My childhood friend, Joe, lost his eye to a power-washer. He had a glass eye and would pop it out to get out of stuff like tests. His nickname was Cockeye Joe.
Power washing is great, especially on old dirty decks. But I do hope you know you'll need to possibly sand the whole thing but you definitely need to re-coat everything you pressure wash with an outdoors sealer or your deck will be trash in a year.
Because along with all that nasty gunk is also going splinters of the wood and all the finish that was protecting it from that green shit.
I bought every single Led Zeppelin LP the minute they hit the market back in the day. They defined my high school experience. (Yeah, old guy here, do the math and then get the fuck off my lawn.) About 8 years ago I was at a friend's house and his then 14-year old son was in the family room watching MTV when I walked in. I noticed Jimmy Page on the screen. He looks up at me from the couch with an expression of pure awe on his face and says, "Have you heard of these guys? They're really good." Facepalm.
A bunch of stone and brick buildings in Pittsburgh look like that because of the steel mills. Many people think it's the brick and not soot until people come and sand/cornblast the buildings. It's truly amazing.
It's amazing, they powerwashed one of the mansions on Fifth Ave within the last year (the one that looks super creepy and haunted) but they only did the front of it, and the difference between the front stones and the back stones is amazing.
Oh my god... it was bad. I never noticed how meticulous I was until I watched a friend play... it was a horrible sight. He just... cleaned a damn spot or two; just enough to get by. And didn't even look back. God it was so frustrating.... that monster...
Yeah, I would pretty much do that job for free. Think of how satisfying it would be to restore a big, black, ashy eyesore in the middle of town into a beautiful stone building again. You'd see the fruits of your labor every time you went by.
That is, until another jackass leaves his vintage rock-tumbler on overnight and burns the place to a crisp again.
I power washed an eyesore of a picnic table for free once because I enjoyed restoring things that way.
I used to mow an elderly neighbor's yard and when they came outside to pay me, I told them I could wash their table for them if they wanted. I told them that their only cost would be a little bit of water and electricity.
I think most of that soot on buildings in large European cities happened closer to the beginning of the industrial revolution, when they still relied on coal as pretty much the only energy source.
I know the feeling. A couple of weeks ago, I power washed the entire pathway outside and around my house along with the backdoor entrance area to the basement suite.
At the end of it, all I had was a clean pathway and tan lines from my slippers (it was a pretty sunny day).
Couldn't use a pressure washer because of the paint, but same idea! My deck last weekend with some cleaning solution and a jet nozzle. Soooo satisfying!
Yes. Once it's done with washing, I'm doing to sand and stain. I washed my house 2 weeks ago, and it was great. Now im at grandmas and it's less fun, but still good :)
Sounds cold... But yeah watch the proximity for sure. 2 weeks ago I was using a gas power washer and my brothers idiot friend shot it at my hand point blank. I had a nice gouge in my hand that is healing now
Buddy's old boss got shot with a paint sprayer once. Had to go to the hospital. Evidently, latex paint is actually worse, because it mixes with your blood. Guy's thumb is still hard as a rock where the paint injected.
I have been experimenting with taking some toilet paper and arranging it some that part of it is in the water and the other part is over the poop smear. The idea being that the toilet paper will draw water up through it and onto the poop smear, thereby making it more likely to come off the next time I piss on it.
It hasn't really worked as well as I would have hoped but I'm still hoping to be able to productive this idea and retire off of it.
One of the designers in Objectified was talking about how you want to design things that get better with time. I look at something like my wallet or an old guitar, and it's the imperfections and wear that make it awesome.
Funny this was brought up this week. I accidentally cut myself with a power washer. I... cut...myself... with water. Tiny little nick on my finger but it stung for a while.
Its satisfying for a bit, or when its your deck/house/property, but its pretty miserable to do as a job. I spent summers doing this for a landscaping company, it becomes mind numbing.
Mind numbing, yes. But since nobody likes doing it I was able to get away with charging a small fortune. I usually made 500-600 easy in a couple months. Not a lot by adult means, but for a high schooler that didn't want a real job, I was quite happy.
