If you have decking, you should never come near it with a pressure washer. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people don’t know this is true. They believe that pressure washing companies your deck must be ok since companies come knocking on your door to do it. It is made even more difficult to say no because young, good looking college children tend to work for these companies. Always try to remember, however, that companies will do anything they can in order to make some money. If that can be done by providing what is at heart a poor service, they will. Hence, next time you drive past 1 of those pressure washing company vans, just keep on driving. The older your deck is, the worse any damage caused by pressure washing will be. Very often, this is because the pressure on the washers is set much too high (this setting is wrong in both private and commercial washers). However, low pressure can be just as damaging to decks.

As soon as you take a pressure washer to decking, loose material will be removed. What you will be left with, however, is gaps with splinters. The problem with these gaps is that they were held together by some of the dirt. As soon as this is removed, they can open up and face the full attack of the elements, the sun and rain in particular. Furthermore, by pressure washing, the wood’s natural oils get taken out too. This natural oil can never be replaced, not even with a good sealant. Wood also dries too quickly, meaning it will warp and cup. When wood starts to expand, nails will get loose and water is able to get in to any opening.

So what can you do instead? Different stores sell gentle cleaners specifically designed for decks. These should be completely free of caustic lye and acid. Stay away from any products that warns against contact with children, pets or water features as well. If at all possible, try to find a range of products that is free of any toxins, offering both cleansers and sealants. You can use an oxygen cleanser for a deep clean. These contain sodium pecarbonate and will not cause any damage to your wood. Plus, it will not poison your plants or cause harm to your kids or pets. If you have cleaned your deck, make sure you seal it as well. If you forget, your deck will be exposed to harmful UV rays. This is why you should choose a sealant that can protect the wood of your decking against water damage as well as UV damage.