pressure washing stucco?

Apr 28, 2009 8 Replies

Has anyone ever put their pressure washer to exterior stucco? I have a shop in my back yard that is white stucco that's turning drab (built in about 1985). I was going to spray paint it but am told to leave it "raw" and try washing it... anyone ever done this? Thanks... Jim


Just be careful with the tip you choose. A pressure washer with the high power tip will blow the stucco off.

Yep, yesterday. Start off slowly with an adjustable fan tip, and slowly narrow the fan and move the tip closer to the wall. You can damage the stucco if you are heavy-handed.

You might also want to put some bleach and water in a pump-handle sprayer and spray the wall while it's dry. Then pressure wash the stucco.

R

Is house in shade, it could be mold , bleach kills mold. Stucco is real soft and you could ruin it so use a wide spray to test an area, are you sure its not painted already.

The bleach before p.w. is the method used by contractor to paint our stucco on concrete block - some inexperienced helpers tried the p.w. at the outset and carved lines in the stucco. Pressure and distance are important.

Yes.

What kind of texture is the stucco? I have a heavy knock down type and the makes it easy knock small chips off (avoided with distance and care). It gets the dirt and sand off better from the crevices.

A sand texture would require, you being extra careful. You can put lines and streaks in it. On a sand finish I might try a brush and scrub, with bleach.

I often find scrubing with a brush is actually easier and quicker thabn using a pressure washer. These things have become a DIY play toy. The last time I did this I used TSP and bleach solution in a five gallon bucket and brushed it on with a scrub brush on an extension handle. Start at the top and work down in about 4ft wide sections. Give the bleach a little time to work thin rinse.

Jimmie

You have just validated my long-standing decision not to buy a pressure washer; I never could see where I came out ahead with one!

People who talk bad about pressure washers, never actually had one. Trust me, you will throw that five gallon bucket and long handled brush away.

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