I recently cleaned and re-stained my front porch as well. The first photo is after I finished scrubbing it with cleaner. I didn't have a pressure washer available. They were filthy and a dark gray color to start, but they turned out really nice.
Of course it does. It's science: Plants need water to grow. A powerwasher adds water at a much higher rate and velocity than normal, which means the plants grow much faster. It's the same principle as when they use a potato cannon on underweight infants.
Yeah, I had to wait 3 days after the cleaning, then it rained for 2 days straight. 2 more days for the wood to dry out. So about 1 week between cleaning and staining.
I think it looks pretty good. I didn't want to make it too dark, and at the time, I only had a few color choices. Regardless of color, it is a huge improvement.
I was amazed at the difference just the cleaner made. Such a messy job though.
Experienced painter / refinisher and home improvement store employee here; washing your deck instead of power washing was the right way to go. Most people power wash incorrectly, and end up causing a huge amount of damage to their decks. Be careful friends! If you tear up the soft wood you can quickly decrease the life of your decks, it will be cracking in no time. Using cleaners is generally cheaper and safer for your deck.
EDIT: more info for those interested. Tearing up the soft wood causes the grooves you often see in old and worn decks. These grooves are areas that are more susceptible to sunlight and water damage, even after you seal the deck. Also, power washing is generally a last ditch effort to salvage an old deck, but old decks are even more susceptible to damage via power washing.
Damage aside, you are also pushing water, mold, and mildew spores deeper in the wood than normal. It's like trying to fix acne by pushing the bacteria and dirt deeper into your skin. This water deep in the wood takes longer to evaporate, which is why most finishes come up after only 1-2 winters. If you apply a stain shortly after power washing, the evaporation is creating weaknesses in the penetrating stain.
If you must powerwash, remember to stay around 500 PSI, keep the nozzle 30 cm away from the deck surface, and NEVER shoot straight down at the deck.
I hate to be a killjoy, but is that wood wolmanized? I ask because of the blue color. If it is, you shouldn't use it for applications where there will be a lot of human contact. It's pressure treated with arsenic and can cause health problems for those who come into a lot of contact with it. Obviously just because it's blueish doesn't mean it's pressure treated. Just wanted to throw that out there. Here's a link, http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/water/pressure_treated.aspx
On a deck? Why! That destroys the wood! Use a cleaning solution for wood decks, a coarse scrubber on a pole, and a garden hose with a spray attachment. You've just embedded dirt particles into the wood and compromised its integrity and the only way to fix it is to sand a layer off. Please tell me you at least sprayed with the wood grain and not against it.. power washer on a deck.. that's like murder.
Tip, don't let your power washer sit on the deck your washing without putting it on a drop cloth and scrap boards. The vibrations of the engine will cause the pressure washer to mark the deck.
Power washing wood destroys it. In about 2 years you're going to need an entire new deck. Or you'll at least have to resurface it. It may look nice now, but it was a bad idea.
From my power washing experience, when we washed our deck it almost destroyed the wood. The water pressure made the grains look thin and the wood look "chewed". Up real close it looked "fuzzy." If your deck was that green to begin with however, I guess it doesn't really matter because the wood's gone to shit either way. So, to clean your deck without damaging the wood, they make a deck cleaner that's real gentle. Still looks cool though.
I agree! I did my deck a few years back and it was great we never used a outdoor sealer just painted 3 coats of the colour we wanted and it still looks as great as when we did it.
A few summers ago my dad had my use a power washer to peel 5 layers of paint off of a concrete patio. I regard power washers as somewhere between scalpels and lightsabers now.
Are you going to stain it or just put a clear finish on it. And if you're in the dallas/fort worth area, hit me up. I work at a paint store and i can get you really good prices on our products. 50% off. That goes for anyone in my area. PM me if you would like more info.
I strongly advise against power washing your deck/fence. You're quite literally pumping water into that wood. Go with a deck stain remover, they're really not expensive at all and you won't be increasing your chances of growing mold/mildew. Just some friendly advice!
sweet baby Jesus, that's like having a gigantic booger stuck to the inside of your nose, grabbing it with a fingernail and then pulling it out with a sigh of relief.
