Power Wash Before You Paint

Here’s a look into how Hey Paint Guy (facebook.com/heypaintguy) and his team at Vivax Pro Painting (www.vivaxpropainting.com) do power washing. He’s successfully done this for years in the Denver Metro area. 


The purpose of the pressure wash is to rinse away the chalky residue, remove dust, mildew and some loose paint; may be preformed up to a month prior to painting. If the washer happens to misses or could not reach something on the house , during the prep time painters will wipe down the house removing all cobwebs, nests, etc. Typically the washers rinse window areas lightly trying not to damage windows and shutters. This also prevents water from entering the house. If there is exposed wood that the pressure wash may damage, it is important to prime the wood prior to the wash.

Pets need to be secured and left in the back yard during the day, all windows shut, and remove everything off any decks, porches, etc. All patio furniture should be moved away from the house for wash and paint until the job is complete. 


Start Date Prep Time Scrape loose and failing paint to create a smooth surface for painting. · Prime bare wood to seal and provide and adhesive surface for painting, using top of the line 100% acrylic primer. · Caulk seams, specified cracks, around doors/windows, using 40 year 100% acrylic caulking. This prevents further water damage and creates the best possible appearance. · Vivax rolls or sprays siding based on customer preference. Apply an even finish coat, using top of the line materials. · Vivax brushes and rolls all trim with care. 
 Pro Painting crews perform daily job site cleanup and will complete regular inspections with client and supervisor to maintain open lines of communication. Once the job is complete the Production Manager will coordinate a final walk through with the customer to ensure everything is up to your satisfaction.

If you are doing the job yourself you can usually rent a pressure washer from your local hardware or painting store for around $50-75/day. A few hours should give you plenty of time. Start at the top of the house around the gutters with the pin point spray tip (DO NOT GET CLOSER THAN 8 FEET WITH THIS NOZZLE) and work your way down continuously moving the nozzle of the power washer. When you get to the lower half of the house use a fan tip spray. You’ll want to start 3-4 feet from the house and this will give you a good idea of how far or close you need to be in order to get all the debris off your house. However if you get too close to the house you could ruin the siding. This process should enable all the dirt and grim to wash off wash off while keeping the siding in good condition.

You can pressure wash most siding, including: vinyl, metal, and some types of masonry. Do not pressure wash your house if it may have been painted using lead paint prior to 1978 (contact your public health department or the EPA at 800-424-LEAD). You will want to hand wash it! If it rains on or before the pressure wash date before painting starts, what procedures should you take? Do not worry! The rain can actually be beneficial to the wash. If dust, dirt or mud is blown onto the house, you can just give the house a quick rinse with the hose. Houses dry in about 1 day. Decks and fences need about 2 days to dry!