Category: Pressure Washing

Ahhh, spring! What a beautiful time of year. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and those tough driveway stains are showing. As you tackle your spring-cleaning chores, you’ve probably tried using soapy water, chemicals and good old-fashioned elbow grease to get the exterior of your home looking like new. That doesn’t always cut it. When the dirt gets tough and dug-in grime can no longer be ignored, it’s pressure washing to the rescue. Pressure Washers are excellent at cleaning driveways, patios, home exteriors, and other grime magnets. Let’s take a closer look at how these devices work! The Science Behind Pressure Washing To explain why pressure washers are such effective cleaners, let’s look at the science. First, water is a great solvent. It breaks down dirt and grime, so it’s easy to wipe away. Adding water pressure to the mix can further help dislodge and clean tough stains. When water travels at high speeds with lots of force behind it,, dirt and grime break apart as surfaces are hit with kinetic energy. The working scientific principle here is Pascal’s Law: pressure in a fluid has infinite direction. When a pressure washer goes to work, it builds up pressure as high as 4200 psi (pounds per square inch). When the nozzle is opened, it allows the water to release this built-up pressure. The power with which the water escapes is inversely related to the size of the nozzle. Basically — the smaller the nozzle, the more pressure is created. The nozzle’s shape also affects the pressure washer’s power. Most pressure washers have nozzles that range from 0 to 40 degrees for either a tight and robust blast, or a more gentle fan of water that’s better for delicate surfaces. To prevent damaging the surface you’re trying to clean, it’s essential to select the right nozzle for the job. It takes experience to know the ideal level of pressure for different surfaces. Too little and it won’t clean. Too much and you could damage the surface of the material. At IMAGINE, we have the equipment and experience to get the exterior of your home looking great. We also have different kinds of pressure washing equipment and nozzles to clean just about any surface. To make things better from the outside in, give us a call or send us a message for a free pressure washing quote.

Pack up your winter coats and bust out your sunglasses, the warm weather has arrived! We hope you’re just as excited as we are to bring out the barbecue and enjoy this amazing patio weather. But before you invite everyone over to your house for the weekend, why not clean it up a bit? IMAGINE provides residential cleaning services like pressure washing and awning cleaning to get your home summer ready. Can’t I Pressure Wash Myself? Buying a commercial pressure washer is a great way to do some DIY maintenance. However, these machines are not as powerful as the industrial models we use at IMAGINE. For heavily stained surfaces, high-powered equipment is necessary. If you are not familiar with pressure washing, you could also end up damaging the surfaces you’re trying to clean. The key to pressure washing is to use only enough power to effectively clean the surface without damaging the source material. Many people will jump to the highest setting, expecting it to have the ideal cleaning power and end up ruining the surface! Or even worse, they risk losing control of the power washing nozzle and injuring themselves. An experienced professional knows the ideal strength and techniques to clean all sorts of surfaces effectively. Professional pressure washing also uses more than just water to get rid of stains on your driveway, patio, and home’s exterior. We use a variety of cleaning agents to get rid of the algae and tannin stains left by leaves rotting over the wintertime. Your home will be left shining in the sunlight. Is Awning Cleaning Necessary? Professional awning cleaning can increase the lifespan of your awning. You’ve invested in a cool shady cover—why not keep it looking new year after year? Having a clean awning can accent the look of your home while adding wonderful shade and rain cover for barbecues all summer long. If you’re looking to get your home BBQ ready, contact our awning cleaning and pressure washing staff for a free quote. You can also reach us at 835-0008, where one of our friendly staff members would be happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

