The driveway is probably the first thing that someone notices about your property. This means that an unkempt driveway can instantly make the person pass a negative judgment about your home – especially if they are a potential buyer. This article will discuss the benefits of blasting weeds or blasting moss from your driveway using pressure washing.
While there are a couple of methods that can be used to remove those pesky growths, few are as effective as pressure washing. A growth of Moss and weeds is not the first impression you want to make. Not only is this an eyesore, but also, it can be a health hazard. We will continue speaking about this.
Why Should You Pressure Wash Your Driveway?
Pressure washing is the most efficient way of cleaning your driveway off of all dirt, grime, weed, and moss. Moreover, it also happens to be the best and most cost-effective way of enhancing your curb appeal thus enhancing your home’s value. In fact, the National Association of Realtors has it that, hiring professional pressure washing services to work on both your home and driveway could increase your home’s value by anywhere between $10,000 and $15,000 .
What is Pressure Washing?
Also known as power washing, this is the use of high-pressure water sprays to remove grime, dust, dirt, and growths such as moss and weed from surfaces. This process uses machines that have various settings to regulate the pressure at which the water comes out. These machines produce water with pressures ranging anywhere between 750 and 30,000 psi.
Nevertheless, due to their complexity, pressure washers are best left to experts who have been professionally trained on how to use these machines. Due to the high amounts of pressures these machines can generate, in untrained hands, they can be destructive. You can easily crack your pavement using that kind of pressure. Professionals, however, are trained in addition to being experienced to know just the right setting to use at every instance to get the job done without causing damage.
How does it Work?
Pressure washing a driveway is not just any other pressure washing service. Driveways are susceptible to damage from high pressures due to their cracks. Thus, this technique utilizes a combination of low- and moderate-pressure washing techniques, eco-friendly cleaners, and expertise as well as experience to effectively rid the concrete surface of moss, weed, and other tough stains.
Your driveway will first be pre-treated using a concrete brightener. Next, a concrete surface, cleaner is then applied to break up the stains on the surface to give your driveway a stain-free appearance. After rinsing the debris, a special type of eco-friendly cleaner is applied to eliminate tough stains such as oil and rust.
Once your driveway is cleared of dirt and grime, the weed and moss removal can now begin. Here, there is the use of weed removal tools to physically remove larger weeds and moss. There is no use of the pressure washer here as it would require high pressures that could likely do permanent damage to the underlying sand.
Upon eliminating the larger growths, the pressure washer is set at a moderate pressure level appropriate for blasting weeds and moss that might be hiding in cracks or crevices.
The result is a gorgeous and new looking driveway that instantly adds to your home’s aesthetics.
The Benefits of Pressure Washing for Moss and Weed Removal
1. Inhibited Moss and Weed Growth
The gentle – and at times powerful – breezes that originate from the ocean are constantly depositing dust and dirt in the tiny cracks and expansion joints in your driveway. A small amount of dirt is all weeds or moss need to make a home out of your driveway. And when not controlled early, their roots spread wider and deeper, subsequently widening the cracks until they become wide gaps. This is not only a sore sight for the eyes, but may be costly to repair. Arranging for an annual pressure wash is one of the easiest ways of ensuring that the above does not happen.
2. Sanitation
If left unchecked, driveways can get filthy. With debris and dirt constantly blowing over the surface, the clomping of dirt-laden shoes, vehicles going back and forth, and bird feces falling all over it, it won’t take long before your driveway becomes quite filthy. As if that were not enough, moss and weeds thrive in those kinds of conditions, compounding the problem even further.
3. Safety
Your driveway is better off rough than polished as rough surfaces provide the necessary traction needed to maintain friction. However, when you have a weed, moss, algae, and fungus infestation, this friction is reduced. The implication is that the driveway becomes potentially hazardous after a downpour. Someone is likely to slip and fall on the hard concrete beneath. Pressure washing utilizes a combination of techniques that ensure your driveway retains its original consistency.
4. Salvation From Scrubbing
If you want to prevent weed and moss from growing without enlisting the services of a professional power wash, you will have to hand scrub the concrete every other week. With the help of a stiff brush, concrete cleaner, a hose, plenty of elbow grease, and a limitless supply of patience, you can maintain a decent driveway.
Even so, there’s a fair chance that you will not be satisfied with the results. To avoid all that hassle, call in a professional, and they will give you the results you are looking for.
5. Cost-Effective
As stated above, keeping your driveway free of weed and moss takes a lot of energy and dedication. And even then, there’s a chance that you might miss some spots. With professional pressure washers, however, they only need to visit your driveway every once in a while. They are well-versed in the appropriate techniques that ensure your driveway stays in top shape for longer periods. Thus, when you compare their prices to the amount of energy and resources you would have to invest in to maintain the driveway yourself, they are a better option.
6. Eco-Friendly
In addition to the money and time-saving benefits of professional pressure washing, this service is also environmentally friendly. Professionals use eco-friendly products for weed and moss removal thus contributing to the Green initiative.
7. Enhanced Property Value
What better way to tell the world that you live in a high-value home than a beautiful and well-maintained driveway? When the driveway is clean and well-maintained, it sends out a strong message about the value of the home. This will pay off if you decide to sell.
Moreover, as we noticed earlier, pressure washing can enhance the value of your home by up to $15,000. Who knows; blasting weed and moss away could be just what you needed to put some more money into your pocket.
Weeds, moss, and other types of growth have a detrimental effect on your driveway. Apart from looking unsightly, they also cause the cracks in the pavement to widen, resulting in costly damage. If you are a homeowner in the Miami – Dade area, professional pressure washing services might just be what you are looking for. Call us today and see the difference.
