A. Yes is will, if we used high pressure to clean, which we don't. High pressure forces water under the siding and wets the undercourse which never drys and will eventually rot over time. Many "professional powerwashers," especially those who do this part time or are new to this business do use high pressure. (not a good idea) We stress the importance of using only low pressure (no more than your garden hose) to apply and rinse the detergents that actually do the cleaning.
Q. What's better, after it's cleaned, sealant or stain?
A. They both have a place in caring for a deck. Wood sealers come in a variety of qualities ranging from some costing as little as $5.00 a gallon or as much as $20. Most sealers will last just one season and should be reapplied within the year. The best of them offer some protection up to 18 months, depending on the wood and the weather. The advantage with sealers is that they're cheap, can be applied rather quickly and the deck will look like it was installed yesterday. It is usually a clear coating and for someone who enjoys, "the natural look of the wood," it can be the perfect solution.
Stain is more costly, gallon prices start at about $18 and go as high as $70! There are basically 2 types, transparent and solid.
Transparent stains come in a limited number of colors. Like the furniture in your home, the wood takes on the color of the stain. The grain remains visible and the oils in the stain penetrate the wood to give it color. Note-this is why preparation is so important. If the wood has old stain or sealer the new stain will not be able to penetrate into the wood, will lay on top of the old stain or sealer and ultimately fail. This type of stain will last from 18 to 36 months depending on the color. Huh? Yes, the color. The darker the stain the longer it will last. Darker stains contain more pigment and the more pigment the longer the wood will retain the color. Make sense? One coat is recommended for transparent stain.
Solid stain... advantages- many colors to choose from, hides defects in the wood and it can make an old deck look really great. If done correctly it can last 5-7 years. The main disadvantage of solid stain is that is very expensive to apply correctly. It requires cleaning, applying a primer coat and two applications of solid stain. That's like painting your deck 3 times, therefore 3 times the cost! Some people use solid stain without a primer and just apply it every year. It's not the right way to do it and it will fail if not for the fact that it's done every year, but it is an option. (See " Stains/Colors" for update on Flood One Coat system)
A. Only if you want to be. As long as the windows are closed the water on and the cars out of the driveway you can leave a check in the mailbox or with a neighbor.
Q. Will a housewash remove the green mold from my siding?.
A. Yes, and it will also remove the dirt.
Q. My aluminum siding is over 15 yrs old. Will it come clean?
A. The correct question is will it "look clean?" Aluminum siding that is over 15 years old will oxidize, especially in shaded areas, under trees and under overhangs. The example we use is to compare it to a car. They're both made of metal, both have a finish and they both rust. If you take a 15-20 year old car through a carwash the car will be clean, but it will still have the rust spots, dents, chipped up paint etc. but it will "look" better after the wash than before.
Q. My aluminum is shot. Is there anything I can do?
A. Absolutely-Paint it! Because it is generally a smooth surface painting it is quick, (only requiring one coat to cover in most cases) and rarely does the paint fail. The other alternative is to vinyl side it, which is about 20 times more expensive.
Q. I have vinyl siding. Do I have to worry about oxidation?
A. No, Vinyl siding is not metal and will not rust or oxidize.
Q. Do you wash the windows when you wash the house?
A. Yes and no. The outside of the windows will be cleaned with the same solution as the siding and naturally will be cleaner. Often only the inside of the windows will have to be cleaned after a housewash. We concentrate on the siding.
A. Depending on how big and how dirty the house is, between 1 and 1 1/2 hours. Don't go by how long it takes, Some "housewashers" take all day, they use high pressure, up close, get water under the siding and charge way more than necessary, but that's the way it is. We hand brush the outside of the gutters, if needed, at no extra charge.
Q. Is there anything I can put on the siding to preserve it?
A. NO !! (not vinyl, not aluminum, not asbestos and not nailite)
Wood shakes or tung and groove cedar ....you'd better.
Q. How often should my house be washed?
A. Once a week ! Just kidding. Once again, using a car as a comparison, some people wash their car once a week, others monthly, others wash it when it looks dirty and others never wash it! About 60% of our customers wash once a year, 30% wash every two years and the remaining 10% are divided between those who get a little crazy and have us back two or three times a season (for an upcoming party etc) and others who will call only when the house is a mess. Everyone's a little different, but once you do have your home professionally cleaned, you'll want it to look that nice all the time.
