The exterior of a commercial building is constantly exposed to elements that can cause it to look dirty and worn. Over time, the buildup of acid rain, dust, mold, and other contaminants not only harms your building’s curb appeal but can also lead to long-term structural damage. Professional power washing of commercial buildings is a crucial part of a comprehensive maintenance plan, helping you protect your investment, attract customers, and maintain a professional image.

This guide explains the benefits of professional power washing, outlines what to look for in a service provider, and clarifies the key differences between power washing and pressure washing.

Power Washing vs. Pressure Washing: What’s the Difference?

The terms “power washing” and “pressure washing” are often used interchangeably, but there is one key difference: the use of heat.

• Pressure Washing: This method uses a powerful stream of water to blast away dirt, grime, and mold. It is highly effective for cleaning a variety of surfaces and is safe for most exterior materials.
• Power Washing: This technique uses a high-pressure stream of heated water and steam. The heat makes it exceptionally effective at tackling tough, stubborn stains, such as grease, oil, and deeply embedded mildew, which cold water alone cannot remove.

Due to the high heat, power washing is best suited for durable surfaces, such as concrete, brick, and pavers. For more delicate surfaces, such as vinyl siding or painted wood, a professional typically uses a lower-pressure “soft wash” technique with a specialized cleaning solution.

The Key Benefits of Power Washing Commercial Buildings

A proactive and routine power washing schedule offers numerous advantages for any facility manager or business owner.

1. Enhanced Curb Appeal: A clean, well-maintained exterior leaves a lasting first impression. A professionally power-washed building looks fresh and inviting, attracting more customers and increasing its perceived value. Business owners should be aware that a clean storefront has a direct impact on customer perception and foot traffic.
2. Prevents Costly Damage: Contaminants like mold, mildew, and bird droppings are not only unsightly but also acidic, which can erode a building’s surfaces over time. Regular power washing is a crucial part of preventive building maintenance, helping to identify and address issues before they escalate into costly repairs. For more information, see our related post on Building Maintenance Services.
3. Promotes Health and Safety: Mold spores, pollen, and other allergens can accumulate on your building’s exterior and get pulled into your HVAC system, negatively impacting indoor air quality. Additionally, algae and mildew on sidewalks and parking lots can create a dangerously slick surface, increasing the risk of slips and falls. Power washing removes these hazards, creating a safer environment for everyone. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides comprehensive guidance on managing such risks.
4. Improves Energy Efficiency: By removing built-up dirt and debris from exterior walls and HVAC vents, professional power washing can enhance the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems, potentially lowering your energy bills.

What NOT to Power Wash

While power washing is a powerful tool, it’s not suitable for all surfaces. Using the wrong technique or pressure can cause irreversible damage. Professionals know to avoid power washing the following:

• Windows and Screens: The high pressure can easily break glass, tear screens, or force water into walls, leading to interior damage. A soft wash is a safer alternative.
• Old or Crumbling Mortar/Brick: The force of power washing can dislodge old mortar and damage fragile brickwork.
• Roofs and Gutters: High pressure can damage shingles and tear gutters from the building. It’s best to have debris removed manually and cleaned with a standard hose.
• Outdoor Furniture and Landscaping: High pressure and heat can strip paint from furniture and easily destroy plants, shrubs, and other landscaping elements.

Pros of Power Washing

An abundance of benefits is provided by commercial power washing, as it boasts of a broad range of additional benefits besides saving time and money. 

Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy:

Power Washing Is An Important Exterior Maintenance Step

Dirt and mold can hide within structural cavities and cause maintenance problems that remain unnoticed until they become expensive repairs. 

You can catch aesthetic and quality issues early on by having professionals clean the exterior of the building. This is why power washing is considered an important step in exterior maintenance. Exterior maintenance issues may also result in failed inspection if not taken care of early. 

It is better to clean frequently by following a regular schedule than to wait till the last minute. Regular maintenance can keep the exterior of your building looking new. 

Scheduled power washing can help you save money and time. It can also play a vital role in streamlining monthly inspections. Clean buildings are easier to inspect than dirty ones. 

Power Washing Can Improve Your Building’s Appearance

Power washing is an effective way of removing graffiti from the building’s exterior. This automatically and instantly improves the exterior appearance and aesthetics. The steam used is perfect for removing graffiti without damaging the exteriors. Power washers can handle sidewalks as well.

Public sidewalks tend to become filthy over time with garbage stains, old gum, and grime, and will negatively impact your curb appeal. Rather than waiting for the city to do something, you can get a company to maintain the sidewalks in front of the building. 

