A Complete Guide to Power Washing in Stamford, CT
Did you know that power washing is a quick, effective way to raise your property value? It scrubs away tough stains and makes your home look years younger. Not only does it make your home look clean and fresh, but it could also help protect the health of you and your family as well. If you’re looking for the best way to keep your home clean, safe and looking fantastic, you should consider Stamford power washing services.
If you want your home, deck, pool or other outdoor surfaces to look better than the day you got them, there are Stamford handyman experts ready to meet your needs. The team at Mr. Handyman of Upper Fairfield County has made that dream possible for many people. We made this guide specifically for people like you; to explain the process of power washing, its benefits and how you can hire the best service professionals to keep your property clean.
What Is Power Washing?
A power washing machine uses a high-pressure stream of heated water to blast away dirt, grease and other materials from outdoor surfaces. The combination of pressure and hot water makes it a great way to remove stubborn stains and residue. The use of both heat and pressure in power washing machines means that they can take care of tougher stains. That’s why they’re great at things like graffiti removal, chewing gum removal, and even removing tough grease stains from garage floors.
You may have also heard of residential and commercial property owners getting pressure washing service in Stamford, which is a very similar method of cleaning. These alternative machines do not heat water. This makes it less of a heavy-duty process and better for cleaning more delicate materials.
Another similar cleaning process is soft washing. The difference here is that it uses a lower PSI (pressure per square inch). Soft washers are always set to less than 500 PSI. The narrow tip found on power washers is replaced with one that widens the spray, thus dropping the point of pressure. In addition, soft washing uses special eco-friendly cleaning solutions. These solutions are great at breaking down dirt and organisms like grime and mildew that accumulate on outdoor surfaces.
Soft washing is recommended for softer surfaces such as wood panel siding, outdoor wood furniture, vinyl siding and stucco. Power and pressure washing are too intense for these surfaces and end up damaging them in the long run.
What Are the Benefits of Power Washing in Stamford, CT?
You may be surprised to learn that power washing is an essential part of home maintenance in Stamford. It’s great at preventing damage to the exterior of your home, saving time when cleaning and protecting you and your family from bacteria. It also helps prime surfaces for painting or refinishing and can instantly raise your curb appeal. If you’re looking to sell your home in the near or distant future, power washing is a great way to quickly increase your property value in Stamford.
Preventing Damage
Moisture accumulating from rain, sleet, and snow in the winter causes serious damage to exterior surfaces. That excess moisture encourages growth of mildew, algae and rot that feeds on the deteriorating exterior paint and finishes of outdoor surfaces with a high moisture content. If not removed, they can strip away protective layers and cause permanent damage to any surfaces they grow on. A home is an investment that needs to be protected. Incorporating Stamford power washing service into your maintenance routine helps prevent more costly repairs from rot and other types of grime buildup.
Saving Time
Power washing is by far the most efficient way to clean the exterior of a building in Stamford. It takes hours to mix cleaning solutions, climb ladders and scrub out stubborn stains by hand, but a pressure washing professional can accomplish in minutes what would normally take hours to do on your own. Hiring Stamford power washing professionals with the experience to get the job done quickly will save you a lot of time that would be spent on maintenance.
Professionals also already know proper safety and handling for these types of machines. Imagine how horrifying it would be if you rented a pressure washer to clean your vinyl siding, only to find out once you're done that you've stripped away your protective coating. You would have to replace all of your home's siding, which would be an expensive and frustrating process.
Protecting Your Health
Speaking of mildew, rot and other types of buildup, the accumulation of those on your home isn't just unsightly, it could also affect your family's health. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. Many common allergy triggers can be found on worn and weathered exterior services. Professional Stamford power washing service helps rid your exterior of all those agitators.
Getting service in the spring or fall when allergins are more prevalent in Stamford reduces the severity of seasonal allergic reactions. This reduces the amount of time you and your family will spend coughing and sneezing and helps you get back to enjoying your home.
Priming Surfaces
If you are planning to paint, refinish or resurface your home in Stamford, priming is crucial. Power washing eliminates all the accumulated dust, chalk, and mildew. This ensures that you have a smooth and even surface for your paint job. If you don't remove that grime, any coating you apply is going to flake or fall off. If you are planning to restain your entire deck or refinish your pool, power washing will also ensure that these surfaces hold on to their new coating.
