Top 10 Benefits of Pressure Washing Your Home Before Painting

The first step in any painting project is preparing the surface. Surface preparation for painting involves thorough cleaning. Pressure washing is one of the best ways to effectively clean the surface to be painted, removing any layer of dirt and unnecessary debris. Like any preparation process, pressure washing requires attention to detail and precision to avoid any untoward damage that the surface may incur due to highly pressurized water. Proper pressure washing can offer many benefits before you start any painting job. Here are the top 10 reasons why you need a good pressure wash before you get that paint roller into action:

1. Get The Lasting Results You Expect

Quality paints are expected to last long. However, if the painting process, especially its surface preparation, is not done right, problems may arise sooner than expected. Improper surface preparation, which includes removing dust, grease, and debris from the surface, results in poor paint coating adhesion to the surface. Sooner or later, paint bubbles, blisters, and other damages may start to appear. Poor-quality paint jobs shorten the lifespan of your painted surface. To help ensure lasting results, proper surface cleaning by pressure washing is essential before starting any painting job.

2. Primes Surfaces for Renovation

You can’t just slap paint down on a dirty surface. Paint and other coatings are meant to adhere strongly to the surfaces they apply. They do not effectively adhere to dusty or oily surfaces. Any layer of dirt, dust, or other elements between the material and the coating will interfere with the strong bond between each coat, resulting in several maintenance problems. Ensure a clean and smooth surface before you start painting to prevent paint problems later, such as bubbling, blistering, and peeling.

Fig 1. Modern Handymen & Remodel ensures a clean exterior through pressure washing before painting works

3. Prevents Water Damage

When the surface is cleaned correctly through pressure washing before the painting, paint coatings and other caulking materials prevent possible water entry to gaps and have a better chance of adhesion. When paint does not adhere properly on the surface, moisture will get in behind the paint and cause water damage. When the interior of your walls is exposed to moisture, your paint can look ugly, bubbling, blistering, and peeling. It can cause serious problems with the structure of the building and cause you a lot of discomfort. Water damage is incredibly frustrating for a homeowner because of the possibility of reworking the painting job.

4. Seals and Protects Wood

Wood can last longer if it is protected from moisture and extreme weather conditions. When wood is sealed, molds and rot cannot grow, which helps maintain the wooden surface in good condition. Proper cleaning through pressure washing can ensure better adhesion of sealer, stains and other paint coatings on the wood. Sealers, stains and paints help serve as exterior protective layers of wood, ensuring its longevity for decades.

Fig. 2. A smooth stained finish of deck after careful pressure wash by Modern Handymen & Remodel in Brentwood, Tennessee 

5. Removes dirt, grime, molds, moss, and other substances off your surfaces

Pressurized washing lifts dirt, grime, moss, and other substances off your surfaces before painting. Dirt, grime, molds, and moss build up in the tiniest crevices of your surfaces over time, especially if moisture is present. Affected surfaces can be breeding grounds for bacteria. We don’t want these breeding grounds to be covered only with paint; we want them removed even before we start painting.

6. Saves Money

Pressure washing reveals a clean state of the wall to be painted. It exposes only those surfaces that need repair or repainting. If the wall only needs to be touch-up painted, it saves you a lot of money by avoiding repainting the whole surface. Pressure washing the surface before any painting work helps ensure the good quality of the painted finish. A good-quality painting saves you from the cost of repair work and regular maintenance due to paint problems.

7. Saves Time and Energy

The old-fashioned way to clean the surface to be painted is to hand-scrub the surface. Pressure washing speeds up the process of cleaning. It will save your cleaning time and energy by a fraction of what it takes to do the scrubbing by hand. While manual scrubbing can clean surfaces, manual washing is less effective and thorough than cleaning with a pressure washer. The surfaces cleaned using a pressure washer are more impressive and ready to receive paint, resulting in a good quality of surface preparation with less time and energy exerted.

8. Protects the safety of building occupants

Pressurized washing removes the threat of allergens and disease-causing bacteria before fully covering surfaces with paint. Failing to remove dirt and molds before painting can leave the interior of your building vulnerable to spores that can cause illnesses. Pressure washing helps create an environment that is less hospitable to vermin, protecting the safety of every occupant in the building.

9. Identifies Signs of Damage

Pressure washing allows you to carefully inspect your surfaces for signs of damage so you can make necessary repairs. Detection of damages and issues can be made clear and accurate when you inspect the area cleanly. Repairing these discovered damages before painting works prevents re-work, which can be too much of a hassle.

10. Boosts Your Home’s Value

According to Consumer Reports, pressure washing followed by any necessary paint touch-ups can enhance your home’s exterior, increasing your home’s value by 2-5 percent. The front of the building, which will get the most scrutiny, should look fresh and well-maintained. Pressure washing is an inexpensive and effective way to refresh your home. Some old exteriors have existing paint colors. You might not even know their color until they get a good wash. Get a good pressure wash before painting retouches to boost your curb value. These regular updates are crucial, especially when the time comes when you want to sell your home.

Fig. 3. A fresh coat of exterior paint by Modern Handymen & Remodel to boost the curb appeal of a home in Brentwood, Tennessee

Your home deserves a refresh. From minor painting retouches to large-scale repainting, a fresh coat of paint elevates the whole ambiance and mood of your home. Every fresh coat of paint starts with pre-cleaning. A good surface preparation is essential to a good quality painting finish. The significant effect of proper pre-cleaning is often underestimated. Still, it lays the groundwork for every successful painting project, preventing issues like peeling stains and uneven application. Pre-cleaning with pressure washing will give you peace of mind that your surface preparation is on the right track. However, it is easy for the inexperienced, untrained person to spray excess pressured water on the surface to be painted, which can cause damage and trigger possible repair works. The safest option is to turn the pressure washing over to the professionals. Modern Handymen & Remodel is a team of reliable, professional painters who handle all the details and deliver quality painting works— including a top-notch service when it comes to pressure washing in Tennessee areas. Ensure a smooth and clean painting finish for your home and business needs with a powerful pressure wash. Call us now for fast, powerful pressure washing at 615-200-8071. With Modern Handymen & Remodel, you can be ready for clean surfaces and guaranteed results. Schedule your pressure washing now!