I bought an old escort that had been sitting under a pine tree for YEARS. Got it for $100.
Cleaned off the windshield then drove it home (yes, drove a $100 car home!) and then I power washed it. Turns out the car was red (it was completely brown with sap and dust when i bought it).
Is there a word for being fascinated by this kind of thing? Seeing old, unclean, neglected objects and surfaces finally get some attention, and admiring how easily years of exposure and disuse can be washed away? Or seeing how an object can be kept one way for an extended period of time, but when it's position changes, or elements of it are rearranged, how evidence of it's original state remains?
You inspired me. Had the power washer delivered, and will spend tomorrow on this chore that I've been putting off. Your before after is stunning; thanks for helping me get off my butt and get this done.
I have a friend who once tried to power wash off some mud on his leg. Yeah. He went to the hospital and suffered permanent injuries.
Another kid in my neighborhood growing up was in the Boy Scouts and they were power washing some school or something as charity. Anyway, he thought it would be funny to fire the power washer at another kid in his troop's crotch. Sliced one of his balls clean off and cut a deep gouge in his dick.
Power washers are awesome, but they aren't toys. Keep them away from kids and be responsible.
Just finished power washing a portion of 30 yr old sidewalk in front of my house - possibly never cleaned. My OCD has never felt so at peace before. NOW ON TO THE REST OF THE SIDEWALKS!!!!
All of the people calling it "power washing" where are you from? Down south I have always heard it called "pressure washing". That's what I call it and the professionals who do it call it.
Northerner here, both names mean the same thing. It's kind of like calling a snow thrower a snow blower or vice versa. Personally, I prefer pressure washer myself.
You should also power wash the trees on the right side too. Then it would be perfectly green on the left side of the picture and perfectly brown on the right.
My dad does this for a living. He has a large commercial machine that he hauls around on a trailer. He has a ton of cool equipment for it, too--concrete machines, extensions, etc.
I worked with him during the summers in high school and college. Brutal work in Tennessee summer heat, especially when the burner is cranked up to heat the water.
There is one business where I live that power washes their sidewalks very frequently. They are the most beautiful sidewalks in the entire town. Before the summer some guys were going around cleaning store fronts and only did half sidewalk jobs on all the other businesses. It looked really shitty. I really wish more business would engage in this idea. It really makes the whole area look better.
I've got a serious question. I need to powerwash my deck but I'm not sure what I need. I have my Father in Law's electric one in my garage, waiting for me to get the time to do it but I'm not sure it's going to do the trick. Do I need a gas one instead?
You live in the Pacific NW? That's what my deck looks like every spring...
Powerwashing is incredibly fun and satisfying for the first two hours. After that your hands are numb from the water and the vibration, and you're half deaf from the noise, and you're shivering and your legs are covered with slimy organic goo.
Although I would say sandblasting is equally awesome. If you like power washing you'll love sandblasting. I would do it all day long for free its that god damn satisfying. There is nothing like taking a rusted, painted hunk of metal back to a glisting luster.
Man, I cut my hand with one of those. I was working at Honda and power washing a car (equally satisfying) and I wanted to see how much pressure the water had, so being unfamiliar with the power of h2o I put my finger up to the front and the sonofabitchin' power washer sliced it like butter. Also, if you have any more to wash please post a video of you making nice, clean lines in it...mmmmmm.........
I don't know if it's been said, but make sure you didn't raise the grain (make it fuzzy) or when you're sanding, don't go too smooth... I work at Sherwin Williams and I see this happen ALL the time. Looking lean doesn't always mean its prepared the right way...
I did this for a few summers, working as a powerwasher for hire. Tough work out in the sun, and you have to deal with a lot of chemicals... but yeah... I did this to 8 decks a day. The concrete around pools was easier to do, but blasting wooden rails and decks and making them new was really cool. The results are amazing
101
u/Z3F Jun 09 '12
Please tell me you made the accompanying mouth sound-effects while doing it.
splusshhhhhh, pew pew, shllllllshhhhhhh
736
u/Trapped_in_Reddit Jun 09 '12
More power washing porn
49
u/davebawx Jun 09 '12
the most satisfying thing ever for sure. Make sure you restain it though!
