As you probably have learned from our site, pressure washing is very important to preparing a surface prior to a surface being painted.

 

From our FAQ's section: "The surface must be free of dirt, grime, contaminants, loose paint, etc for the paint to bond properly. (PDCA craftsman manual, page 67, "Surface Preparation"). The surface pH must also be neutralized. Pressure washing between 2000-4000 PSI (varies depending on surface) takes care of all of these things. Pressure washing with our detergent removes dirt, soil, grime, pollen, surface mold/mildew, loose or peeling paint, chalking paint, and neutralizes the surface pH, all in one step! This is a great first step to doing your perfect paint job. Skipping this step can lead to a multitude of issues- peeling, flaking, scaling, spider cracks, paint falling off with clumps of dirt behind it, mold that was on surface under it eating through the new paint, and small dirt or objects that were on the home creating an uneven surface for the new paint."

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You are probably wondering, then, what new innovations have come along in the past few years in the painting industry?

One of the great innovations has been the insertion of a high flow mode with wider intake tube, to increase the amount of GPM (gallon's per minute)of water to wash a surface. This is great for surfaces where a high PSI should not be used, but a deep clean is still desirable. The higher GPM allows for gentle deep cleaning. Before, the intake tubes were only jet shaped, creating a high pressure but lower GPM. Along with this is the dual system, where a connecting tube allows you to alternate between high flow mode and high pressure hose mode on the go. This saves time and improves efficiency when spraying. 

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Another innovation is the customization of detergent tanks. Detergent tanks are common on pressure washers as they mix detergent with the stream of water, to better clean and neutralize the surface being washed. With the recent customization of detergent tanks, the % ratio of detergent to water can be adjusted instantly, which is very useful when powerwashing one surface versus another that may require a different mixture. 

 

It may not seem like much, but another innovation is the improvement of the handle and gun, creating soft-grip handles and a shaped gun that puts less strain on the arms, shoulders, elbows, knees and hips when powerwashing for long periods of time. 

 

Innovations in the type of nozzles have allowed power washing to achieve specific desired effects. For example:

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The 25-Degree nozzle creates a fan spray. The 0-degree shoots a direct jet of water onto the surface. When the jet hits the surface it hits with the area of a quarter coin. It does not sheet or fan out the water spray at all. The 15-degree creates a 15-degree wide sheet of water spray at the nozzle. Once the spray hits the surface the pressure is less because it’s force is spread over a larger area. The 25-degree is an even larger sheet or fan of water than 15-degree nozzle thus causing even less pressure on the surface. The 40-degree is the most gentle spray. Held at the right distance you would use a 40-degree nozzle to clean windows.

It should be noted that backing away from the surface with a certain degree nozzle further reduces the pressure on it. The general rule is that with a doubling of distance is a halving of force. The soaping tip nozzle is special because it not only has the widest degree (~65°) but also a larger orifice. It needs a larger orifice to decrease velocity thus increasing pressure in the hose. This increase in pressure pulls detergent into the line so you can apply soap to the surface for an easier clean. 

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There has also been the recent invention of the 7-in-1 nozzle, which allows you to switch between nozzle types instantly without having to remove and secure a new nozzle. 

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All in all, these are only a few of the many recent innovations made in the pressure washing field that increase customer satisfaction, increase professional efficiency, and improve the quality of the finished power washing job. As industry professionals, we at Charles Graves Painting make it our mission to stay up to date on all of the latest technology, and use it to improve our painting performance.