The average Joe is very good at scheduling in regular window cleaning appointments but when it comes to pressure washing, Vancouver residents and business owners tend to overlook the need for clean sidewalks, walls and driveways. Often, this is because people aren’t aware that you can actually hire professional pressure washing experts. Of course, you can buy home pressure washers but when using these, precautions must be taken. We have previously shared some of our tips if you do want to try some DIY pressure washing. Alternatively, if you’d rather avoid the risks and are interested in improving the curb appeal of your home or business, here’s an overview of what to expect from our pressure washing service. We Don’t Just Use Pressure Washers One of the reasons Vancouver is such a beautiful city, is thanks to its leafy streets, and mature trees. With that beauty, comes a real need for some professional pressure washing. When leaves and rain pile up on sidewalks, tannins from the leaves can actually stain the ground. The only way to get rid of this is with a combination of pressure washing and cleaning agents. Algae also builds up on buildings across Vancouver. We employ special cleaning technique to eradicate the algae from a variety of surfaces. Our Pressure Washers Are Powerful Home pressure washers can be great for maintenance between professional visits however they are far less powerful than professional grade pressure washers. For heavily stained surfaces, high power is needed to properly clean the area. We Can Provide Advice Our cleaning experts are just that – experts. When any of the team first meet with a customer, we will provide our advice on which areas we can safely clean, and how. For instance, most of the time we don’t recommend pressure washing awnings, as fabric awnings can become damaged beneath the power of a pressure washer. We do however provide separate awning cleaning services that provide an equally as thorough clean, without the risk of causing damage. If you have any questions, or concerns, we pride ourselves on our years of experience and are more than happy to put that knowledge to use, answering your queries. To get a quote for our pressure washing service, you can request one through our website. You can also reach us at 604-909-4711, where one of our friendly team will be available to provide you with more information, a quote, or schedule in a visit.

Summer is in full swing and for many that means one thing – party time! Summer BBQs, family gatherings and kids’ parties are all part of a great Canadian summer. But, if it’s been a while since your yard received some TLC, it could need attention. Vancouver’s wet winters can wreak havoc on patios, driveways, walls and sidings but a quick pressure washing appointment can get your home guest-ready in no time. We recently shared an article on the risks of DIY pressure washing but there is plenty you can safely do yourself to get your space in ship-shape condition. 1. Mow The Lawn It’s amazing how different a yard can look with a freshly trimmed lawn. 2. Check Your Outdoor Lighting If you know how to put on a summer party, there’s no doubt it will run long into the darker hours. The last thing you’d want is for the party to be ruined by a lack of light. Make sure your outdoor lights are working and stock up on spare bulbs, just in case! 3. Ring Your Doorbell Give your doorbell a test to make sure it’s still in working order. You’d hate to have your guests wait at the front door while you’re having fun out the back, oblivious to the fact they’ve arrived. 4. Clear Out The Freezer With summer party guests, comes snacks, treats, drinks and ice. You’re going to need plenty of room to keep all of that chilled in your fridge and freezer. 5. Clean The BBQ It’s not a job that anyone looks forward to, but when it’s done, it’s done! So, while you get on with that, let our pressure washing experts scrub off the dirt and algae from around your home. Our team have been pressure washing Vancouver homes for many years and can bring a wealth of experience to your yard. To schedule in your next appointment, contact us today.

Pressure washing Vancouver sidewalks is one of our most frequent jobs, but from time to time, they need a bit of extra attention. From the image above, it just looks as though the sidewalk is wet from the Vancouver’s notorious rain showers. In reality, those rains have mixed with fallen leaves and stained the concrete sidewalks. The tannins in the leaves create a brown/red colour that can’t be easily removed with our standard pressure washing techniques. A combination of powerful jets, cleaning agents and years of experience, are required to restore sidewalks that look like this, to their original colour. Something similar also happens to residential driveways and patios beneath trees. The bad news is that your own home pressure washer is not going to be able to remove the colour. The good news, is that our professional pressure washing team can. From the images above, you can see what a remarkable difference there is after the sidewalk has been treated. This was all done in one day. Our customer was a store in Vancouver’s Downtown who wanted the exterior of their store to look sleek, tidy and attractive to match their brand. They know the value a clean exterior has in attracting customers inside. If you’re concerned about the appearance of the sidewalk, walls or siding around your business, contact our professional pressure washing team today. Ask us about our Annual Maintenance Package which can save you time and money. Pre-arrange all of your pressure washing, window cleaning, awning cleaning in advance to free up your time for what really matters to you and your business.

