Tips for Pressure Washing Wood and Metal to Remove Paint
Posted on: 22 October 2018
If you have a business that looks a bit dingy, then you may want to revamp the exterior a bit to encourage new clients and customers to come into your store. If you are trying to remove paint from the exterior, then you may need to use different techniques based on the material that is painted. Keep reading to learn a bit about the technique you should be using.
Wood Removal
If your business is made primarily of wood and you notice a great deal of peeling and chipping paint, then you will need to be careful when releasing the paint or you may mar the wood in the process. For this reason, you want to use a variable pressure washer that allows you to use a variety of different pressures. In general, anything over 3,000 PSI is likely to cause damage, so you want to start with 1,500 PSI and work your way up to 3,000 if you need to. You also want to use a wider nozzle that is either a 25-degree or 40-degree or 45-degree variety. Typically, the 40-degree or 45-degree nozzle is used for wood, so start with this attachment first and only switch to the 25-degree option if you notice stuck on paint.
As you start to use the washer, make sure to keep the nozzle about twelve inches from the side of the building. Work your way from side to side or up and down along the side of the building. If you notice the paint appears to be stuck on or a great deal of mildew or debris releasing during the washing process, then think about adding a bit of mild detergent to your water hopper. You can also use special add on attachments that allow the water to mix with the soap as it sprays from the end.
Metal Cleaning
When it comes to removing paint from metal, you can use more pressure and a more direct angle. However, you should start off with a 2,000 PSI to see if this can remove the paint first and then move up to 3,000 PSI if you need to. When picking your angle, you can use either a 15-degree option or a 25-degree one. Start with the 25-degree head first because the wider angle will allow you to remove more paint at one time.
You can move in closer to the metal surface if there is a need since you will not damage the metal. This is often necessary if you see a great deal of rust. Rust can be removed with the pressure washer and this is ideal before you paint the metal once again.
If you want to know more about pressure washing or if you are uncomfortable using a machine on your own, then speak with a commercial pressure washing service.
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