Power Washing Can Add Value To Your Building

As a facility manager, you should pay attention to the curb appeal of your building. It can benefit businesses since customers are more inclined to visit when a building looks new and inviting.

Regular pressure washing can help keep the façade of the building clean and fresh by removing dirt, grime, mildew, and other concerns. Even older buildings can improve their curb appeal by getting regular power washing. Professionals know how to scrub off stains without damaging the exteriors. 

Power Washing Can Improve The Energy Efficiency Of Your Building

Algae, mold, and bird droppings wear a building down. In particular, bird droppings are highly acidic. They can weaken the structure and cause health problems. Mold spores and dust may get inside the HVAC vents and slow down the system.

Regular power washing can go a long way in improving the energy efficiency of your building. You might think of it as an unnecessary cost. However, the amount of money you save in the long run will make it a worthwhile cost. 

Power Washing Can Draw Customers To Your Building

The outdoor pollutants can affect the indoor quality of air as well to become a major health hazard. Additionally, allergies can affect workers leading to serious health concerns in the form of asthma and breathing problems. You can promote good hygiene and air quality for your workers with regular pressure washing. 

Algae, mold, and mildew can build up on the sidewalk as well. These can create a dangerously smooth surface where people may slip, fall and injure themselves. 

Power washing can help in removing these dangers. Customers and visitors will automatically get attracted to your building when you take care of hazards and cleanliness issues. 

Cons Of Power Washing

There are no disadvantages of power washing as long as it is done right by experts. You may end up damaging your commercial property or hurting yourself by performing this as a DIY task or getting it done by amateurs. 

These are a few things that can go wrong  when the process is not done by experts:

You Could Get Injured If You Do Not Use It Properly

Facility managers with an already stressed budget may find commercial power washing as an added chore. However, without adequate experience and the right workmanship, this cleaning technique can cause more harm than good. 

The wrong settings can easily blow holes in the roof, damage walls, peel away materials, and contaminate the grounds with corrosive cleaning agents. This is why it is recommended to outsource the job to experienced companies. 

Effective commercial power washing programs should take into account the potential hazards of using electric pressure washers. 

The job needs specialized training and professional-grade equipment to prevent injury. The use of correct detergent in the right quantity is important as well. By outsourcing the task to experienced workers, you can eliminate the risks while enhancing the benefits. 

Pressure Washers Can Be Too Powerful For Some Surface Areas

Power washing involves high pressure and steaming water. It is not meant for every part of the building. For instance, the technique should not be used for removing grime from painted surfaces, laminar sandstone, asphalt roofing, or stained wood. 

The surface could be destroyed even if the stains are removed. This is why power washing should be trusted by experts that have in-depth knowledge of the right surfaces. 

The equipment is complicated and the technique dangerous, since it involves pressurized and hot water. You can reduce the associated risks by outsourcing the work to a quality outdoor power washing service.

Power washing nozzles are equipped with several tips and the technician needs to choose the right tip for maximum benefit. An ideal technician would be able to clean the exteriors by tweaking the heat and temperature settings without the need for using chemicals. 

Common Cleaning Solutions

Power washing is a useful way of having your property cleaned to perfection. The technique ensures the exteriors are not damaged or compromised in any way. However, the professional you hire must make use of the right cleaning solutions.

Four chemical agents are generally used in all commercial washing. These are labeled as per surface computability and intended use. There are different cleaners for concrete, wood, and driveways. 

These are a few purposes of using chemicals in the process:

• Graffiti removal
• Hoods and ducts
• Concrete degreasing
• House and deck washing
• Masonry restoration
• Paint and coatings removal
• Vehicle washing
• General-purpose cleaning

Power washing experts make use of different chemicals for different concerns. This is because what might, for one thing, may not necessarily work for another. Getting an appropriate cleaner for the job is the best way to go. 

Things That Should Not be Power Washed

Property owners cause extensive damages to the sidewalk, paintwork, outdoor furniture, and façade among other things because of using incorrect power washing equipment. This is one of the major reasons for hiring a professional company. However, windows, screens, and lounge chairs are just a few things that should not be power washed. 

You should never ask your cleaner to power wash the following things:

Crumbling Brick or Old Mortar

You will often find discoloration or water stains on brick structures. Power washing at the right temperature and pressure will do a great job of cleaning the exteriors. However, when bricks are old, they tend to be fragile. These surfaces should be fixed before being power or pressure washed. 

Windows and Screens

There is a setting called soft washing for taking care of windows and screens. However, if possible, it is best to avoid having your windows and screens power washed. Power washing can easily strip away mildew, algae, and salts when done correctly by professionals. However, if you are performing a DIY cleaning you should stay away from glass and screens. 

