Stucco is a beautiful material that can enhance the curb appeal of any home. Its timeless charm makes it a common fixture in both traditional and modern homes. However, this unique material can get dirty just like any other exterior material. Everything from mold and mildew to dirt and algae can stick to stucco surfaces.
As a homeowner, you naturally want to protect your investment. Ensuring a clean and well-maintained home is a big part of that. Power Washing Genie understands this need and can help deliver the best results with our stucco surface pressure washing services.
Why Is Stucco Difficult to Maintain?
A lot of homeowners find stucco an attractive material — and for good reason. It gives your home a charming appearance while being largely weather-resistant, and it’s eco-friendly to boot. As with other exterior materials, stucco has its downsides. Perhaps its most unfortunate characteristic is that it’s notoriously hard to clean. Here are just a few reasons why that is so:
Textured Surface
One of the positive attributes of stucco is that it’s not a flat surface. The cavities of stucco give it a textured appearance and feel. It’s this unique design that makes it a challenge to keep clean. Dirt, mold, mildew, and other grime can get inside its many pores and cause damage if not taken care of.
Stains Easily
A propensity to stain is another trait brought on by stucco’s porosity. Dirt and grime settle in its many crevices, leaving unwanted discoloration. It even stains easily indoors. Because of this, you need to clean stucco surfaces more often to prevent large deposits of pollutants, which can affect your health in the long run.
Used in Combination With Other Materials
Some homes use stucco only for the trim while brick or another material is used on the majority of the exterior. In these situations, you must know how to clean both materials without damaging either. Stucco is a delicate yet durable material. Brick can withstand high-pressure washing, but stucco requires a lower pressure to prevent damage.
How to Clean Different Types of Stucco
There are two main types of stucco:
Traditional Stucco
is made from cement, lime, sand, and water. It is very durable and allows for a wide range of textures. Traditional stucco is installed with a lath or mesh base to prevent it from cracking.
Available finishes: float/sand, dash, lace and skip, English, Santa Barbara, Cat face,
Synthetic Stucco
is made from sand and acrylic resin. It dries up quickly and is more resistant to water damage. Synthetic stucco can have different textures, but the variety is not as extensive as traditional stucco. On the other hand, it is more flexible than traditional stucco and thus, less prone to cracking.
Available finishes: float/sand, dash, Cat face, smooth, worm,
Pressure Washing for Traditional Stucco
Pressure washing is one of the best ways to clean traditional stucco. Since it is made from cement, traditional stucco is durable enough to handle high-pressure water. Using a pressure washer with 1,500 to 2,000 PSI alone is effective enough to blast away dirt, dust, mold, mildew, and other unwanted substances. However, if there are stubborn stains, pre-soak the surface with a cleaning solution for 5 to 10 minutes.
When rinsing, you can use a 25-degree or 40-degree nozzle and stand 2 feet away from the surface. Have the nozzle perform a sweeping motion, from top to bottom then left to right. Use want attachments to reach elevated surfaces, as well as scrub brush attachments to remove stubborn stains and buildup. Switch to a fan spray or wider-angle nozzle for the final rinse.
Soft Washing for Synthetic Stucco
Synthetic stucco is a softer material and can be damaged by high-pressure water. Soft washing is a better alternative for cleaning this type of surface. This cleaning method uses a combination of chemical-based cleaning agents and low-pressure water to effectively remove dirt, dust, mold, mildew, and other contaminants from the stucco surface.
When cleaning synthetic stucco, first wet the surface area with water. This is to increase the efficacy of cleaning agents. Options include a bleach-based solution, which is good for targeting moderate buildup; a rust remover for removing stubborn rust stains; and TSP solution, a more potent, all-around-cleaning solution. Allow the solution to sit on the stucco surface for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, use a soft wash system to wash away all the contaminants and cleaning solutions. Keep PSI to 1,500 PSI or below.
Why Do You Need Professional Stucco Pressure Washing Services?
Given the delicateness of stucco surfaces, it’s best to have a professional pressure washing company like Power Washing Genie to handle the cleaning process. Here are the benefits you can enjoy.
A Thorough Inspection
Power Washing Genie delivers quick cleaning services, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t meticulous. Before cleaning, our technicians will conduct a thorough inspection to identify defects or issues that need to be repaired. We also inspect the discoloration on your stucco surfaces to know cleaning methods and products to use.
Expert Pressure Washing Techniques
Power Washing Genie has extensive experience in stucco pressure washing. We use the proper water pressure and nozzle angle to effectively clean stucco. Our technicians utilize expert pressure washing technique that removes dirt, dust, mold, mildew, and other contaminants — without damaging your stucco surfaces.
Environmentally-Friendly Solutions
We use eco-friendly cleaning solutions to complement our pressure washing techniques. These products are tough on dirt and stains but are very gentle for the environment.
Cost-Effective
Professional stucco pressure washing is a cost-effective cleaning solution. Allow our technicians to handle every aspect of the cleaning process. You won’t have to worry about renting equipment, purchasing cleaning products, learning how to use the pressure washer, and finding the time to actually clean. Power Washing Genie will help you save your precious time and hard-earned money.