A bit of a spring clean on the outside of your home is a great way to spend a sunny Vancouver weekend. However, when it comes to pressure washing, there are some distinct differences between DIY methods and professional techniques. Both have their advantages but here’s what to be aware of when using a pressure washer around your home. Take Caution If Pressure Washing Your Home’s Walls Or Siding While using a pressure washer is a great way to clear away dirt and algae from walls and sidings, this should be avoided if you don’t know everything there is to know about the machine, the various wand tips, and chemicals that can be used. A pressure washer produces a forceful, high powered stream of water, that can blast paint off walls, shred wood siding and deck boards, break window seals and even create cracks in walls. This causes what we call water ingress which could soak into the wall cavities and spread through insulation and even wiring. Pressure washers should be set on their lowest settings and increased to the point at which they are effective, without overdoing it. Protect Yourself Knowing the damage pressure washing can do to buildings, it must come as no surprise that they can do a lot of damage to people too. The water can shoot out with extreme force, just as one Reddit user found out when he instinctively removed a bug from his leg with the pressure washer he was using. Pressure washers can tear open skin very easily and cause some really severe injuries. It’s vital anyone using a pressure washing is aware of just how dangerous they can be. How We Ensure Safety When Pressure Washing With decades of experience under our belt, all of our IMAGINE team have several techniques they use for different cleaning purposes. Generally we will use lower pressure equipment with special detergent to produce a high quality finish, damage free. Our staff are fully trained in using all of our equipment so know exactly how to use high pressure, when needed. Customers can feel safe knowing that all of our Vancouver pressure washing team are not only fully trained, but also fully insured. When hiring anybody to work on your home, it is important to check they are insured, so that in the unlikely case something were to go wrong, you wouldn’t be held liable. Some Final Pressure Washing Safety Tips Never use a pressure washer on your roof Never use a pressure washer on your awning Avoid using the highest pressure setting Keep children and pets away while using a pressure washer Ensure that there is water drainage where you plan to clean (the water needs somewhere to go) Provided you are fully aware of how to use your pressure washer, it can be a great tool to do some cleaning yourself. For more complex jobs, or to ensure the safety of your home and self, you can schedule in an visit from our professional Vancouver pressure washing team. Contact us today or request a free quote.

Winter has finally come to an end, but it’s presence is still very much visible on sidewalks and walls across Vancouver. Pressure washing can help make it better outside by removing any grimey moss and algae build up as well as the remains of rotting leaves, leaf stains, gum, and garbage – all of which can be very off-putting to customers. But in Vancouver the real problem is algae, the stuff that grows on everything. This is where professionals can really help. Sidewalk Pressure Washing For years, we have been cleaning sidewalks across Vancouver for some of the city’s best known restaurants and shops. You may well have seen our pressure washing teams and vans working Downtown, on the likes of Robson Street, Alberni Street, as well as on South Granville, and West 4th Ave. The appearance of the sidewalk outside of your business is not something many people think to check but once you see the difference a quick pressure washing visit makes, you’ll never overlook dirty sidewalks again. Scrub Down Walls You can easily clean off some of the airborne dust that builds up on the exterior of your walls after winter with a simple hose rinse and maybe a light brushing. This is is a simple solution for small painted, or vinyl siding walls. For larger walls, or brick walls, pressure washing is a more efficient solution. Our team know the correct power and equipment needed to give walls a new lease of life. For busy business owners, our team can discreetly and quickly get the work done outside of your core business hours, causing little to no disruption to your customers. Give Patios A Gleaming Finish If your business has a patio, it’s best to get it gleaming before the summer sunshine gets Vancouver residents flocking to you. Patio pressure washing makes a huge impact on small or shaded spaces that don’t receive a large amount of natural light. Much like how clean windows can brighten a room, clean floors can brighten an outdoor area. Our pressure washing services are available to both business owners and residential property owners. So, if you’re considering treating your business’ patio to a pressure washing appointment, why not do the same for your home patio and driveway too? To schedule in a pressure washing appointment at your home or business, call us at (888) 835-0008 or send our pressure washing team a message and they’ll be in touch shortly to arrange an appointment.