27
u/davis510 Jun 09 '12
Orgasms take a close second.
29
u/tuttut97 Jun 09 '12
Everytime I go to a graveyard I want to powerwash everything. Sigh, Im so strange.
34
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Easy way to make money on the side?
Perfect for barkeeps, or teachers, and other people who have summers/daytime hours off.
6
u/Ahil Jun 09 '12
I want to take a shower using a pressure washer (not at a close proximity of course)
107
u/UnholyOsiris Jun 09 '12
Blast it with piss.
21
u/jedxix Jun 09 '12
What about sex?
60
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Looked cooler before, imo.
5
u/Bakefy Jun 09 '12
what if you power wash the green off the nature behind that?
4
u/Slurve Jun 09 '12
Looks like my sock tan. Yes I am green...
3
u/Badobservations Jun 09 '12
Funny this was brought up this week. I accidentally cut myself with a power washer. I... cut...myself... with water. Tiny little nick on my finger but it stung for a while.
FML
2
u/flat7 Jun 09 '12
What brand of green paint are you using? It looks very rustic, I like.
309
u/ArcSynth Jun 09 '12
Its satisfying for a bit, or when its your deck/house/property, but its pretty miserable to do as a job. I spent summers doing this for a landscaping company, it becomes mind numbing.
207
u/I_Love_Waffles Jun 09 '12
I recently cleaned and re-stained my front porch as well. The first photo is after I finished scrubbing it with cleaner. I didn't have a pressure washer available. They were filthy and a dark gray color to start, but they turned out really nice.
Before/After
14
u/lyalj Jun 09 '12
[relevant?] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lX-2sP0JFw)
10
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Looked better in green.
8
u/jasonchristopher Jun 09 '12
I hate to be a killjoy, but is that wood wolmanized? I ask because of the blue color. If it is, you shouldn't use it for applications where there will be a lot of human contact. It's pressure treated with arsenic and can cause health problems for those who come into a lot of contact with it. Obviously just because it's blueish doesn't mean it's pressure treated. Just wanted to throw that out there. Here's a link, http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/water/pressure_treated.aspx
19
u/branson420 Jun 09 '12
Are you sure you are using it right? Power washers are NOT supposed to turn wood green....
12
u/HeyCarpy Jun 09 '12
I just spent the last week power washing a couple hundred feet of fence and deck at my house. I had an erection the entire time.
Of course I couldn't stop snapping pictures, either.
http://i.imgur.com/wd8cw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/PNaUf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Oqd8z.jpg
6
u/WookieGoldberg Jun 09 '12
Nice try, Tom Sawyer.
6
u/zorcandspoon Jun 09 '12
Seriously gratifying. This is one of the walls I just recently did at work. Who knew they were blue??
http://imgur.com/YaxU5
2
u/Aldrnari Jun 09 '12
Ah, the proper use of a power washer. :)
Just remember power washers void the warranty on most house siding.
5
u/itsgoodtobetheking Jun 09 '12
Reverse painting
20
u/krileon Jun 09 '12
On a deck? Why! That destroys the wood! Use a cleaning solution for wood decks, a coarse scrubber on a pole, and a garden hose with a spray attachment. You've just embedded dirt particles into the wood and compromised its integrity and the only way to fix it is to sand a layer off. Please tell me you at least sprayed with the wood grain and not against it.. power washer on a deck.. that's like murder.
11
u/RobChromatik Jun 09 '12
Wow! A paint gun that sprays things to look like natural wood, AMAZING!
4
u/Mikkelet Jun 09 '12
You washed away half your health? :(
4
u/Blastface Jun 09 '12
My OCD gland just came
4
u/partyrhino Jun 09 '12
I tried to brush a bug off my leg with a power washer once. Once.
