Pressure washing is one of the best tools southwest Florida homeowners and businesses can use to revitalize the look of exterior surfaces. When conducted regularly for maintenance, pressure washing helps prevent damage to exterior surfaces and extends the lifespan of paint and other surface coatings.

While not always visibly apparent, various contaminants adhere to exterior surfaces and slowly begin to degrade them. Whether dirt, dust, or other airborne pollutant, contaminants can cause staining and spur the growth of damaging mold and mildew. Depending on the exterior surface and the time since the last cleaning, the need for pressure washing may or may not be obvious.

With extensive pressure washing expertise, the professionals at Naples-based FCI Painting know what to look for to determine whether it’s time to pressure wash various exterior surfaces. Read on to learn what signs you should look for that might indicate it’s time to pressure wash the outer surfaces of your home or business.

Dull and Dirty Walls or an Old-Looking Deck

Whatever materials make up the exterior walls of your home or business, they are constantly under assault from air pollution, windblown dirt, and dust. This first becomes evident when their surfaces start looking dull, and at some point, you’ll probably start seeing a noticeable buildup of dirt and grime. A pressure wash will remove noticeable dirt and not-yet-obvious contaminants, restore the natural color, and extend the lifespan of your paint or other surface coatings.

Likewise, with any outside decking. While a painted deck will display the same signs as your exterior walls, a natural or stained wooden deck will likely just look old. Pressure washing is the perfect tool for cleaning any deck and will make natural-colored wooden decks look new again.

Spider Webs and Other Insect Infestation

If the eaves, sills, and other nooks and crooks of your building seem to sport many spider webs and perhaps other signs of insect infestation, such as mud dauber nests, it might be time for a pressure wash. The presence of spider webs and insect nests suggests neglect, which can easily be corrected with a pressure wash job.

How Does Your Driveway Look?

If your driveway looks discolored or has noticeable stains and starting to sprout random weeds, you should consider it time for a pressure wash. A pressure wash will restore the driveway’s natural color, remove stains, and help kill the weeds. Regular pressure washing can extend the lifespan of your driveway by keeping it free from damaging contaminants and crack-causing weeds.

Overflowing Gutters

Power washing is one of the most effective means of cleaning if your gutters are clogged with leaves, pine needles, and other debris, as evidenced by blocked or reduced downspout flows. Not only will the pressurized washing clear the debris, but it will also clean the gutters and adjacent areas of dirt, mold, mildew, and other growths and contaminants that the clogged gutters have undoubtedly stimulated.

Discoloration of the Roof

No matter what type of roofing material, noticeable dark streaks and other discoloration usually mark the presence of bacteria that has begun to degrade it. Florida’s hot and humid climate encourages the rapid buildup of this bacteria and the growth of rooftop mold, fungus, and algae. When visibly noticeable, these growths have already started to eat away at roofing material, making it definitely time for a cleaning.

However, FCI recommends treating your roof with a soft wash rather than pressure cleaning. Except for cedar shake roofs, the high pressure of power washing can damage most roofing materials and shorten their expected lifespans. Soft washing combines an eco-friendly, antibacterial cleaning solution and chemicals with low pressure to clean the roof while killing mold, mildew, fungus, and other bacteriological growth.

Turn to Naples, FL-Based FCI Painting for Your Pressure Washing

To restore the vibrancy of your exterior surfaces and to help preserve their longevity, consult with the professionals at FCI Painting. We have more than 25 years of professional painting experience in the Naples, Florida, area, and help our clients clean and protect their outside surfaces with pressure washing. For all your painting and related property maintenance needs, contact FCI Painting online or call us at (239) 435-1001.