not familiar with a pressure washer, allow us to introduce it to you. This piece of machinery pressurizes water with a powerful pump and expels it through a connecting hose. This produces powerful jets that make it easy to rinse away stubborn grime.
What other tools will you need to learn how to pressure wash a fence? We highly recommend that you purchase a simple pressure washing detergent to help remove basic grime. Additionally, a spray applicator and sodium hypochlorite are important because they will help defeat stubborn grime, such as moss, mold, and algae. Finally, don’t forget protective equipment: we recommend gloves, goggles, full-length pants, and closed-toe shoes. By covering your bare skin, you’ll protect sensitive parts of your body from pressurized water.
What Should I Do Before Fence Pressure Washing?
Once you’ve acquired all the necessary pressure washing equipment, don’t just haphazardly leap into your fence cleaning project. There are important precautions you should take ahead of time. For example, have you given yourself enough time to do the work? Pressure washing can take hours, especially if you are learning how to pressure wash a fence for the first time.
Additionally, have you moved your belongings away from the fence? You don’t want to worry about lawn furniture or decorations becoming obstacles during your work. Finally, don’t forget to cover any gardens or flowerbeds near your fence with tarps. That way, they are protected from jets of pressurized water, detergent, and pressure washing chemicals. Keep your landscape beautiful while restoring your fence’s beauty, too!
How Much Water Pressure Should I Use?
How much water pressure should you use to clean your fence? Ultimately, that depends on the material the fence is made of. More delicate fences need to be cleaned with less water pressure; on the other hand, more durable fences can withstand greater force. We’ve included a simple bulleted list for your reference below.
- Wood Fences: 1,000–1,500 PSI
- Vinyl Fences: 1,000–1,500 PSI
- Aluminum Fences: 1,500–2,000 PSI
- Chain-Link Fences: 1,500–2,000 PSI
The Fence Pressure Washing Process
Learning how to pressure wash a fence is the key to revitalizing your fence’s appearance. So, let’s see how the washing itself works. Begin by adding detergent in the soap tank, setting the water pressure to the correct level, and putting on your safety equipment. Then, position yourself about two feet away from the fence. Always aim your hose at the dirty fence and never yourself. Spray the fence in a row-by-row pattern, and you’ll be able to easily keep track of what you’ve already cleaned and what still needs your attention.
What should you do if you find tough stains that won’t wash away? This is where your spray applicator and sodium hypochlorite will come in handy. Simply spray a thin layer of sodium hypochlorite on the stained area. Then, wait fifteen minutes for all debris to be broken down. Finally, pressure wash the area again and watch as stains that were once too stubborn to wash away vanish before your very eyes.
The end result of all this hard work? A fence that looks better than before—and will last longer, too!
Consider Professional Fence Cleaning
So, now you understand how to pressure wash a fence. That just leaves one last question. Do you want to do this work on your own? Or would you rather not take on this enormous responsibility? If you don’t think that DIY fence cleaning is for you, don’t worry. By reaching out to Spotless Abode, you’ll avoid the hard work altogether!
Our team of professionals is prepared to make your fence look the best it possibly can. Best of all, we are willing to do this work for a fair price, too. What you’ll pay is based on the size of your fence. There are never hidden fees or surcharges because we treat our customers the way we’d like to be treated.
Contact us online to get started today. We would love to hear from you!
