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| Thread ID: 67550 | 2006-03-31 00:32:00 | Cleaning Exterior of house | SKT174 (1319) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 442288 | 2006-03-31 00:32:00 | Is water blasting bad for cleaning exterior of house ? The exterior is made of Stucco, is it safe to use waster blaster? I'm afraid that water blasting might damage it. I've never own a water blasting machine before, can the pressure be adjusted? Thanks |
SKT174 (1319) | ||
| 442289 | 2006-03-31 00:46:00 | I have used it on our house, clad with Hardy planks. Works a treat, just like a new coat of paint. You can hold the blaster further from the house to reduce the pressure. It will remove any loose paint as well as dirt. If you hold it too close, it will probably damage the stucco as it will any concrete paths you use it on. Take care with using it. HTH |
user (1404) | ||
| 442290 | 2006-03-31 03:28:00 | No need to go to the expense of a water blaster. Some window cleaning rods with a brush attachment for cleaning, using a mixture of detergent, ammonia and lots of water from a bucket will do nicely. Then rinse by sticking a hose onto the bottom of the rod and brushing lightly. Sure it'll take a bit longer, but how else do home owners spend their Sundays when there's no sport on? |
Greg (193) | ||
| 442291 | 2006-03-31 03:58:00 | Harder work, not as good a job. If it's preparation for painting, you might as well do a good job. There's no point in saving money on preparation unless you've got very cheap paint, and want to do it all again very soon. | Graham L (2) | ||
| 442292 | 2006-03-31 04:21:00 | I wouldn't risk using a waterblaster on my stucco, which is elderly & already in bad condition with some cracks. So how old/thin/fragile is yours? And is the thickness uniform? (Mine has passable/worse patches from predominant weather conditions over the years) Maybe more recent stucco has improved durability, of course, but I think a waterblaster is too risky a choice - unless you try "test patches" somewhere it doesn't matter. And know how to fix them... if it doesn't work out? |
Laura (43) | ||
| 442293 | 2006-03-31 06:21:00 | Above suggestion of standing a bit further away is correct, also moct have adjustable nossles where the water can be dispersed in a fan-shape, to cover a wider area at a lower velocity. In my experience waterblasting is good, as long as you take the above precautions. Its far better than any other means of cleaning. As to adjusting pressure mine is adjustable, as its a tad dearer than the usual home DIY type, but many are not. But I almost always run it at full (1880 PSI) output... and stand back further to get greater coverage. I have a weatherboard house, but never be tempted to use it on a borer ridden piece of timber! (Instant cotton wool effect). The rule of thumb for the life of the cheap waterblasters is that you divide the cost by 5, the result is the number of hours it will go before its worn out/broken. |
godfather (25) | ||
| 442294 | 2006-03-31 08:57:00 | As to adjusting pressure mine is adjustable, as its a tad dearer than the usual home DIY type, but many are not. But I almost always run it at full (1880 PSI) output... and stand back further to get greater coverage. I have a weatherboard house, but never be tempted to use it on a borer ridden piece of timber! (Instant cotton wool effect). 3000psi on Totara weatherboard is interesting if you aren't carefull. |
mikebartnz (21) | ||
| 442295 | 2006-03-31 11:58:00 | To underline what Godfather says, don't waste your time with cheap, small water blasters. I have seem a few people in the neighbourhood struggle with these, trying to clean a picket fence or walkway, and they spend ages. Get the largest one from your local hire centre and have fun with the kickback with the first spray. | Strommer (42) | ||
| 442296 | 2006-03-31 12:24:00 | So how old/thin/fragile is yours? And is the thickness uniform? (Mine has passable/worse patches from predominant weather conditions over the years) Maybe more recent stucco has improved durability, of course, but I think a waterblaster is too risky a choice - unless you try "test patches" somewhere it doesn't matter. And know how to fix them... if it doesn't work out? Good questions Laura as I have no idea how thin or fragile the Stucco of my house and it's thickness. I have no test patches either ... |
SKT174 (1319) | ||
| 442297 | 2006-03-31 12:31:00 | So .. if I do go for one, what PSI should I be looking at as minimum? and price range ? I don't want to buy a No Frills one that will breakvery easily . | SKT174 (1319) | ||
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