Why wood is different from everything else
Concrete can take 3,000 PSI. Wood fibres separate at a fraction of that. Too much pressure lifts the grain and leaves a furred, fuzzy surface that feels rough underfoot and traps dirt faster than it did before cleaning. It cannot be undone without sanding the whole deck.
Worse, a narrow tip held close gouges visible channels into softwood in under a second. Redwood, cedar and pine all mark this way, and those marks are there permanently.
Wood is cleaned at low pressure, worked along the grain rather than across it, with a cleaning solution doing the actual work.
Fences, and the side nobody cleans
Fence boards weather unevenly. The side facing prevailing weather greys and grows algae; the sheltered side stays comparatively clean. Cleaning one side and not the other leaves an obvious mismatch, so we quote both faces unless you tell us otherwise.
The bottom four inches are the hardest part of any fence. Constant sprinkler contact and ground moisture grow a dense band of algae and mildew there, and it needs dwell time rather than force.
Vinyl fencing is a different job entirely — it cleans easily but scratches, so it gets soft washed rather than scrubbed.
Decks, and what we check before starting
We walk the deck first and look for lifted nails, popped screws, soft boards and failing stain. Pressure finds every weakness in a deck, and a board that is already rotten will not survive cleaning — better to know that standing on it than to discover it mid-job.
Composite decking is cleaned gently too. It does not rot, but the surface texture holds mould in shaded sections and high pressure can permanently mar the embossed grain.
If you are planning to stain or seal
Cleaning is the necessary first step, not an alternative. Stain applied over algae and grey weathered fibre will not bond and will peel within a season.
The wood also has to dry fully first — usually two to three days in LA weather, longer in shade or coastal damp. Sealing a deck that is still holding moisture traps it under the finish, which causes cloudiness and early failure.
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Common questions
Will pressure washing damage my wood deck?
Not at the correct pressure. Damage comes from too much force and from working across the grain rather than along it. Wood is cleaned at a fraction of what concrete takes, with the cleaning solution doing the work.
Can you clean both sides of my fence?
Yes, and we recommend it. Weathering is uneven between the two faces, so cleaning one side alone leaves an obvious mismatch. We quote both unless you tell us otherwise.
Do you clean composite decking?
Yes, gently. Composite does not rot but it holds mould in shaded areas, and high pressure can permanently mar the embossed grain.
My deck has loose boards. Is that a problem?
Tell us before we start. We check for lifted nails, popped screws and soft boards during the walkthrough. Pressure finds every weakness, and a board that is already rotten will not survive cleaning.
How long before I can stain or seal it?
Two to three days of dry weather for most LA properties, longer in shade or near the coast. Sealing wood that is still holding moisture traps it under the finish and causes early failure.
Can you clean a fence I share with a neighbour?
Yes. Shared fences are common and it is usually worth splitting a single visit with the neighbour — cleaning one side leaves a visible line at the top rail.