If you’re preparing a surface for painting, you’ve likely had both pressure washing and sandblasting presented to you as excellent options. Both pressure washing and sandblasting ensure that surfaces are ready for paint, but they do so in different ways. Depending on your situation, one may be more preferable to you over the other.

Here is what you need to know about the difference between pressure washing and sandblasting so that you can better determine which is right for you.

What Is Pressure Washing?

Pressure washing, sometimes called power washing, is the use of highly pressurized waters and a cleaning solution in order to deep-clean surfaces. Some professionals use chemical cleaning solutions while others prefer to use eco-friendly options, like the team here at True Clean Power Wash & Seal. 

Pressure washing cleans away hard-to-remove residue for a fresh, renewed surface. Since it uses water, there’s no need to worry about dust clouds. While you can DIY pressure washing, it’s better to leave it to the professionals. This is because due to how pressurized the water is, unless you have extensive training and experience, you could accidentally damage your home instead of cleaning it. 

What Is Sandblasting?

Sandblasting is also known as abrasive blasting. Like pressure washing, sandblasting involves the use of highly pressurized materials in order to clean surfaces. Unlike pressure washing, though, sandblasting uses abrasive materials, like sand or glass.

There is both dry sandblasting and wet sandblasting. People typically opt for wet sandblasting when they want to avoid the dust that can result from dry sandblasting. As the names suggest, dry sandblasting uses air and abrasive materials while wet sandblasting uses water and abrasive materials. 

Both pressure washing and sandblasting need to be done by professionals. Sandblasting can also damage your home if done incorrectly, as well as present a fire risk. Professionals know how to sandblast while being mindful of dangers. 

What Is Pressure Washing Best For?

Both pressure washing and sandblasting are good services to have done, it just depends on your needs. Pressure washing is best for cleaning. You can pressure wash many different exterior surfaces, from driveways to roofs and more. Professionals know how to adjust the pressure settings to best suit the material being cleaned.

People have their properties pressure washed in order to clean them. They can also have their properties pressure washed to prep it for a new paint job, by ensuring that they have a nice, clean surface to work with.

What Is Sandblasting Best For?

Both pressure washing and sandblasting can clean your home and prepare it for a new coat of paint. However, if you want to remove old paint or you have residue stuck on your surfaces, you’d likely be better off with sandblasting. 

This is because while pressure washing has the pressure needed to do a deep clean, sandblasting has the abrasiveness needed to remove old finishes and the like. Sandblasting is best for surface preparation. 

Which Is Better: Pressure Washing Or Sandblasting?

When it comes to two different services, people always want to know which one is better. In many cases, as with pressure washing and sandblasting, it isn’t a question of one being superior to the other. It’s a matter of what you’re doing. Depending on the project, one service may be better suited to your needs than the other.

As mentioned above, pressure washing is best for cleaning purposes. You can pressure wash concrete, your house, and more. It’s important to leave this job to the professionals, tempting as it may be to try to DIY it. DIY pressure washing can lead to many issues, including injury and sickness. 

On the other hand, sandblasting is best for removing old finishes. Depending on the pressure used, you can clean with sandblasting, the same as you can with pressure washing. You can also do very powerful settings in order to prepare a surface in mere hours. 

So, if you just need to clean your home, pressure washing is probably better for you. However, if you want to remove old finishes, you would likely be better off with sandblasting.

As you can see, both pressure washing and sandblasting are helpful services to clean your home. They’re also both best left to professional hands, for safety reasons and to prevent property damage.

Do You Need Professional Pressure Washing Services?

True Clean Power Wash & Seal provides professional pressure washing services around the Charlotte, NC area. We can help you give your home a refresh to enhance its curb appeal, ensure that your business is a healthier, safer environment, and prepare your surfaces for painting. Contact us today to learn more about our pressure washing services and how we can help you.

Is your home looking like it could use a pressure wash? Depending on the time of year, you may wonder whether or not you can even have a pressure wash done or if the weather will impact the effectiveness of a pressure wash. You can have your home pressure washed all year round – but the weather and temperatures do play a role in this.

Here’s what you need to know about how weather affects the effectiveness of a pressure wash so that you can have a better idea of when you can and cannot have your home pressure washed.

Are There Times You Cannot Get A Pressure Wash?

Absolutely. If you’re ever in doubt about whether or not the weather and temperatures are suitable for a pressure wash, you can count on the professionals to let you know either way. This can also be a way for you to know just how experienced and high-quality a pressure washing company is. 

For instance, if a pressure washing company says that the freezing temperatures and the snow storm outside are no barrier to the effectiveness of a pressure wash… You should find another pressure washing company. 

That said, you may be surprised about how often you can get a pressure wash. Many people assume that you cannot get a pressure wash during the winter months because it is too cold. This is something that very much depends on where you live. However, so long as the temperatures are above freezing and it’s nice and sunny, you shouldn’t need to worry about the weather impacting the effectiveness of a pressure wash. 

How Do You Know If Weather Will Impact The Effectiveness Of A Pressure Wash?

When in doubt, it’s always best to consult with your local professional pressure washing company. When scheduling, they will look at factors like the weather. If the weather would impact the effectiveness of a pressure wash, they’ll reschedule. 