Q. I have a new deck. How do I maintain it?
A. It does depend on what kind of wood was used to build it. Yellow Pine (pressure treated) wood can be treated immediately. It should be lightly cleaned and either sealed or stained.
Cedar decks require some time between the cutting and the application of sealers or stains. Cedar takes about 4 months to leach most of the tannins (the wood's natural anti-bug chemical) so it is recommended you wait the 4 months before applying anything. If you're certain the wood was cut more than 4 months ago, as verified by the lumber supplier or the deck builder, then it should be lightly cleaned, a mill glaze remover applied and then either sealed or stained. Redwood is handled the same way.
Q. My deck is old. Can it be restored?
A. Call for a free estimate and we'll give you all your options. You'll be surprised how nice an older deck can look with just a good cleaning and a coat of quality stain. The condition of the wood and what coatings were applied before determine whether a sealant, transparent stain or solid stain would be the best application.
Q. My brother-in-law put something on it last year. Can you fix it?
A. Brother-in-laws usually apply way too much of whatever they are applying. The old adage "If some is good, then more has got to be better," is one way of really making a mess of your nice, expensive deck. We find decks with double and triple coatings or the application of CWF, applied and reapplied with multiple coats, year after year. These decks look terrible and the best thing to do is to start over. Completely strip the deck (or fence) with a stripper, clean and apply a quality stain.
A. The next day (24 hours). It can also be used on a limited basis between cleaning and coating. (No spilling BBQ grease or oil)
Q. How long will it look this good?
A. Sealers last one season on average. Transparent stains last 1 1/2 to 3 years depending on the color and weather.
Q. What else do you do?
A. Minor exterior repairs, exterior painting, gutter cleaning (only with a housewash), some odd jobs and financial planning. Just kidding about the financial planning but some powerwashers apparently do just about everything from driveway sealing, window washing, chimney sweeping and repairs and I'm sure their work is good ( I hate to knock the competition) , but all we do is what we do.
Q. Do you have any special "tips" I should know as a homeowner?
A. Yes and it's officially ok to wear some shades of white after labor day.
1. Don't water your house or deck. Keep the water on the lawn and bushes, not the house or deck. The extra moisture and added drying times can significantly increase the rate of mildew growth. It's unsightly and slippery if it grows on a walk or deck.
2. Keep a sturdy pan under the BBQ and emply it often, especially if you keep it on your deck. Grease penetrates into the wood and it's a nightmare to remove. (A normal cleaning will not remove it)
3. Buy vinyl shutters. Cheap-come in lots of colors-very easy to maintain.
4. If your aluminum siding is shot-paint it!
5. Keep your gutters and leaders clean.
6. If you have brick on the ground (patio, walkway) make sure you have enough sand in the cracks. This is a very bad thing not to do. The deterioration process is as follows: The sand that was originally in the cracks blows away and/or rain water compresses the sand that was there. Then when there is an empty crack (between the bricks) dirt blows in. Weeds and grass begin to grow in the cracks. Then you remove the weeds (and the dirt). Then water seeps between the bricks and at first only one brick is a little crooked, then a second and so on and so on, until you have to call in a bricklayer to pull the whole thing out and start over. So just throw some play sand in the cracks and you won't have big problems later on.
7. Get three estimates for any project around the house and call the Department of Consumer Affairs if you suspect a potential problem. Make certain the company you're dealing with is licensed and insured. If someone working on your property damages your property and is unlicensed and uninsured it's coming out of YOUR homeowners policy, not the company you hired.
8. Say thank you. You're Welcome
Q. Will powerwashing do damage to my siding?
A. Yes is will, if we used high pressure to clean, which we don't. High pressure forces water under the siding and wets the undercourse which never drys and will eventually rot over time. Many "professional powerwashers," especially those who do this part time or are new to this business do use high pressure. (not a good idea) We stress the importance of using only low pressure (no more than your garden hose) to apply and rinse the detergents that actually do the cleaning.