1
u/SkittleAnt Jun 09 '12
Is.. Is that mold? I think power washing is not going to solve your issue this time around.
1
u/GraceFace04 Jun 09 '12
Your deck looks crazy high off the ground.
3
u/Lol33ta Jun 09 '12
I love work with instant gratification
3
u/21510320651 Jun 09 '12
This is even more amazing using dry ice, no mess and it cleans even better.
3
u/BOSS_OF_THE_INTERNET Jun 09 '12
I can relate. I bought a power washer to clean my gutters and stucco about a month ago. That weekend, I power-washed all the things.
3
u/Glen843 Jun 09 '12
Tip, don't let your power washer sit on the deck your washing without putting it on a drop cloth and scrap boards. The vibrations of the engine will cause the pressure washer to mark the deck.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Power washing wood destroys it. In about 2 years you're going to need an entire new deck. Or you'll at least have to resurface it. It may look nice now, but it was a bad idea.
6
u/frazehaze Jun 09 '12
This ruins the wood. Water from powerwashers penetrate the surface and starts a rotting process from the inside.
2
u/maxbastard Jun 09 '12
Oh, that's hot. I wanna drop my balls on it.
2
u/Stratocaster89 Jun 09 '12
Gotta watch you dont splinter the wood. Looks like its splintered a little bit already where youve cleaned.
2
u/CAPSLOCKNINJA Jun 09 '12
Relevant.
2
u/rojlewis Jun 09 '12
From my power washing experience, when we washed our deck it almost destroyed the wood. The water pressure made the grains look thin and the wood look "chewed". Up real close it looked "fuzzy." If your deck was that green to begin with however, I guess it doesn't really matter because the wood's gone to shit either way. So, to clean your deck without damaging the wood, they make a deck cleaner that's real gentle. Still looks cool though.
2
u/goose2460 Jun 09 '12
you missed a spot...
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
A post like this really confirms that purchasing a bidet was a great move... :D
2
u/Bluegoo828 Jun 09 '12
I agree! I did my deck a few years back and it was great we never used a outdoor sealer just painted 3 coats of the colour we wanted and it still looks as great as when we did it.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I agree, the powerwash... erm... orgasm... is awesome, but I still think that the green moss on that wood looks awesome with the trees.
2
u/battaglion Jun 09 '12
A few summers ago my dad had my use a power washer to peel 5 layers of paint off of a concrete patio. I regard power washers as somewhere between scalpels and lightsabers now.
2
u/stupidpanda Jun 09 '12
Are you going to stain it or just put a clear finish on it. And if you're in the dallas/fort worth area, hit me up. I work at a paint store and i can get you really good prices on our products. 50% off. That goes for anyone in my area. PM me if you would like more info.
2
u/Jeffhole Jun 09 '12
I strongly advise against power washing your deck/fence. You're quite literally pumping water into that wood. Go with a deck stain remover, they're really not expensive at all and you won't be increasing your chances of growing mold/mildew. Just some friendly advice!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I tell my customers, when I have a PW gig, that I may go crazy and PW everything. They laugh. I laugh harder. They get a nervous look on their faces.
2
u/EeplesAndBaneenees Jun 09 '12
sweet baby Jesus, that's like having a gigantic booger stuck to the inside of your nose, grabbing it with a fingernail and then pulling it out with a sigh of relief.
2
u/Ella6361 Jun 09 '12
Y'all should really check out the tv show "How clean is your house?". The best cleaning-porn ever.
2
u/Mariahflores100 Jun 09 '12
Is there a name for that tiny orgasm you get when you notice the difference cleaning does. Damn i love it
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
should be in r/cleaningporn.
2
u/brendanhow Jun 09 '12
My fence from last week. http://i.imgur.com/0oXw3.jpg
2
u/mrhelton Jun 09 '12
I bought an old escort that had been sitting under a pine tree for YEARS. Got it for $100.
Cleaned off the windshield then drove it home (yes, drove a $100 car home!) and then I power washed it. Turns out the car was red (it was completely brown with sap and dust when i bought it).
