How Pressure Washing Aids Paint Prep

As a professional painter, our customer, Mark in Largo, knows the importance of preparing a surface for a new coat of paint.

"You can buy the best paint in the world, but if you have a surface that is dirty and has old, chipped paint still attached, your new paint job won't last long," he says. "That's why I always use pressure washing to prepare outdoor surfaces before applying a new coat of paint."


The Importance of a Clean Painting Surface

Building exteriors in the Tampa Bay and Clearwater area accumulate not only dust and dirt but other environmental contaminants such as sand, algae and much more. It goes without saying that, if you leave these on exterior surfaces before you paint or stain them, the new coating will stick to the dirt instead of the surface itself. The leading cause of paint failure is the lack of prepping the surfaces i.e. no painting preparation. Commonly the paint is applied to a dirty surface. If you look closely at paint chips peeling off the side of a house, you'll often see dirt sticking to the underside.

If you believe you have paint failure and initiate a claim with the store where you purchased the paint, an inspector will come out to assess the situation. The first thing an inspector will do is look for dirt on the underside of the chip to negate the claim, so it's in your best interest to make sure that the surface is thoroughly cleaned and prepared. You'll get more life from mid-grade paints and stains when applied over a well-prepared clean surface than from top-shelf products applied on a dirty or ill prepared surface.


How to Do a Perfect Paint Prep

Preparing a surface for painting, no matter whether it is wood, stucco, siding, metal or a deck, usually involves one of two methods:
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• The first involves scraping and cleaning the area by hand. Wood often requires sanding to complete the job and make the surface smooth, so you may have to perform two steps, both of which are time-consuming.

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• An easier and quicker way to do the job is through power washing at the right setting. Caution: Wood needs extra care and you should learn how to do it before embarking on this task. See our how-to video on pressure washing a wooden deck.

Especially when paint prep involves wood, pressure washing is a viable alternative. The power washing will do the same job as hand scraping. The high force of the water will remove all loose paint, leaving only the paint that still adheres firmly to the surface. The strength of the water not only removes the old, loose paint, it also cleans the surface at the same time and smooths it in much the same way that sanding does.

The decided advantage that pressure washing has in these situations is that it can do the job on multiple surfaces in much less time than it would take to scrap and sand just one section of siding on a house. Instead of spending time on a small part of a wall or a similar surface for paint prep by hand, you can clean multiple surfaces in the same amount of time, which means you'll get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time.


What Surfaces Can You Clean With Power Washing?

When it comes to removing paint, just about any outdoor surface with an old coat of paint is appropriate for paint prep via power washing, including decks, stucco, metal, siding, you name it. For more information on how to accomplish paint prep with a pressure washer, consult our article here.

Once you have finished pressure washing, check the surface for errant paint chips that may remain and remove them with a painter's multi-tool that will get into tight areas such as corners where some flakes may remain. Be careful as applying too much pressure can create gouges on some surfaces. Make sure you use a soft, damp rag to wipe away any remaining chips. Because power washing thoroughly wets the surface, you should hold off on performing any needed repair work.


How long after pressure washing should you wait to perform additional paint prep?

DPI Pressure Washing in Clearwater recommends that you allow at least three days to pass before performing priming and caulking. Sure, downtime is frustrating, but primer and caulk won't stick to wet surfaces, either. In the meantime, you can look for areas that need repair or replacement along with setting nail heads that may have popped out on wood.

If you plan on having a professional complete the job to paint an exterior wall or stain a deck, you may find that the painting prices you are quoted will be less because of the thorough paint prep that pressure washing does. Power washing those surfaces not only saves time, but it's economical too!


Let DPI Pressure Washing Do the Job for You!

​When you look for power washing near me in Clearwater, your search gives you a list of alternatives. DPI Pressure Washing is a seasoned, reliable contractor that will provide you with a variety of power washing services that include roof cleaning, driveway and sidewalk cleaning and more that you may combine as part of an overall package along with preparing a surface for painting. Contact us today for your free quote.