Warm, humid weather in Southeast Texas can make your building and grounds look grimy and tired. It can also encourage mold and algae to release spores and spread on exterior walls, sidewalks, and other parts of your property, making a poor first impression. Hiring a professional power washing service in Houston can save time and money while helping to protect your property, improve its appearance, and make it safe from unwanted allergies due to pollen and mold. Here’s a guide to help you choose the right professional cleaning company for the job.
Pressure Washing Services in Houston: What Does It Do?
Pressure washing is familiar to most of us as a process where a high-pressure jet of water is carefully sprayed over a surface to remove dirt, grime, paint, pollen, dust, and other debris. While pressure washing systems are available to individuals, professional pressure washing typically involves a skilled washer who uses a mobile unit that can provide adequate power and pressure for any job. Professional pressure washing units also typically incorporate waste collection systems to ensure a job that’s as safe as it is effective.
Why You Need Pressure Washing Services
Pressure washing can make your building and grounds look refreshed and maintained. Although properties anywhere collect dirt and dust, the warm, humid climate around Houston makes buildings and grounds particularly vulnerable to growing mold, mildew, and algae, which can be harmful to employees and customers. Houston is also home to hard water, which can leave calcium deposits or scale on retaining walls, fountains, building exteriors, and other areas.
To Keep Facility Looking Refreshed and Maintained
One of the main reasons people choose pressure washing is to make everything look clean and refreshed with minimal expense of time, money, and effort. Pressure washing can eliminate many unsightly problems from your building, sidewalks, fencing, parking areas, and other hard surfaces, including:
- Dust, dirt, and grime
- Mold, mildew, and algae
- Graffiti and paint spatter
- Old or flaking paint or rust
- Pollen, tree sap, vine residue, and leaf stains
- Oil and grease
- Other stains and debris
A well maintained and clean property makes a great impression on visitors.
For Preventative Maintenance
Over time, mold, mildew, algae, rust, oil, grease, and other contaminants and buildup can damage underlying surfaces, including brick, wood, concrete, and others. They can also compromise paint, caulking, and other parts of your building’s exterior, leading to damage and deterioration. Pressure washing can effectively and safely remove these elements without caustic chemicals.
To Decrease Pollen and Mold Allergies
Allergies to mold spores and pollen are quite common, ranging from unpleasant inconveniences to life-threatening emergencies. Mold releases spores most often in humid conditions, which, for Houston, is pretty much all year long.
Related: Why Outsource Cleaning Services
While allergic reactions to mold indoors are well-known, outdoor mold spores can cause the same kinds of responses. Keeping your facility’s exterior free of mold and pollen can help reduce these reactions, limit the spread of mold and mildew, and can even help prevent indoor growth. Mold and algae can also make sidewalks and pathways slippery, making your property potentially hazardous for employees and visitors.
To Save Time and Money
As with most preventive maintenance, regular pressure washing can keep dirt and debris from becoming a bigger, more complex and more expensive problem to remedy. This excellent cleaning process can also prepare the way for a fresh paint job, parking lot sealing, and other updates and renovations, making those jobs less time-consuming and more attractive.
The Best Times to Schedule Pressure Washing Services in Houston
General recommendations are to avoid pressure washing when temperatures are below freezing or so hot that water and cleansers evaporate too quickly. Fortunately, with the Houston area’s warmer, humid climate, there’s not much time during the year that isn’t a great time to arrange for pressure washing.
Instead of relying on outdoor temperatures, we recommend scheduling pressure washing services in Houston at times when it will cause the least disruption for your operations, employees, guests, customers, and visitors.
Do You Need a Professional Pressure Washing Service?
The increased availability of non-commercial pressure washing equipment to the general public has resulted in many people who choose to try their own pressure washing. While that DIY spirit is to be admired, pressure washers may not be an ideal choice for beginners—with poor-quality results, water pollution fines, property damage, and common injury all potential concerns.
Rather than take a chance at these risks, hiring a professional pressure washing service is an effective and affordable option. That said, it’s important to choose the pressure washing service that best fits your organization and property. Professional pressure washing should offer:
Excellent Results
Professional services have the pressure washing experience and equipment to ensure the work is done correctly on any facility and surface. Appropriate detergents and cleansers, spray pressure levels, a variety of nozzles, and expert techniques ensure you get the desired results.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
The Department of Health requires pressure washing services in Houston to comply with the Clean Water Act, meaning the runoff from the process generally cannot enter storm drains or any bodies of water. The city also tests and permits all pressure washing providers to ensure they use environmentally-friendly materials and techniques. This includes the use of appropriate cleansers as well as proper collection and disposal of wastewater—and any debris and other materials washed off as part of the pressure washing process.
