“With great power, comes great responsibility.”
This infamous quote from the Spider-Man films doesn’t only apply to superheroes. At Imagine, we take deck cleaning in Metro Vancouver as seriously as Peter Parker takes cleaning up the streets of New York City.
We understand that a “one size fits all” solution doesn’t work. While promising the use of a power washer for your deck cleaning needs – whether it be commercial or residential – might sound appealing, it won’t necessarily yield the best results. “More” cleaning power doesn’t always mean a better cleaning job will be done.
Here’s why we don’t always use a power washer for our deck cleaning services:
Power washing can create a big mess:
Using water at a high-pressure, which is why power washing can be so effective in some cases, comes at a cost: it makes a big ol’ mess. While that in of itself isn’t an issue, if our clients are requesting a smaller space (such as a condo or townhouse deck) to be cleaned, it might make more of a mess than actually getting rid of it. The runoff water, dirt and debris are just moved around the space rather than being cleaned, potentially spraying onto your furniture, windows or even your neighours. In these cases, we recommend soft scrubbing as an alternative method of deck cleaning.
Power washing might cause drainage issues:
Not all decks are created equally. Over the years, our team has cleaned decks of all shapes and sizes and have seen first-hand that not all of them have proper drainage systems or maintenance. Using a power washer on these types of decks can potentially cause clogs if the space isn’t well-equipped to drain off high volumes of water. In the worst case scenario, this could cause water to seep into your building envelope – a much bigger mess to clean than your deck!
Power washing isn’t permitted in all buildings:
If you live in a Strata Corporation, then your building might have bylaws or rules around how you use your deck space: from BBQ regulations, storage rules and yes, how you can (and can’t) clean your deck. Factors that may influence the creation of these rules include: concerns over noise, mess, neighbour complaints, insurance policies and building warranties. No matter what the reason, if these bylaws and rules exist, and you fail to comply with them, you may be subject to violation fines and penalties.
Power washing is a great option for some residential or commercial cleaning needs – but it’s not for all jobs and spaces. At Imagine, we have the knowledge and experience needed to be able to assess your space and provide unique recommendations tailored to your needs. We aim to save you money while also providing excellent service – a combination we’re proud to offer all of our clients.
Contact us today and let’s bring your deck back to life – with or without a power washer.