Pressure Washing for Fences and Decks

Everything outdoors around Lake Livingston grows a coat of green. Humidity, shade and pine pollen put mildew and algae on a wood fence, a deck, the north side of a house and any concrete that stays damp. Pressure washing takes it off and brings the surface back to what it was, and done right it is also the only correct first step before staining wood. Done wrong, with too much pressure, it cuts lines into decking and raises the grain on a fence. We wash fences, decks, pergolas, siding, soffits, driveways and patios at the pressure each surface can take.

What we wash

• Wood fences and decks, at low pressure with a fan tip and a wood cleaner, usually ahead of staining.
• House siding and soffits, soft-washed with a cleaner so paint and vinyl are not damaged.
• Driveways, sidewalks, patios and pool decks, at higher pressure with a surface cleaner for an even finish.
• Metal fences and gates, to get the pollen and mildew off chain link and ornamental fence.
• Retaining walls, steps and outbuildings.

Pressure is not the point

The job is to lift dirt and growth off a surface, and the cleaner does most of that work. Pressure rinses it away. Wood takes a low setting and a wide tip; blasting a cedar fence at full pressure leaves it fuzzy and streaked and shortens its life. Concrete takes more. Painted siding takes almost none and a lot of cleaner. We match the pressure, the tip and the cleaner to the surface, work in the direction of the grain on wood, and rinse plants and windows as we go.

Before staining

Stain only lasts on clean, dry wood. A fence or deck that is washed, allowed two or three dry days, then stained holds its finish for years; one stained over mildew peels by the next summer. When we do both, we schedule them as one job with the drying time built in. See fence and deck staining and stain or paint your fence or deck.

Washing as upkeep

A wash every year or two keeps mildew from working into the wood and keeps a stained fence looking stained. It is also the fastest way to find problems: a rotten board, a loose rail, a post that moves. We flag what we find and can fix it on the same visit. Fence inspection and maintenance tips has the rest of the routine.

What affects the price of a wash

Surface area and surface type. A fence is priced by the foot and the height; a deck, a driveway or a house by the square foot, with two-story siding costing more than one. Heavy mildew or years of gray weathering take more cleaner and more time than a yearly maintenance wash. Washing before a stain job is priced as part of that job. We quote it on the estimate visit along with anything else on the list.

What we do not pressure wash

Roofs, which take a soft-wash specialist and a different setup. Windows, except incidentally. Anything with failing paint that pressure would strip into a bigger job than you wanted; we will tell you before we start. And wood at a pressure that scars it, no matter how fast it would go.

Frequently asked questions

Will pressure washing damage my wood fence or deck?

It can, if it is done at too high a pressure or with the wrong tip. Wood gets washed at lower pressure with a wide fan tip and the right cleaner, which lifts dirt and mildew without raising the grain or cutting lines into the boards.

How long after washing can the wood be stained?

Usually two to three dry days, longer in humid weather. Stain on damp wood peels. We schedule the wash and the stain with drying time between them.

Do you wash houses and driveways too?

Yes. Siding, soffits, concrete, sidewalks, patios and retaining walls. Houses with painted or vinyl siding get a soft wash at low pressure with a cleaner; concrete gets the higher pressure.