The weather in Florida is often quite warm and sunny, but the state can occasionally experience diverse weather conditions like heavy rains. Inclement weather is a common reason why houses need painting over time. 

If you live in the Tampa, Brandon, or Plant City areas and need a professional exterior paint job but are unsure whether it would be best to pressure wash the house first, this article will provide you with the information you need to make an informed choice before contacting a professional painting contractor.

What Is Pressure Washing?

Pressure washing is a cleaning technique that utilizes a pressure washer, which is a power cleaning equipment that sprays water at high pressure to clean substantial, large surfaces. 

Pressure washing is an efficient cleaning method, especially for washing walls and outside portions of a house, because the high-water pressure makes it simple to remove dirt and other substances that are difficult to remove using standard cleaning methods.

Why You Should Pressure Wash the Exterior of Your Home Before Painting

Cleaning the exterior of your house before hiring a professional for a paint job is always a good idea. Cleaning the surfaces before painting ensures that the paint will adhere properly, looks even, and will last for a long time. 

However, cleaning the entire exterior of a home is time-consuming and can be hard to do well. Having your home pressure washed ensures that the process is done quickly and the results are pristine.

Here are the key reasons why you should pressure wash the exterior of your home before painting:

• It improves the adhesion of paint: Surfaces can be effectively cleaned using pressure washing to create a smooth, flat surface on which paint can properly adhere.

• It removes dirt, grime, and stains: The high water pressure effectively removes stains, grime, and dirt. The process ensures the surface is thoroughly cleaned and ready for the best possible paint job.
• It removes mold and mildew: A pressure wash can be used to effectively eliminate mold and mildew. Before painting, any mold and mildew from the exterior of your home should be cleared because, if not, it will grow through the new paint, damage it, and make subsequent house cleaning and maintenance even more challenging.
• It increases the longevity of the paint job: Your exterior property can be pressure washed into pristine condition so that it is ready for painting, allowing the paint to adhere properly and last for a very long time.
• It saves time and money: The pressure washer’s high-water pressure can make the cleaning of the exterior of the house faster and more effective. Also, by ensuring that the exterior of your property is in excellent shape for painting, you can save money on future paint jobs and repairs.

When Is the Best Time to Pressure Wash Your House Before Painting

There is a perfect moment to pressure wash the exterior of the house to get it ready for painting.

Before pressure washing your home’s exterior, you should think about the following factors.

1. Time of the Year

Summer is generally regarded as the best season to paint the exterior of houses, particularly in Florida. The weather during summer is pleasant and the chance of rain is limited by that time of year. 

Pressure washing your home’s exterior at the end of spring or even at the start of summer, which is near the date of your professional paint job, would be ideal.

2. Weather Conditions

Similar to when you hire a contractor to paint the exterior of your property, sunny days are great for pressure washing the house’s exterior.

The pressure washer operator will have the conditions they need to get the job done and the sun’s heat will naturally dry the house after washing.

3. Other factors: Size of Your Home, Type of Surface

Other common factors that you need to consider while pressure washing your home include the size of your house, the type of surface being cleaned, the state of the surface being cleaned, and the size of the area being cleaned.

You can estimate the amount of time and effort needed to effectively pressure wash your house’s exterior based on these considerations.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Pressure Washer

Pressure washing can be done on your own, however, it requires knowledge, experience, and effective techniques to have an optimal result and ensure that the exterior of your house is cleaned. It is best to hire a professional pressure washer to guarantee that the exterior of your home is in perfect condition for painting.

Pros and Cons of DIY Pressure Washing

Pros of DIY Pressure Washing:

• Renting a pressure washer for a DIY project will cost less compared to hiring a professional pressure washer.
• You have total control over how you want to clean the exterior of your house.
• You have control over how much water you have to use.
• You can set your own time to pressure wash your home.

Cons of DIY Pressure Washing:

• Pressure washers can easily damage surfaces if not used appropriately.
• Pressure washing can be harmful and dangerous due to the use of high-pressure water.
• It is difficult to attain the best outcomes without the assistance of experts.
• You must buy or rent pressure washers.

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Professional Pressure Washer

Pros of Hiring a Professional Pressure Washer:

• Professionals have the correct tools and equipment.
• Professionals have the highest expertise and knowledge to achieve flawless results.
• You can save time and energy.
• Save money by avoiding accidents and damages from improper DIY pressure washing.

Cons of Hiring a Professional Pressure Washer:

• Professionals are more expensive than pressure washer rentals.
• You need to look for a trustworthy pressure washer service.

How To Prep the Exterior of Your House for Pressure Washing

Whether you prefer DIY pressure washing or work with a professional pressure washer, it’s always best to have preparation work to ensure better outcomes.