Just like you want quality service for your money, quality professionals want to ensure that they provide you with a job well done. If the weather will impact the effectiveness of a pressure wash, they’ll let you know and reschedule as soon as possible so that you can get your home nice and clean again. 

What Weather Impacts The Effectiveness Of A Pressure Wash?

So, we already touched on freezing temperatures and clear skies. You generally want temperatures to be 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in order to prevent issues that can result from freezing temperatures. Depending on where you live, this may mean that you can or cannot have pressure washing done during the winter months. 

If the temperatures are freezing, this can lead to issues with the pressure washing equipment itself, as well as structural problems with your home. Water expands when it freezes, so pressure washing in freezing temperatures could result in damage, which nobody wants.

Other weather that impacts the effectiveness of a pressure wash include:

• Snow storms
• Rain storms
• Hail
• High winds
• Cloudy skies on cold days

Plus, if there is thunder and lightning, your pressure wash will need to be rescheduled for safety purposes.

What Is The Ideal Weather For Pressure Washing?

Ideally, temperatures will be above freezing, the weather will be mild, and there will be plenty of sunlight. This is why spring through fall are the busiest times of the year for pressure washers. 

You need enough sunlight in order for your property to dry properly and for the pressure washing technicians to be able to see every area that needs to be cleaned. You need mild weather, because otherwise, the weather will impact the effectiveness of a pressure wash by just causing dirt to accumulate. We have already touched on why you need to temperatures to be above freezing.

What Is The Best Time Of Year To Schedule A Pressure Wash?

Most people schedule pressure washes during the spring and during the fall. This is both because the weather tends to favor this service during these seasons and also for practical purposes. Pressure washing during the spring helps to remove the buildup of dirt and debris from the winter months. Pressure washing during the fall helps to prepare your home for the winter months.

That said, the best time of year to schedule a pressure wash is when you need one. True Clean Power Wash & Seal will work with you in order to schedule a time that works best, taking the weather into account. Contact us today to learn more about our pressure washing services.

Getting a pressure wash can do wonders for your property. It can make dirty paint look as good as new, restoring your home’s curb appeal. It can help to prevent damage by removing buildup from your house to your driveway and more. However, is there anything that you need to do to prepare for a pressure wash? 

We’re not talking about preparing to DIY a pressure wash here. You can learn more about the dangers of DIYing pressure washing in our previous blog, Can Pressure Washing Make You Sick? 5 Alarming Reasons To Not DIY A Pressure Wash. We’re talking about if there’s anything you, as a homeowner, need to do to prepare for a pressure wash before the pros come to your home.

There are indeed helpful measures that you can take to prepare your home for a pressure wash. These help to preserve the safety of the pressure washers, the safety of any children and pets, and the security of your home. Let’s get into what exactly you can do to prepare for a pressure wash!

#1. Keep Children And Pets Inside

Children and pets can both be very curious about pressure washing. However, for both their safety and the safety of the pressure washers, you want to ensure that they stay inside the house while the pros do their job. 

Pressure washing is very dangerous. The highly pressurized water can damage your property when used incorrectly. It can also cause serious injuries. You don’t want the pressure washers to be distracted or trying to do their job while also avoiding children and pets. For the safety of everyone, keep your children and pets inside. 

#2. Remove Any Hazardous Items

While your pressure washing professionals are going to be careful, you don’t want anything to be in their way or create a tripping hazard. If you have any garden decorations, stray cables, children’s toys, tools, or anything else that could cause someone to fall, store it in your garage until the pressure wash is done. 

Not only is this important to prevent trips and falls, it’s also important so that the professionals have the space to be able to move the pressure washer around. If they’re needing to navigate about your yard decorations, this can lengthen the amount of time it takes to clean your property.

#3. Relocate Anything You Do Not Want To Get Wet Or Damaged

This applies to, well, anything that you do not want to get wet or damaged. From your patio furniture to plants to your grill and more, you’ll want to store it somewhere safe and dry for the duration of the service. 

This also applies to your vehicles. Again, pressure washers can do serious damage. The last thing you want is for an accident to occur and then your car is left damaged. For safety, either keep your car parked in your garage or move it to the side of the street. 

#4. Secure All Exterior Openings

This applies to your windows, doors, and any other openings you may have. Close them tight and keep them secured in order to keep the water from getting into your home. You’ll also want to check along the frames for any cracks or gaps, as water could get through these spaces. If you have any damaged weatherstripping, you can prepare for a pressure wash by replacing it first.

#5. Cover Electrical Outlets

It’s easy to forget about the outlets on the exterior of your home. However, water and electricity are never a good mix. For optimal safety, take a walk around your house and note all the electrical outlets that you have. Unplug anything that is plugged in, cover the outlets, and store the appliances or cords somewhere dry and safe

Does Your Home Need A Pressure Wash?

The best way to prepare for a pressure wash is to know what it is that needs pressure washing. If you need a pressure washing service, True Clean Power Wash & Seal is here to help. We also provide soft washing so that your home can be clean from top to bottom. If you need any more advice on what you can do to prepare for a pressure wash, don’t hesitate to contact us today!