You’ve heard the saying, “Work smarter, not harder!” The same goes for how you treat your floors. Sometimes stronger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Here’s what flooring experts are saying about whether or not to powerwash for a clean finish.
Is It Possible to Power Wash Floors?
Yes…In Theory
You may have seen how power washing a sidewalk or house’s siding can elevate it’s image. It looks years younger in no time! So naturally, you would think to try this on other flat surfaces, such as your kitchen floor. Few things are quite as strong as power washing, but laminate wood flooring and concrete are two very different materials. One gets damaged a little easier than the other. Can you guess which one?
So, to answer your question, you could–in theory–powerwash your floors. Harnessing the force of all that water could accomplish a lot, like removing stubborn stains and sticky spots. Before signing off this blog and saying, “OK, let’s powerwash everything,” we have a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, what are some of the possible consequences of inexperienced power washing? Because a slight slip of the wrist could turn into a world of trouble.
Expectations vs. Reality
When used for good, power washing can help un-muck those hard-to-reach places, such as grout and corners. If you decide to power wash, it’s to serve a specific purpose, not to go crazy on your new commercial carpeting. Often, these projects involve bathroom flooring–the kind that isn’t water sensitive. Even when power washing the side of your home, you need to be conscious of water forcing its way under doors and windows to damage your carpet and hardwoods. Otherwise, you’ll likely be looking for new hardwood flooring installation. The same goes for even the best of vinyl tile.
With time, anything can happen. That’s why your home won’t stay in move-in ready condition forever. Life wears on a home, but slowly and naturally. In contrast, there is nothing slow about power washing. The highly-pressurized water can do serious damage–and fast–to grout and caulked seams in bathrooms. You should only turn to power washing for the most serious of cases, in which scrubbing by hand is virtually impossible. Weaker spots in vinyl tile flooring are only going to worsen under the intense pressure of power washing. Soon, you might have bigger problems on your hands than what you originally signed up for.
Is There No Hope, Then?
There is, but above all, we want to help you protect your home. If you’ve got your heart set on it, you can start small with power washing your concrete garage floor. No harm there–as long as it doesn’t reach any basement carpet. We encourage you to do your research and prepare well before you enter into any home project. One of the best things you can do is ask for help! That’s why the experts are here. They’ll even do it for you and make sure it’s done safely with your vision in mind.
Unsure if power washing is right for your floors? Reach out to your local flooring experts, Ozburn-Hessey Company, for everything you need to know. Our professionals use their decades of experience to best meet your individual needs. Find out how they can serve you today!
