While some home improvement projects lend themselves to the do-it-yourself community, others should be left to professionals. When it comes to power washing, if you have simply done a few minutes of research, you know both DIY and hiring a professional service are options. There is a lot to consider, from cost to the quality of the job, and both options present a list of pros and cons. In this post, we highlight those pros and cons to make sure you have all the information you need for your home when comparing professional vs DIY power washing.
DIY Power Washing
PROS
On a per-day basis, renting a power washer is not too expensive. For smaller projects, you can adequately wash surfaces and keep it cost-effective. Another benefit of choosing the DIY route for power washing, if you decide to do so, is that you have full control over the operation and outcome of the project. You can easily find a standard residential pressure washer at a local home improvement store for rental.
CONS
While doable, power washing your home can be time-consuming and potentially dangerous. For example, there are countless hard-to-reach areas on a typical home that are difficult to clean with a standard pressure washer. In this situation, your first instinct will likely be to grab a ladder. While logical, there is a high risk of injury since there is a great amount of pressure coming from the wand. Additionally, the high pressure can easily damage the structure.
Another common perception is that, in general, it is cheaper to power wash on your own. While that may be true for small and concentrated areas, there are several overlooked factors:
Cost of equipment (pressure washer rental/purchase, fuel, etc.)
How much soap/cleansers cost
Cost of water used
Opportunity cost
While opportunity cost may not be top of mind, it is critical to know that washing a house without professional-grade equipment can take days to complete. Even then, the results may not be what you expected. Simply put, the best and safest way to power wash a home is to use a soft wash method in combination with professional cleansers. DIY power washing makes it nearly impossible to accomplish that.
Professional Power Washing
PROS
Hiring one of the professional power washing services in your area will yield the best results for your home. Reputable power washing companies have the experience and processes to clean your property safely and efficiently.
As previously mentioned, a standard residential pressure washer will not have the capability to reach high areas or effectively clean stubborn areas of a home. Conversely, a professional power washing company will have the equipment and technology to clean your entire home thoroughly. On top of that, here a few other advantages of hiring an experienced professional company:
A reputable company is fully insured in case of any unforeseen issues.
All contaminants, like algae and mildew, will be removed from your home.
You will have a single expense vs. shopping around for a long list of equipment.
You do not have to spend your weekend or free-time power washing.
CONS
When hiring a company or contractor to wash your home, it is understandable to look for the lowest price. Just like in any industry, price is often directly correlated to quality. We encourage you not to focus solely on price, but instead spend time researching a company’s credibility and reviews. This will prevent a situation where someone shows up with just a pickup truck and the same pressure washer you could have rented. Additionally, a contractor like this may become elusive once the job is paid for, which can be especially problematic if there were any issues with the job. Unfortunately, fly-by-night companies do exist.
Hiring a Professional Like clean sweep
Now that you understand the differences between professional vs DIY power washing, it is time to call the pros. Clean Sweep sets the standard for professional power washing services. Our team has been offering exterior cleaning to home and business owners in the tri-state area or over 20 years. We take pride in all aspects of our customer-first process, which ensures every home is efficiently and effectively cleaned. Here is the typical process:
Schedule your service in one short phone call with a power washing expert.
Whether you are home or not, our technician diligently power washes your home.
You are notified (and/or walked around your property) when the job is complete.
We follow up with you the next day to ensure we exceeded your expectations.
Are you looking to power wash your home? Still not sure if you want to hire a professional to do the work? We would be happy to discuss with you why hiring Perfect Power Wash is the right choice. Just call our team today or start the process by requesting a free quote.
