Some tradesmen who install stucco walls on homes and businesses are adamant that you should never attempt to use a power washer to clean those walls. Pressure washing stucco, they say, will result in the stucco being shredded into little pieces causing untold damage to the house or business and requiring an expensive do-over. But is that right? Can you pressure wash stucco or are you wrong to even consider it? In this guide, the team at Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning take a look at this hot-button issue and attempt to reach a definitive conclusion.
Why Do Some Object to Power Washing Stucco?
According to some in the building trades, bringing a pressure washer anywhere near stucco is akin to trying to wash your windows with a wet brick. The following are the most common objections these folks raise when discussing the matter:
- The intensity of the power wash is simply too much for stucco to endure.
- Pressure washing will create serious cracks in the stucco that will cause water to get trapped leading to damage to your home’s framework.
- The chemicals used by some power washers will erode the integrity of the stucco finish.
While we don’t question the motives behind such claims we have to point out that all of these assumptions are based on incomplete reasoning.
Every power wash machine can be adjusted to expel water under greater or lesser pressure. Professional pressure washers are constantly adjusting the pressure settings to accommodate different materials. And they would certainly do the same for stucco. So the idea that a professional pressure washer would assault anyone’s stucco with their equipment set to maximum is both silly and wrong.
Also, because no qualified power wash technician would use excessive water pressure on your stucco the idea that they would create cracks in the stucco is, again, simply wrong. One of the most common reasons for cracking stucco is that the house or business settles over time.
Finally, no qualified power wash technician is going to use dangerous or harmful chemicals on your stucco that might cause its structural integrity to erode.
With all that in mind it seems clear that the greatest danger to stucco is not the pressure wash itself, but who does the actual washing outside. Hire an inexperienced person or outright unqualified person and you may wind up with damage to your stucco. Hire the experts from Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning and we’ll have your stucco looking like new in short order.
Can You Pressure Wash Stucco?
Yes, as long as you hire a qualified person with the requisite experience. As is the case with most things in life, who you get to perform important jobs is the most important thing. Choose the right person and enjoy the benefits of a job well done. Choose the wrong person and you are likely to regret it.
With all that in mind here is our step-by-step guide to power-washing stucco.
Step One: Inspect the Stucco
The first thing we do is inspect the stucco surface to ensure it is in good enough condition to be pressure washed.
Hairline cracks can be easily sealed with caulk, whereas moderate to severe cracks should be sealed by professionals before pressure washing can be done. If cracks or gaps in the stucco are found we proceed to step two. If not, we skip to step three.
“The most effective kinds of caulk for stucco repair are elastomeric or polyurethane caulks, as they have excellent flexibility, weather resistance, and bond strength. These types of caulk ensure long-lasting repairs and help maintain the stucco surface.”
—Jacqueline DeMarco, Angi Home Solutions
Step Two: Seal the Cracks
If, while inspecting your stucco our technician discovers any notable cracks or gaps in the stucco surface they will need to be addressed before cleaning can commence. A high-quality exterior caulk should be sufficient to repair minor cracks. If the damage is more severe you will need to enlist professional help to repair the stucco surface before cleaning can commence. Once any issues have been effectively addressed we can proceed to step three.
Step Three: Rinse Down the Stucco
Once our technician is satisfied with the integrity of the surface the cleaning process can begin. The technician will set the pressure on the power washer to 1,500 psi or lower and will typically use a 25 or 40-degree nozzle that will minimize the impact of the water against the surface. Once the entire stucco surface has been rinsed down it’s time to move on to step four.
Step Four: Applying the Detergent
If stucco is to be cleaned effectively it’s imperative that the right detergent is used. Depending on the amount of dirt and grime the technician may choose something very mild or they may opt for a more potent combination of cleaning agents. Whatever detergents they choose they will be mixed in the proper proportions to ensure the stucco emerges looking great, without harming its fundamental integrity.
Once the cleaning solution is determined and prepared it is applied to the surface via the power washer. Any areas of stubborn dirt or stains will be addressed by hand using a soft bristle brush. Once every part of the surface has been addressed the cleaning solution is typically left to work itself in for 10 or 15 minutes.
Step Five: Removing the Detergent
After waiting a short time the technician will use the power washer to rinse down the entire stucco surface. As the detergent is washed off of the surface it will take the dirt and grime with it. The technician may opt to rinse the surface down more than once to ensure all the detergent is removed. And if they detect areas that did not come thoroughly clean they may rework them using the detergent and the soft bristle brush.
So there you have it. In spite of the alarmist rhetoric put out there by some stucco can be effectively cleaned by pressure washing. It just takes the experienced hand of the professional. In almost all cases where damage does occur to stucco during a power wash, it involves an inexperienced person or a DIYer using equipment they are not properly trained to use. That will not happen when you enlist Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning to power wash your stucco.
Get in Touch With Majestic
The stucco on your Long Island home or business can be power washed but it’s important you to choose the right company to power wash your stucco exterior. Don’t run the risk of damaging stucco by trying to clean it yourself or hiring someone based solely on the rock-bottom price they gave you. Instead, call the experts at Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning to handle the cleaning of your stucco exterior. We’re easy to get in touch with. Either search for “pressure washing services near me” or, better yet call us at (631) 421-2295 or (516) 721-6503 during normal business hours.