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A deck is not only a beautiful addition to any home, but it also provides an excellent outdoors area to entertain guests and for family relaxation.  Like anything else exposed to the elements it will accumulate dirt, grime, mold and mildew.  Periodic cleaning of your deck will help keep it looking great and providing enjoyment for years to come.

Many people try to use a pressure washer to clean their deck.  While it is possible for an experienced pressure washer contractor to clean a deck using a pressure washer, it is much more difficult than it looks to get a deck clean without damaging it.  Unfortunately, in the hands of most homeowners and even some professionals, pressure washing a deck can do as much harm as good. 

A typical pressure washer uses water pressurized to between 2,000 and 5,000 psi to blast away dirt and grime.  However, wooden decks are made from relatively soft woods that can be damaged very quickly by a stream of high pressure water.  In the blink of an eye, a pressure washer can turn a perfectly good but dirty deck into a clean, but severely damaged deck.

The stream of high pressure water from a pressure washer can take off a quarter inch layer of wood very quickly.   At best, a typical pressure washer will leave the deck surface “fuzzy” with wood fibers raised by the pressure washing process.

 A better method of deck pressure washing involves cleaning it with a low pressure washer. In this method, environmentally save chemicals are applied to remove the dirt and grime, then the chemicals and dirt are removed by the application of low pressure, high volume water.  The result is a clean deck with no damage.