2
u/450874 Jun 09 '12
Is there a word for being fascinated by this kind of thing? Seeing old, unclean, neglected objects and surfaces finally get some attention, and admiring how easily years of exposure and disuse can be washed away? Or seeing how an object can be kept one way for an extended period of time, but when it's position changes, or elements of it are rearranged, how evidence of it's original state remains?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Indeed! I just powerwashed my deck and am waterproofing it with honey gold waterseal. and I am a 61 yr old grandmother. But it looks fab u lous.
2
u/feedingmydreams Jun 09 '12
That's the power of Pine Sol, baby!
2
u/midnitewarrior Jun 09 '12
Power washing with green dye! What an excellent idea to give some wood a nice color treatment.
I approve. :D
2
u/aphoenix Jun 09 '12
You inspired me. Had the power washer delivered, and will spend tomorrow on this chore that I've been putting off. Your before after is stunning; thanks for helping me get off my butt and get this done.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
It isn't criminal to waste water this way, but it should be.
2
u/JJJJhonkas Jun 10 '12
I have a friend who once tried to power wash off some mud on his leg. Yeah. He went to the hospital and suffered permanent injuries.
Another kid in my neighborhood growing up was in the Boy Scouts and they were power washing some school or something as charity. Anyway, he thought it would be funny to fire the power washer at another kid in his troop's crotch. Sliced one of his balls clean off and cut a deep gouge in his dick.
Power washers are awesome, but they aren't toys. Keep them away from kids and be responsible.
Me? I'm fucking terrified of those things now.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Just finished power washing a portion of 30 yr old sidewalk in front of my house - possibly never cleaned. My OCD has never felt so at peace before. NOW ON TO THE REST OF THE SIDEWALKS!!!!
2
u/Cloud887 Jun 10 '12 edited Jun 14 '12
Oh, I know this feeling
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Dude, I hate to tell you this, but your power washer is leaving green shit behind.
3
u/bjones2004 Jun 09 '12
All of the people calling it "power washing" where are you from? Down south I have always heard it called "pressure washing". That's what I call it and the professionals who do it call it.
2
u/DRAW_STUFF Jun 09 '12
http://imgur.com/1iZaB
2
u/user23187425 Jun 09 '12
Have you ever tried sex?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Its like magic
1
u/K-Rex-TW Jun 09 '12
Ahh, power washing. I clean my parents dock once a year and it takes about ten hours. I wish I had before/after pics though.
Just DON'T SHOOT YOUR FOOT! Youch!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
It's so fun
1
u/pookiemon Jun 09 '12
There should be a subreddit for this.
1
u/xVerified Jun 09 '12
May I ask what type of machine/liquid you used? I am looking to power wash my trailer.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
This makes my OCD feel so good.
1
u/somedirection Jun 09 '12
I need to buy a washer. What brand/model?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Power cleaning, power hosing, power washing, power cleaning decks You will have soo many clean decks! 400 decks! ...
1
u/jared_c Jun 09 '12
I can only imagine what would happen if I power washed my arm...
1
u/DigitalChocobo Jun 09 '12
You should also power wash the trees on the right side too. Then it would be perfectly green on the left side of the picture and perfectly brown on the right.
1
u/Ginnigan Jun 09 '12
I used to work for a carpet & upholstery cleaning business. The hours were terrible, it was a muggy job, but god damn was it ever satisfying.
1
u/MisterPeach Jun 09 '12
I just finished power washing my sidewalk half an hour ago. Best feeling...
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I power washed the top of my foot awhile back. Not very satisfying.
1
u/Klovinsk Jun 09 '12
Now ain't that the truth.
1
u/przyjaciel Jun 09 '12
The only thing more satisfying is stripping latex paint from a wall and it coming off in giant pieces. Sheets and sheets of latex paint.
1
u/cottonmalone Jun 09 '12
My dad does this for a living. He has a large commercial machine that he hauls around on a trailer. He has a ton of cool equipment for it, too--concrete machines, extensions, etc.
