You want your Naples-area home or business premises to look fresh and new, right? Absent a fresh coat of paint and/or building materials replacement, pressure washing offers the easiest and most cost-effective means for restoring the fresh, like-new look of your home or business exterior. Indeed, pressure washing can be used on almost all building surfaces to clean and eliminate the buildup of:

• Dirt
• Dust
• Mold
• Mildew
• Loose Paint
• Grease
• Oil
• Airborne Pollutants
• Graffiti
• And more.

With this in mind, then, many home and business owners consider a do-it-yourself approach to the project, whether in hopes of cutting costs or because it seems like the easiest solution. However, and despite what you may have read or seen in blogs and YouTube videos, DIY pressure washing is not as cheap and easy as it might seem. So, while contemplating your pressure washing needs, consider these three reasons why you should hire a professional pressure washing company for the job instead of resorting to the DIY approach:

Save on Costs

The DIY yourself approach might seem cost-effective on its surface, but you might want to re-consider when you tally up the costs. The machinery itself is going to cost you, whether you rent or own. Pressure washing machine prices run the gamut from $150 or so on up to $1,000 (and far higher for commercial models) depending upon the motor, pressure rating, and various other features. Electric models on the cheaper side tend to be notoriously unreliable and prone to breakdowns and short service lives, while more costly gas-powered machines tend to be much more reliable and stand the test of time. Renting a machine might be the better option, as prices vary widely, depending upon the model, location, and rental service. Other DIY costs include water usage, gas/power, and the considerable expenditure of your time.

When you add it all up, you might realize that it is more cost-effective to hire a professional. For a flat fee, a professional power washing company can swiftly and efficiently tackle a cleaning job that might take you far longer to complete.

It’s the Safer Option

Pressure washing might appear to be a safe enough DIY job, but the high pressures of the water stream make these tools dangerous. In fact, in one recent year more than 6,000 emergency room visits were caused by pressure washing-related accidents. As a result, Consumer Reports issued a pressure washing safety alert and called for a national ban on zero-degree pressure washer nozzle sales, based on its ability to easily rip through skin. The high pressure of the water streams isn’t the only danger, though, as falls from ladders and rooftops while pressure washing also lead to numerous injuries each year.

All in all, allowing trained and experienced professional power washing personnel to handle the job is the safer option.

Avoid Surface Damage

Much as the high pressure of pressure washing streams can rip through skin, they can easily damage the surfaces of your home or business. If not handled correctly a pressure washer can peel paint, shred wood, erode brick, damage numerous other surfaces, and destroy adjacent plants and vegetation. Poorly aimed streams can be forced into spaces behind exterior walls where the unseen water will cause ongoing damage and deterioration. Professional pressure washing personnel are trained on how to effectively and safely clean all surfaces. In fact, you might be surprised to see that professional companies tend to apply far less pressure on many surfaces than you might think would be needed. For example, Naples-based FCI Painting uses soft washing techniques to safely and effectively power wash rooftops.

Turn to FCI Painting for Your Pressure Washing Needs

If you would like to spruce up your home or business premises with pressure washing and avoid the potential pitfalls of doing it yourself, FCI Painting can tackle the job for you. With more than 20 years of experience helping southwest Florida homeowners and businesses with all of their painting and building maintenance needs, contact FCI Painting online, or give us a call at (239) 435-1001.