Increasing Your Property Value in Stamford
Curb appeal is an important consideration if you are planning on selling your home. The first thing a potential buyer will see is the view of your house from the road. You need to make a good first impression. A clean and fresh exterior can boost the value of your home by up to 5%.
Power washing is one of the fastest and most effective ways to give your home a makeover. Why invest in landscaping or decorations if your siding, fencing or driveway looks dingy? Professional Stamford power washing will make your home look clean and help draw attention to your existing landscaping or decor.
If you were looking to buy a home, would you be more interested in one that looks older and dirty, or one that looks clean and well maintained? A professional power wash can be the difference between making a sale or not. Exteriors that are degraded, discolored or weathered can decrease interest and property value. You can make sure you get the biggest possible return on your investment by getting Stamford power washing services before you look to sell.
Should You Do It Yourself?
You may be thinking of attempting to power wash your home yourself. While possible, this is not always the best way to proceed. The cost of renting power or pressure washing equipment can run as high as $100 per day. You also run the risk of choosing the wrong machine or cleaning solution for your surface, which can lead to expensive and time-consuming repairs.
These machines can also be dangerous, and are capable of causing injury. Operating a pressure washer without the proper training and safety precautions can be devastatingly harmful. Another thing to consider is that you might need a ladder to clean those harder to reach areas. This presents a potential risk of falling and injuring yourself if you don't know how to do it safely.
Professional handymen are trained in ladder safety. They also have training for power washing machine operation, so they know how to get the job done while minimizing risk of injury. Don't put yourself at risk by attempting to do something unsafe. Trust professionals to handle it for you. You'll save time, money and energy.
How Do You Find the Best Stamford Power Washing Services?
The benefits of power washing are clear. But now the question is how can you find the best services in Stamford? There are a few key things to consider while browsing and selecting different professionals or companies in Stamford.
Look Local
When it comes to finding superior power washing services, your first priority should be to find local companies. A local service provider will be more familiar with specific things that cause wear and tear on outdoor surfaces in Stamford. Make sure that whoever you choose is well versed in dealing with the weather and conditions in Stamford that affect outdoor surfaces.
Shop Around
Finding the appropriate price is a delicate balance. On one hand, you don't want to spring for the lowest possible price, because you're more likely to have a subpar experience and end up dissatisfied. On the other hand, you don't want to break the bank or pay for services that you don't actually need. The key is finding a price in between.
Talk in advance with any power or pressure washing company you are planning on hiring to find out the specific treatments and other services you may need. Then, do some research on the average price for those treatments. Make sure that you are paying the workers fairly for their labor, but are also not being overcharged.
Should You Tip Your Stamford Power Washing Professionals?
If the company you hire really wows you, tipping their employees goes a long way towards building relationships with your service providers and motivates them to go above and beyond during future visits.
Reviews, Reviews, Reviews
Reviews are the new word of mouth. They are the best way to see what other customers have to say about a power washing company. Does the company have bad reviews, or none at all? You should probably look for a different one. Do they have positive reviews, or better yet, multiple positive reviews from the same customers? Bingo! That lets you know that their services are going to prioritize both quality and consistency.
It's also a good idea to check multiple sources for reviews. Look on the company's website for a page featuring local reviews. Check to see what people are saying on Google as well. Some companies may also have a Facebook page. This is another great place to look for reviews. It may also give you a chance to see how the company responds to customer inquiries or problems.
Company Portfolio
A company's portfolio is maybe your best resource for judging their work. If a power washing service provider has a portfolio of local work, you can take a firsthand look at the projects they've been completing.
There are a couple of things to take note of when looking at a company's portfolio:
First and foremost is the quality of the work.
The second thing to look for is if they've completed any projects similar to what you're looking to get done.
It's also important to see how far back their portfolio goes. Does the company say they've been in business for years? Look for pictures to prove it. The longer a company has been around, the more experience and expertise their technicians will have. Look for a provider with a strong resume and readily available examples of the work they do.
Do You Want Stamford Power Washing Service?
Power washing is an essential part of home maintenance. It takes years of age off your outdoor surfaces and reduces damage from the elements. If you're looking to sell your home, having it power washed can instantly raise its value.
If you’re ready to get started, Mr. Handyman of Upper Fairfield County can meet all your needs for Stamford power washing. Our highly skilled technicians will wow you on your next project. Call us at 866-550-1710 to schedule an appointment or learn more. We proudly help people in Stamford and many nearby communities, such as New Canaan and Darien, with all their home maintenance needs.