Protection from Property Damage
One of the biggest mistakes many amateurs make in pressure washing is to use inappropriate pressure for the surfaces they are attempting to clean. Some materials and building components require special care, techniques, and spray nozzles to be safely pressure washed, such as:
- Sandstone
- Stucco
- Shingles and other roofing
- HVAC equipment
- Electrical and lighting elements
- Lead paint or areas with potential lead paint
- Painted surfaces
- Wood, including siding and decking
- Vinyl siding
- Older brick and mortar
In some cases, improper pressure washing of these areas can cause grooves or pitting and strip paint, stain, and other protective coatings. Overpowered or otherwise inexperienced pressure washing can also strip protective granules from asphalt shingles, loosen mortar, weaken bricks, and force water behind and underneath siding where it can cause damage and encourage mold and mildew growth. The risks of pressurized water penetrating electronic and HVAC components should be fairly clear.
An Injury-Free Process
DIYers and poorly or improperly trained workers can cause themselves a vast array of injuries ranging from simple bumps and bruises to severe lacerations that can cause infections and even amputations. Professionals are trained to do pressure washing safely and have the safety gear to protect themselves while they work. Professional cleaning companies are also insured, meaning your organization is not at risk for on-the-job injuries.
Time and Money Savings
A professional pressure washing service already has the equipment and employees trained to properly clean any surface at your facility that is suitable for pressure washing. They also have appropriate cleansers, detergents, degreasing agents, and other products which meet environmental, health, and safety regulations while achieving the results you want. Of course, hiring a professional crew can also free up time for you and your staff to focus on other areas of your business.
Related: 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Cleaning Services
In addition, pressure washing is often just one component of the services a full-service cleaning company may provide. Having one company with multiple services allows you to combine regular pressure washing with other cleaning and maintenance your facility probably already needs.
Tips for Choosing the Right Pressure Washing Service in Houston
A quick search online or in the phone book for pressure washing can yield dozens of companies offering their services. Here are some steps to find the best match for ideal pressure washing results.
1. Review Your Property To Assess Needs
Start by taking a walk around your business’s exterior and noting its appearance. Do you notice caked-on dirt and mud, mold and algae, or a general griminess? Pressure washing might be a good option. Check out the parking lot, driveways, fences, and other spaces that may be overlooked by general maintenance. Keep a list of what you see, and use it when you speak with potential cleaning services.
2. Ask for Recommendations
Check with your current cleaning, maintenance, or janitorial provider to see if they also offer pressure washing. If they don’t offer it themselves, they may be able to recommend a company which can provide the services you need. Check with similar companies and organizations for other recommendations.
3. Look Online and Make a Shortlist
Once you have a list of potential pressure-washing companies, check their online presence. Most companies will have a website that reflects their level of professionalism. It should offer a list of services and information about the company’s history and experience, as well. Some places you might check include:
- Company Website — Choose a company with a professional, informative website that includes complete contact information
- Social Media — Check social media accounts for details about their work and see what customers have to say about their experiences with different companies.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) — Check if any complaints have been filed against the company.
- Other Online Reviews — Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor, and other sites will also typically have customer reviews for the pressure washing companies you are considering.
Based on what you’ve learned so far, make a shortlist of companies that are worth considering.
4. Verify Essential Details
Between reviewing company websites and contacting those you are considering, collect and confirm many of the important details you’ll need to have in order to narrow down your shortlist, including:
- Houston waste transporter permit and decals — ensuring compliance with environmental regulations
- Proper insurance — to protect your building, staff, and guests from injury and liability
- Worker training and experience — verify that the company hires trained employees rather than temporary laborers to perform the pressure washing
- Customer referrals — Online reviews have varying reliability, but talking to customers who have personal experience with a pressure washing company can be helpful.
5. Schedule a Consultation
Contact the companies you are interested in hiring and schedule a consultation to review the property and provide an estimate on desired services. They should have no problem answering any of your questions and discussing your specific needs. With these final details, you can make an educated choice on who to hire for your pressure washing needs.
Professional Pressure Washing Service With DTK
At DTK, we offer pressure washing services in Houston and the surrounding area, along with a full range of other commercial cleaning services. Since 1996, our skilled and professionally trained team, full array of cleaning capabilities, environmentally-friendly products, and commitment to excellence has been an unbeatable combination for the companies we serve. Contact us for a quote and see how our pressure-washing services can transform your business or organization.