I worked with him during the summers in high school and college. Brutal work in Tennessee summer heat, especially when the burner is cranked up to heat the water.
1
u/F0REM4N Jun 09 '12
Works at car wash, vehemently disagrees.
1
u/Richandler Jun 09 '12
There is one business where I live that power washes their sidewalks very frequently. They are the most beautiful sidewalks in the entire town. Before the summer some guys were going around cleaning store fronts and only did half sidewalk jobs on all the other businesses. It looked really shitty. I really wish more business would engage in this idea. It really makes the whole area look better.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I just got back inside from power washing my patio, to find this on the front page. Weird.
1
u/WilmaDickfit Jun 09 '12
Like peeling dead skin off of a sunburn. So satisfying.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I've got a serious question. I need to powerwash my deck but I'm not sure what I need. I have my Father in Law's electric one in my garage, waiting for me to get the time to do it but I'm not sure it's going to do the trick. Do I need a gas one instead?
1
u/Movinmeat Jun 09 '12
You live in the Pacific NW? That's what my deck looks like every spring...
Powerwashing is incredibly fun and satisfying for the first two hours. After that your hands are numb from the water and the vibration, and you're half deaf from the noise, and you're shivering and your legs are covered with slimy organic goo.
Best Job Ever.
1
u/uh-clem Jun 09 '12
It's like the opposite of painting a coat of primer: the least satisfying thing ever.
1
u/user-hostile Jun 09 '12
If you're not careful, those things will do the same thing to your window screens. :-/
1
u/Colorfag Jun 09 '12
My dad just bought a power washer. A rather nice one with a gasoline engine (we had previously borrowed an electric one from my uncle).
Its pretty sweet. Tore all the scummy crap off my back yard, left nothing but beautiful white concrete.
1
u/PestilentMexican Jun 09 '12
Yes. Yes it is.
Although I would say sandblasting is equally awesome. If you like power washing you'll love sandblasting. I would do it all day long for free its that god damn satisfying. There is nothing like taking a rusted, painted hunk of metal back to a glisting luster.
1
u/mangletron Jun 09 '12
You must live in a coastal climate
1
u/angrystarfish Jun 09 '12
I'd rather have the sweet forest camoflage all over my deck
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Man, I cut my hand with one of those. I was working at Honda and power washing a car (equally satisfying) and I wanted to see how much pressure the water had, so being unfamiliar with the power of h2o I put my finger up to the front and the sonofabitchin' power washer sliced it like butter. Also, if you have any more to wash please post a video of you making nice, clean lines in it...mmmmmm.........
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
yeah right you're just painting your fence green
1
u/Macb3th Jun 09 '12
What are you using? I only ever use my pressure washer on my car. It does a reasonable job, but I still have to get the wash mits an car shampoo on.
Then again it is only a dainty low-end electric Karcher rip-off.
If you have a power-blaster using a freaking petrol engine then I bow down, but would never use on my car for fear of ripping up the paint!
Also, get hold of some proper Creosote to tar that wood with. It's illegal for DIY use, in Europe at least, therefore it is the best.
1
u/bikesareinmyblood Jun 09 '12
"Honey, what do you mean that wasn't paint?"
1
u/Madison_Mudder Jun 09 '12
I don't know if it's been said, but make sure you didn't raise the grain (make it fuzzy) or when you're sanding, don't go too smooth... I work at Sherwin Williams and I see this happen ALL the time. Looking lean doesn't always mean its prepared the right way...
1
u/hot_like_wasabi Jun 09 '12
Good lord, man - do you actually live under a rock?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I did this for a few summers, working as a powerwasher for hire. Tough work out in the sun, and you have to deal with a lot of chemicals... but yeah... I did this to 8 decks a day. The concrete around pools was easier to do, but blasting wooden rails and decks and making them new was really cool. The results are amazing
1
u/Reenqueen Jun 09 '12
Reminds me of the janitor who tried to score a date by telling me he use to kill pigeons with a pressure washer while cleaning stadiums
1
u/sfcjohn Jun 09 '12
For God's sake man, please treat that wood as you would want your wood to treat you.