How Do You Pressure Wash An Old Wooden Shed?
If you have an old wooden shed that looks run down, the easiest way to revitalize it is to pressure wash it. Pressure washers use a high-powered stream of water to strip off a thin layer of wood off of the surface of the shed, revealing untarnished wood underneath. You'll need to either paint or finish the shed afterward, but you'll save a significant amount of time cleaning it by using a pressure washer. To learn more about how to properly pressure wash a wooden shed, read on.
1. Make Sure Your Shed Is Suitable for Pressure Washing
Using a pressure washer on wood siding is safe, but there's a very good chance that some of the high-pressure water will blast through gaps between the boards. In addition, most sheds have a small opening between the roof and the wall for ventilation, and some of the water will enter inside the shed through there.
If you have a finished shed, you may want to consider a gentler method of washing. You don't want to risk causing water damage to the interior. If the inside of your shed is able to withstand a bit of water intrusion, however, then using a pressure washer is the fastest and most convenient way to clean the siding.
2. Start By Applying Cleaner to Your Shed
It's easier to fully clean the shed with a pressure washer if you pre-treat it with cleaning products. If your shed has mold, mildew, or algae growing on the siding, you'll need to spray bleach on the affected areas. The bleach will destroy them, and you'll be able to easily wash them off with your pressure washer. Other stains (especially grease or oil stains) should have dish soap applied to them, which acts as a surfactant that allows water to easily wash the stain away.
3. Pressure Wash Your Shed
For wood siding, it's best to use a low-power setting on your pressure washer and use the green nozzle. The green nozzle has the widest spray area, which further reduces the pressure of the water. Materials like steel and concrete can withstand heavy pressure washing, but you need to be more gentle with wood. If the pressure is too high, you can create deep gouges in your wood siding.
Pressure wash your shed at an angle, starting at the very top of the wood siding. Slowly wash down the siding until you've washed an entire section of the siding, and then repeat with the adjacent section. Starting at the top and working your way down will prevent streaks of bleach or soap from being left behind. After you're done, leave the front door of your shed open so that water left in the interior can evaporate.
4. Stain, Finish, or Paint Your Shed After It Dries
Since power washing removes a small portion of the surface of the wood, it will strip off paint along with the existing stain. You'll have to finish or paint the wood in order to protect it from rain, and you'll need to wait until the wood is completely dry before you begin. Depending on the humidity in your area, it may require a few days for the wood to completely dry out. Once a small drop of water is absorbed into the wood rather than beading up on the surface, it's ready.
Overall, pressure washing is the quickest way to make your wood shed look like new. If you don't feel comfortable using a pressure washer due to the risk of gouging your wood, call a professional pressure washing service in your area — they'll be able to fully clean your shed without the risk of harming the wood.
Reach out to a pressure washing service today to learn more.