You risk using an incorrect spray pattern, too much water, or an incorrect spray head. Incorrect power washing will result in broken windows and torn screens because of high pressure. Water may end up penetrating the walls too resulting in crumbling plaster, rotting wood, and mold. 

Gutters

Gutter are fragile fixtures on the side of buildings. They are designed to collect water from the roof and not be hit with jet streams from the ground. In addition, most gutter systems have deteriorating wood and rusted fasteners placing them more at risk. You should never use power washing for cleaning the insides of a gutter system. 

Gutter debris should always be cleaned manually and sprayed down with a hose afterward. The underside of the gutters can be pressure washed using low pressure and a wide spray pattern if necessary. 

Vegetation and Landscape

You should not power wash vegetation and landscaping for obvious reasons. You may end up destroying shrubs, plants, and even young trees with the wrong pressure washing equipment. 

Power washing equipment is difficult to control and can cause unintentional damage. However, professional power washers can clean sidewalks and concrete pavements since they are aware of the right techniques to use. 

HVAC Unit

Condenser units or outdoor units should be cleaned periodically and kept free from dust, debris and vegetation. However, you should never clean it using power washing equipment. AC units are designed to withstand hose cleaning and rains, but they are not meant for the pressure of power washing equipment. 

Hiring Professionals vs. DIY

The actual cost of cleaning is a major deterrent for the majority of facility managers and building owners. However, you shouldn’t let costs come in the way of increasing business by attracting more clientele. 

There are several other factors you must consider while deciding to hire professionals for power washing. You may believe your handyman is up for the job. But, handymen are essentially a jack of all trades and masters of none. 

They don’t have the required training, experience, or skills to get the job done. Amateur cleaners don’t have the necessary insurance to cover damages if things go wrong. The insurance won’t cover damages inflicted on the building because of improper equipment and negligence. 

On the other hand, professional contractors have the necessary insurance, experience, equipment, and knowledge. They make use of specialized cleaning solutions and pressure washers to get the job done quickly and seamlessly. 

Before Hiring A Contractor, Consider These Things

Commercial power washing is not just about keeping the exterior of a facility clean. It helps in extending the life expectancy of the roof, parking lot, and landscaping. It also helps in maintaining the building’s exterior. 

There are several benefits of hiring a power washing contractor. However, you should consider the following things before you settle on one:

Insurance

Anything can happen when you work with heavy equipment. This makes it important to ensure that the company you hire has adequate insurance. Their insurance should also cover damages done to your building’s exterior while performing the job. 

Apart from the right insurance, the cleaning company must be certified and licensed to work in your area. You can ask them to show you all the necessary paperwork. You should also ask the company to show workers’ compensation insurance to protect yourself from any liability. 

Training

Contractors that train their employees usually have a more responsible and accountable workforce. Training also helps in developing the right skillset in workers. 

Besides training, the company should also hire the right employees vetted through extensive background checks. They should know how to use professional standard materials, equipment, and accessories. 

Trained employees are not amateurs. Companies that invest in their human resource don’t experience a high rate of employee turnover as well. This means the cleaning crew will do everything possible to get the job done right. 

The Process

You mustn’t choose the cheapest company that comes your way even though considering cost is a factor. You should make sure the company is professional and follows a well-developed process. 

By following the process, you can be confident the cleaning crew is doing the work as promised. They should also stand behind their work by offering a satisfaction guarantee. 

You should ask the contractor about the cleaning process before you hire them. This will give you a fair idea about whether the company knows what they are doing. 

Safeguarding Landscapes

Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about the steps taken to maintain and protect your landscape. There are special techniques that can be used for cleaning laminar sandstone, painted surfaces, asphalt roofing, and other things without damage. 

Stained wood and old things can also be power washed if done properly by an experienced contractor. However, you must never force a cleaning crew to use power washing methods to clean something they are uncomfortable with. It may result in irreversible damage. 

Choosing a Professional Power Washing Company

For a task as critical and potentially hazardous as power washing, hiring professionals is a must. Here’s what to look for in a quality provider:

• Insurance and Licensing: Ensure the company has general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Request a Certificate of Insurance to confirm they are adequately covered, licensed, and certified to work in your area.
• Training and Expertise: A reputable company invests in its team. Ask about their training programs and their experience with your specific type of building material. The best technicians know which pressure settings and cleaning solutions to use for each surface to avoid damage.
• Safety and Process: The company should have a well-developed, transparent process that prioritizes safety. This includes using eco-friendly cleaning agents, as a good provider will be able to discuss the chemicals they use and their intended purpose.

Don’t let the exterior of your building deteriorate. By partnering with a top-tier service provider, you can safeguard your property and ensure it consistently makes a positive impression.