Pressure washing a roof before painting is important because it helps get rid of mould, dirt, and grime buildup. The presence of these substances can easily cause problems once a new coat of paint has been applied. Therefore, properly cleaning a roof prior to a new paint job is necessary to extend its lifespan while ensuring it looks its best after.
At Sunshine Coast Pressure Cleaning, we recommend giving a roof that’s about to be given a new paint a soft wash. Soft washing lets you eliminate unwanted substances without damaging the roof in the process.
In this post, we’ll talk more about pressure washing and painting and the best time to do it.
How Long Should You Wait to Paint After Pressure Washing?
You should wait until your house is fully dry before you start to paint it. The waiting period can be anywhere from 1 to 3 days, depending on how fast the surfaces you need to paint will no longer have any moisture.
This will give surfaces like brick, wood, and other porous materials sufficient time for them to fully dry. Painting on a wet surface isn’t recommended since the presence of moisture can easily cause the paint to bubble.
On a hot day, the escaping moisture can also cause imperfections on the painted surface that will be easy to see.
When is the Best Time to Pressure Wash?
The best time to do a pressure wash in Australia is spring and summer. The main reasons is that the roof will not already be wet and more dangerous to access and the sun will rise earlier and go down much later during these seasons.
The additional hours will allow pressure washers more time to complete their jobs, such as cleaning and drying the whole area. This also means they’ll require less time to finish a project rather than multiple days to do so.
Can You Power Wash in the Rain?
Yes, you can power wash in the rain. In fact, some experts have found that rain can enhance the power washing process and even speed it up.
The main reason for this is that rain allows the power washing solutions to remain on exterior surfaces without causing them to dry up. The added time means that the chemicals get to do their job of cleaning the surfaces more.
Another reason is that overcast skies allow power washing professionals to easily spot the areas that are being cleaned. An overcast or rainy sky increases visibility since the cleaners will have fewer shadows to contend with. Sunlight, which can shine directly into the eyes and make it harder to see, will also be significantly reduced during a rainy day.
If you want to know the best way to clean a roof, read our blog about it here.