Spring is finally here in the Lakes Region, and all the home improvement and garden centers are bustling with people eager to make home improvements. After 6 long months of harsh weather, we can see the abuse that Mother Nature has done to the exterior of our properties!
Staining and mildew can do a number on the curb appeal of a home or business. While many people try to tackle this themselves, they often find that it can be challenging to do this effectively – without causing real damage to their property. When homeowners use incorrect methods of stain removal, the stains and mildew often return with a vengeance. Mildew are living organisms that have adapted to survive in humid conditions and dark places. In our experience, when it comes to tough jobs in exterior cleaning, it definitely pays to hire a pro! Proper detergents applied by professionals will effectively kill these organisms, without harming your property.
In the Lakes Region, James Poole of Poole’s Pressure Washing is the guy to call. James services homes and businesses all around the Lakes Region. He cleans heavy machinery (fleets), roofs, exterior siding, windows, walkways, driveways, gutters, benches and pretty much anything else that has been affected by mold, mildew, or dirt.
I interviewed James briefly about his process and the services he offers:
RRG: James, please explain to us how your methods of exterior cleaning for buildings are superior to using traditional “pressure washing”
James: We don’t pressure wash houses. We do what’s called a “soft wash.” With this method we use a low pressure system to agitate the organic staining, dirt or other buildups that is on your home or place of business using water and detergents. The benefit to using this “soft wash” method is that it minimizes the risk damage to the exterior of your home (your biggest investment). This is much more practical and effective than traditional pressure washing, which has been found to damage various types of siding or surfaces.
RRG: How can traditional pressure washing cause damage to property?
James: Traditional pressure washing can cause water to be forced into or behind the siding of a building, exacerbating mold issues and essentially leading to rot. Soft washing avoids all these complications and results in a beautifully clean exterior.
RRG: You mentioned you offer roof washing. Can you explain the process, and why it might be necessary?
James: Removing the organic staining or lichen (moss) is extremely important for maintaining the long-term integrity of your roof. However, using too much pressure can literally rip your shingles up or can less noticeably damage the surface by removing the actual surface of the shingles. With our low-pressure method, we pre-soak the roof with water, apply our detergent, allow it to penetrate the surface to kill the organic matter, and finally rinse it off. Studies have found that this method can add up to five years to the life of your roof.
RRG: What about gutters? Why is it important to keep these clean?
James: Cleaning your gutters is something that gets overlooked quite often. One of the benefits to having your gutters cleaned is that in the winter months you’ll find the gutters filling with water and freezing. This can cause ice dams, which results in serious damage to your roof and possibly the interior of your home. Those tell-tale brown stains in the ceilings of homes are often evidence of this happening. It seems easy to paint over the stains, but the damage is done and extends beyond appearances. Prevention in this case is worth its weight!
RRG: In real estate, we see a lot of mildew on island properties, especially on decks and siding. The close proximity to the lake on shady, wooded lots create a prime breeding ground for mildew. What advice do you have for island residents and other waterfront homeowners, especially with wood building exteriors?
James: Please use a professional to deal with this to prevent you from unintentially damaging your property. With decks and wood siding, there is a very a high chance of peeling paint off, splintering or damaging the wood if you don’t know what you are doing. Even with a homeowner-grade pressure washer, I often see disastrous results when people tackle this job themselves. Using a professional will ensure the job will be done correctly with minimal risk to your investment.
Poole’s Pressure Washing carries full liability insurance. We highly recommend him to any of our friends and customers for property maintenance.
James Poole of Poole’s Pressure Washing can be reached by phone at (603) 371-2777, by e-mail at poolepowerwashing@gmail.com, or on facebook at: facebook.com/poolespressurewashing
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