1. Remove Outdoor Furniture and Decorations

Remove any outdoor furniture or decorations that could hinder or restrict pressure washing work to ensure that they are not harmed in the process.

Pressure washers utilize extremely high water pressure, which is potentially damaging to surfaces, especially furniture, and decorations.

2. Cover or Remove Electrical Fixtures and Outlets

Pressure washers produce high-pressure water that can easily disperse and spray elsewhere. Cover or take away any electrical fixtures and outlets outside the house where the pressure washing is taking place.

This will stop any water or detergent from getting in contact with electrical sources and prevent electrical dangers or damage.

3. Close Windows and Doors

You must close all windows and doors to prevent water from the pressure washer from entering the house and causing a mess or possibly damage.

If you have windows or doors that don’t seal well, let your pressure washer know and consider wedging towels against the seams.

4. Trim Overgrown Vegetation

It’s important to trim overgrown vegetation and cover plants with plastic to protect them from the high-pressure water.

Too much pressure may cause the plants to disfigure or even die.

5. Pre-wash With a Garden Hose

Before starting the pressure-washing procedure, pre-washing the exterior of the house with a garden hose will remove loose dirt.

Furthermore, it will loosen and soften other hard-to-get dirt and materials so that the pressure washer can remove them completely with ease.

Choosing the Right Paint After Pressure Washing Your House

After having your home’s exterior pressure washed and prepared for painting, think about the best paint for your home to achieve the greatest results.

After pressure washing your property, picking the right paint is essential for both aesthetic reasons and effective and long-lasting results. Here are some things to consider:

• Color combinations: Keep your exterior home painting to no more than two colors, as extra colors make an exterior look congested. If you believe that utilizing one or two colors would make your home look monotonous, the best course of action is to utilize many shades of the same color.
• Durability: Choose a paint that is guaranteed to be durable because it will be exposed to Florida’s weather. After the exterior of the house has been pressure washed and is in ideal condition for painting, durable paint will stay much longer.
• Color and gloss retention: The wrong paint can easily deteriorate under direct sunlight, which can cause it to chalk and lose its sheen. All paints eventually lose part of their color and gloss, but lower-grade paints typically do so far sooner than higher-grade paints.
• Price: The price of paint varies depending on its type. You don’t want to always pick the most expensive option since the best option isn’t always the most expensive. Although expensive paints mean greater quality and are often preferable, select a paint with a price that suits your needs.

Types of Paint

Various types of paint can be ideal for your home, will satisfy your needs, and potentially achieve the finest results based on the exterior of your house and its condition. Here are the different types of paint that you can choose from.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is one of the most common paints for exterior painting. It is durable, flexible, and waterproof once dry. And it is created with premium ingredients, giving it its thick and sticky consistency.

Acrylic paints adhere to most surfaces including:

• Concrete
• Brick
• Wood
• Particle board

They’re making a good option for many types of painting projects, especially for exterior and interior painting.

Latex Paint

Latex paints are water-based paints that are simpler to apply and clean up. Moreover, latex paint dries quickly. Latex is a less expensive option but still delivers great quality and results.

Latex paint is excellent for use on cabinets, walls, ceilings, murals, and trims. But, depending on the external construction materials you have, latex paint might be an excellent alternative for exterior painting.

Oil-based Paints

Oil-based paint dries to a durable, smooth surface that resists the weather effectively. However, it typically takes 24 hours to cure and dries more slowly than latex.

Oil-based paint works well because it produces a resilient, robust finish that withstands the elements for external doors and metal railings.

However, it’s important to note that you should know what additional ingredients are present in an oil-based paint because, according to Forbes, they can release harmful vapors when wet.

Pressure Washing Before Painting Is a Must-Do

It is best to pressure wash the exterior of your home before having a professional paint job. Pressure washing is a terrific way to prepare the exterior of your home for painting, which will ensure that the paint job will be successful and produce the greatest results.

Pressure washing guarantees to improve the adhesion of paint and increases the longevity of the paint job.

Whether you want to DIY pressure washing or hire a professional, it is best to prepare the exterior. Pressure washers are powerful cleaning tools that pose a danger of harm and damage if not used properly.

After pressure washing the exterior of your house, make sure you contact a reliable and professional painting contractor.

Peach Painting Exterior Painting Services

Peach Painting is a premier paint contractor in Tampa, Brandon, Valrico, Plant City, and the surrounding areas. Our professional painters are well-equipped with knowledge, experience, and the right tools to satisfy all of your painting needs.

As a top paint contractor with a proven track record of successful paint jobs, we are dedicated to satisfying all of your demands and going above and beyond your expectations.

Contact us today for a free quote and to learn more about how our painting services can help you achieve a fresher and more beautiful house.