Tips for pressure washing a house with vinyl siding?

[DHC6twinotter]

Hey folks,

So, I've pressure washed a few housed in the past, but all the houses I've done were brick with wood trim. I'm going to be pressure washing a house that is completely vinyl; including the siding, soffits, fascia, shutters, all trim,....the whole nine yards. I'm a bit concerned with getting water behind the vinyl and possible tearing off pieces with the force of the water.

Can I pressure wash a house with vinyl the same way as a brick/wood house, or are there any extra precautions I need to take?

Any tips or words of advice?

Thanks! :D

[CJM]

Ive done it a ton using my gas washer, think 3000 psi and had no problems.

[fustercluck]

I would avoid direct blasts against the direction of the seams. The siding is stapled on the bottom edge and friction/channel locked on the top into the previous piece. If you stroke against the direction of the seams, it's possible to "catch an edge" and blow a piece loose...especially the top piece up at the soffit channel.

You are in mildew country, so I presume that is why you are pressure washing vinyl. Sometimes the surface tension of the water/bleach solution will be uneven on vinyl and you couod experience some 'beading' instead of the usual 'sheeting' This will leave the surface blotched with clean and mildewed spots. The remedy for this is a tiny amount of detergent which will act as an emulsifying agent and allow the solution to 'sheet'. You know the rest. Just don't use the sharp tip for anything within 15-20 ft. It will cut that vinyl in half.

[DHC6twinotter]

Thanks guys!

Fuster, that's a good tip about the detergent.

I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to do this now....I've got a couple job leads, so I've been sidetracked a bit. Thansk for the tips though! :D