If you have been researching commercial cleaning services, you will have come across the terms power washing and pressure washing. Though often used interchangeably, there is an essential difference between commercial power washing services and pressure washing. This difference makes the two cleaning techniques suitable for different applications.
Why Cleaning And Commercial Power Washing Services Matter Now More Than Ever
The coronavirus pandemic has led to increased demand for commercial cleaning services. As business leaders have become more aware of the need to protect their workforce and customers entering their premises, business places are being cleaned more frequently and thoroughly.
Consequently, the global pressure washer market is expected to be worth around $3 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of more than 3% during the forecast period.
But the pandemic is not the only reason for the growth of the sector: in Houston, we endure harsh heat and storms, and the exterior of a building takes a beating almost every year. Dirt and grime can give your commercial building a worn-down appearance. The concrete, masonry, façade, and parking lots at your business will need to have dirt, accumulated mildew, and loose paint removed. Commercial cleaning is the solution – but should it be power washing or pressure washing?
It’s All About The Heat
The one key difference between commercial power washing services and pressure washing is the water temperature.
With both kinds of cleaning, cleaners use equipment that is built to blast a powerful stream of water at the surface you are trying to clean. However, only the power washer heats up the water. Power washing blasts hot water and detergent cleaning solution at high pressure. It is meant to get rid of dirt and materials from outdoor surfaces.
During this process, the hot water from the power washer simultaneously sanitizes surfaces and breaks down all types of organic material. It is generally powerful enough to remove salt, mold, and mildew from your building’s exterior. Commercial power washing services can remove chewing gum and other sticky substances from a store’s sidewalk and handle grease stains on a building’s parking garage.
Commercial pressure washing uses the same technique but with cold water.
Related: Selecting The Best Houston Commercial Exterior Cleaning Services
When To Use Power Washing vs Pressure Washing
While power washing and pressure washing are very similar processes, they come into their own when used for the right application.
Commercial power washing services are best for large jobs on commercial sites with big parking lots and patios. Its heated water will help finish the job more quickly and efficiently. It will also leave your surfaces smoother as the hot water helps loosen debris and dirt.
Depending on how regularly your building is being cleaned, you may even find that gutters, fences, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces appear new. Power washing will also eliminate any biodegradable contaminants that might cause severe damage to your buildings’ structure over time.
Pressure washing, on the other hand, is recommended mainly for flat surfaces such as concrete. This method is not as powerful as power washing. In most cases, it does not perform as well against substances such as mold, moss, or other tough-to-remove substances. Still, it works well for many basic applications.
Power Washing Works For Any Business
As a business owner or administrator, it’s your responsibility to maintain and protect your property. Remember, your premises are often the first impression new customers have of the business, so a clean and well-presented look can go a long way towards closing that deal. Cleanliness matters in all the spaces of your business, from the parking lot to the top of the roof.
In fact, car lots and underground parking garages can be some of the dirtiest places on a property. Oil and gasoline spills can mar the floor and cause stickiness and an unsightly appearance. Commercial power washing services can keep the entire facility neat and clean.
Commercial power washing services can even help maintain your roof. Insurance companies have started denying coverage to businesses that do not eliminate mold and algae from their roofs. The solution: effective power washing. It will remove the moss and root system from the roof, bringing it back up to code for the insurance company. In hot and humid areas like Houston, this problem is pervasive.
Power Washing Works For More than Just Businesses
Many commercial properties will need to adapt to new demands for worker safety, while also maintaining the usual standard of cleaning and disinfecting. Indeed, businesses have needed to increase their focus on their employee’s health and the physical safety of their workspaces. That said, these new demands have affected more than just employers and employees. Apart from business owners, churches, schools, and grocery stores can also use commercial power washing services to their advantage.
As high-traffic businesses, grocery stores benefit from regular power washing to clean outdoor areas such as sidewalks littered with coffee stains, sticky gum and candy residue, cigarette butts, and other foreign materials.
Churches are another high-traffic area, especially on weekends. To retain a welcoming environment, commercial power washing is important for things like the parking lot, the outdoor signs greeting parishioners, and building façades.
Schools are also under much pressure to offer students and faculty a clean, hygienic environment to work and study in. Commercial indoor cleaning is an excellent way to minimize the spread of germs, while commercial power washing is an excellent way of caring for playgrounds and other outdoor spaces.
Related: 6 Tips To Find The Best Pressure Washing Services In Houston
Preparing Your Building For Power Washing
Once you choose to have your building commercially power washed, you need to prepare your premises. It is often easiest to ask your chosen commercial cleaning service to visit on a weekend, at night, or at any other time when your premises are not busy.
Let your employees know when the cleaning is taking place and make them aware of any related restrictions, such as temporarily limited access to parking spaces. Inspect the exterior of your building, especially windows, doors, light fixtures, and electrical components. They need to be closed, covered, or perhaps even removed before the cleaning starts.
A reputable contractor will, of course, check before they start washing, but it never hurts to double-check.
Hiring A Trusted Commercial Power Washing Service in Houston
Commercial power washing is not something you should try to do on your own. The process involves using specialist machinery and cleaning chemicals, and handling a blast of hot water. Without proper training, you could hurt yourself. You could also damage the landscaping around your building or, worse, the building façade and structure.
In addition, when a professional team is assessing your site, they may be able to offer additional services. For example, consider having your windows, fences, and gutters cleaned. If you have an outdoor patio or eating area for your employees, a professional team can help keep that area clean as well. At a school, they can efficiently rake and clean playgrounds. Talk to your commercial cleaning service about whatever needs you have, and they’ll help you come up with an effective plan to meet your needs.
Hiring a reputable, experienced contractor is the smart choice. With an impressive track record, DTK Inc has grown to become one of the area’s largest and most reputable power washing businesses. Our team of technicians works across four states to provide expert services to over 500 locations. Do you have questions about commercial power washing services? We’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to get a quote or ask for more information.