Pressure Washing in Fort Collins
The mistake with a pressure washer is using all of it. Concrete takes pressure, timber and siding do not, and a fence cleaned at driveway pressure comes out furry and permanently damaged.
Pressure washing looks like the most straightforward job on this site and it is the one where doing it wrong causes lasting damage.
Pressure is not the same as clean
A pressure washer at full output will remove almost anything, including the surface underneath. That is fine on concrete and destructive on nearly everything else.
Concrete, driveways, paths, patios. These take real pressure and this is where the machine earns its keep.
Timber, decks and fences. Low pressure and the right nozzle, always. High pressure tears out the soft summer grain between the harder growth rings, which leaves a furry, raised surface. It looks clean for a fortnight and then holds water, weathers faster, and cannot be undone.
Siding. This is a soft wash: detergent, dwell time, low pressure rinse. Driving water at siding forces it behind the boards, where it does not dry.
Roofs. No. Pressure washing shingles strips the protective granules and takes years off the roof. It is on the list of things I do not do.
Killing growth rather than knocking it off
Green and black organic growth on a north-facing path is alive. Blasting it off removes what you can see and leaves what you cannot, which is why it comes back within weeks.
Pre-treating so it actually dies, then washing, takes longer on the day and lasts an order of magnitude longer. This is most of the difference between a wash that holds for a season and one that holds for years.
Wash before you stain
If you are having a deck or fence stained, the wash is part of that job rather than an extra. Stain over a greyed and dirty surface does not bond and fails early.
It needs a couple of genuinely dry days between the wash and the stain. In Colorado that is easier to plan than in most places, but it does mean the two halves are not always the same visit.
Priced by the block
This is sold as a half or full day rather than by area, because it is simpler and usually works out cheaper. A driveway plus walks is typically a half day. Add a patio and a fence run and you are into a full day.
What is included
- Matching pressure and nozzle to the surface rather than running everything flat out.
- Driveways, paths, patios and concrete.
- Fences and decks at low pressure, or soft washed, before staining.
- Soft washing siding, which is a detergent and low pressure job rather than a blasting job.
- Pre-treating organic growth so it actually dies rather than just getting knocked off.
- Protecting planting near the work.
- Rinsing down and leaving the area tidy.
What it costs
| Job | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Half day block | $340 | Driveway plus walks, or a fence run |
| Full day block | $640 | Driveway, walks, patio and fence |
| Deck or fence pre-stain wash | included | When booked with staining |
| Soft wash siding, single storey | quoted | Detergent and low pressure |
| Roof washing | not offered | It damages shingles |
Full rates, block pricing and the minimum call-out are on the pricing page.
Pressure is not the same as clean. I will not pressure wash a roof, and I will not run high pressure at timber, siding or painted surfaces, because it drives water behind them and tears up the surface. Where the right answer is a soft wash with detergent and patience, that is what you get, even though it looks less dramatic.
What I do not do here
- Roofs. Pressure washing a roof destroys shingles.
- Anything above single storey.
- Painted surfaces that are already failing, since washing will strip them.
- Windows, and I will not wash toward failing seals.
- Removing oil stains, which is a different chemical job and often not fully possible.
Who to call instead: a roofing contractor for anything roof related, and a specialist for oil and rust stain removal on concrete.
The full list is on what I do not do.
How it works
- Send a photo. Text or email a picture. Most jobs get priced without a site visit.
- Get a flat price. Written and fixed before I start.
- I show up and finish. On the day I said, parts in the truck, swept up after.
Why a solo operator
The same person quotes the job, does the job and cleans up after it. There is no call centre, no dispatcher and no rotating crew who have not seen your house. The price you were given is the price, because the person who quoted it is the person holding the tools.
Related work
Pressure washing questions
Will pressure washing damage my deck or fence?
It will if it is done at concrete pressure, and that is the single most common way timber gets wrecked. High pressure tears out the soft grain and leaves a furry surface that then holds water and weathers faster. Timber gets low pressure, the right nozzle, and patience, or a soft wash.
Can you wash my roof?
No, and I would be wary of anyone who says yes. Pressure washing a shingle roof strips the granules that protect it and shortens its life significantly. Roof cleaning is a roofing contractor question.
Will it get the oil stain out of my driveway?
Probably not completely. Oil soaks into concrete rather than sitting on it, so pressure alone lifts very little. It is a chemical treatment job with a variable success rate, and I would rather tell you that up front than take money and disappoint you.
Should I wash before staining a deck or fence?
Yes, always. Stain over a dirty or greyed surface does not bond properly and fails early. When you book staining, the wash is part of it rather than an extra line. The surface also needs a couple of dry days between washing and staining.
How is this priced?
By the block rather than by the square foot, because that is simpler and usually cheaper for you. A driveway plus walks is typically a half day. Add a patio and a fence run and it is a full day.