Surf-Clean-Pro's Blog

Here we share trending ideas, cleaning tips and pressure washing knowledge for the DIYer.

What are the Basic Guidelines when Pressure Washing/Cleaning Vinyl Siding?

One needs less maintenance when making use of vinyl siding on your homes.


Yet, at one point, you will be confronted with the task of cleaning it. It is not that difficult, but would definitely take a good deal of your time. Doing this on your own will save you money. It also will be a good check the current condition of your vinyl siding.


Cleaning vinyl siding is usually done by making use of a pressure washer or a power washer. One may buy one, or if possible rent one. In cleaning vinyl siding, use a mild soap or detergent if it is not that dirty yet. There are also detergents or cleaning solutions. That have additives to help prevent problems as mold or mildew.


Wear safety equipment as eye protection and gloves. Before the cleaning of your vinyl siding. It is always better to be safe when doing such activities. Watch out for windows and doors during pressure washing. It is advisable to seal these portions. Be careful as well not to hit the ground. As these may contribute to bringing dirt back to your sidings, and will mean a lot more work for you.


When cleaning vinyl siding, make sure to start at the upper portion. Then going down to the lower sections of the structure. Doing so will ensure that you will be doing your cleaning on a smooth and organized manner. You won’t have to go back and forth with your cleaning.

Cleaning vinyl siding with green copper stains. Can be done by using a solution that contains oxalic acid and hot water. The granules for this acid can be purchased at hardware stores. A ¾ pound of the acid granules mixed with a gallon of hot water would be ideal mixture. With your rubber gloves on and using a sponge. Apply this solution on the stain and let it stay for around five minutes. After which, you may then scrub it off with the sponge or a non-abrasive cloth. Repeat the process as necessary.

Using a solution of bleach and water will do the trick when treating mold stains. For rust stains, there are special detergents available in the market today. Specifically applicable for use in cleaning vinyl siding. Read the instructions , and follow as per directions.


Cleaning vinyl siding by pressure washing and with the appropriate cleaning solutions. Will help keep these in good condition. By doing so, your vinyl siding will begin to look clean and new again.


Fire Damage Cleanup Tips

You've had a fire. The fire department has come, put the fire out and all you see is one big mess. Upon closer investigation questions come.


I. What method do we use to remove the soot and charcoal to evaluate the damage?

- High pressure water blasting leaves behind water in electrical components, equipment and insulation, if not properly removed will cause unwanted corrosion and rot, increasing cleanup, damage and long term maintenance costs.

- Soda blasting leaves water and soda behind, which requires additional cleanup, increasing cleanup, damage and long term maintenance costs.

- Sand blasting leaves abrasive blast media behind, which if not cleaned up properly continues to cause damage in electrical components, gears and bearings. It continues to fall from horizontal surfaces, cracks and beams years after the job is done, increasing cleanup, damage and long term maintenance costs.

- Dry ice blasting is the ultimate surface cleaning process, it leaves no secondary waste stream behind. The only cleanup after the dry ice blasting job is done is the removal of the debris caused by the fire.


II. How do we remove the soot, charcoal and smoke film from masonry and steel surfaces?


- Again this is an excellent application for dry ice blasting. Watch the movie clips on our web site to see how dry ice blasting cleans soot, smoke and charcoal from different types of surfaces.


III. Will we be able to remove that awful smoke smell?


- The removing of the smell is accomplished by removing the smell source and/or sealing the smell source to encapsulate it. Dry ice blasting removes the soot, charcoal and smoke film, which is the smell source, from accessible areas.

- During a fire air currents carry smoke and soot into cracks, openings and areas not in close proximity to the fire itself, additional cleaning and/or sealing of these places and inaccessible areas may be needed.


IV. Can we accomplish our cleanup without adding hazards to our environment?


- Dry ice blasting is safe and environmentally friendly. Dry ice is pure CO2 in its solid state, it is in its gaseous state in the air around us. When we inhale our bodies use the oxygen and we exhale CO2. Green plants take CO2 from the air and give off oxygen.


- Dry ice blasting is non-toxic, non-conductive and there is no employee exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals or solutions. Dry ice blasting meets the guidelines of the USDA, EPA, and the FDA.


Building A Deck For Your Awesome Hot Tub

Many today want to install a hot tub on their existing deck.


If your deck was not built. Will the weight of a hot tub damage the deck? Will your existing deck support a hot tub? Even though a hot tub may only weigh 400 to 500 lbs.


It may hold 300 gallons of water, at 7 pounds per gallon. Or an extra 2100 pounds added that to the weight of the tub. Add the weight of the occupants as well. Now you can see the weight per square is quite high. In most cases, your deck can be redesigned to hold a hot tub, by adding extra support. Check with your local building department. Or a qualified person to make sure the changes will support our new tub.


Today there are many choices in deck materials. From the traditional cedar and redwood. To pressure-treated pine and the new man made materials. The most cost-effective of these choices is the pressure-treated pine. There are three levels of treatment. It is measured by the amount of preservative per cubic foot of lumber.


The bottom of these is the above grade or ground use at .15 to .25 lbs per foot. Use this rating for pieces that will not be in contact with the ground. The next level is for pieces that will or might be in contact with the ground. They are rated at .40 pounds per square foot. The highest level is for below-grade. It's rated a .60 pounds per square foot, 4 x 4’s and 6 x 6’s generally has a .60 rating.


Most people prefer natural woods like Cedar and Redwood. These are the most expensive and do have some drawbacks. If they are used for the decking they can easily be scratched while moving furniture. For example, they will also turn grey unless you stain or preserve them. A good pressure washing will bring back the natural look.


The new generation of deck materials is man-made composites. These are generally made of recycled products such as wood and plastics. These are a little more expensive than pressure-treated pine, but it will last much longer. The drawbacks are - it will get dirty much like vinyl siding. But again, a good pressure washing will bring it back to life. The other common complaint about the composites is that it gets hot even with a small amount of sunshine.


No matter what type of material you use for constructing your new deck. Be sure to check with a professional in deck design to guarantee that your new deck will support that new hot tub.

Finding The Right Window Cleaning Company For Your Home or Business

Cleaning your own windows can be an undesirable job.

It can additionally threaten if you have home windows that are tall or greater than the first stage. Utilizing lengthy ladders to access them can pose a danger to your wellness. Washing windows is likewise a taxing and also tedious task. Without the appropriate tools, it can take a lot longer and also not be of premium quality. As if you selected a window cleaning company. Home window cleaning services concentrate on safety. As well as cleansing your home or business's windows. They will have the essential tools as well as products to finish a top-quality task. Before hiring one, there are several things to consider.

Several house cleaning firms also offer window cleaning as an added service. There are those that specialize strictly in window washing. Either one is acceptable as long as they have the required experience. An experienced window washer will ask a range of questions. Or take an aesthetic examination, before estimating the task. Identifying cost aspects. Include the type of home windows, quantity, dimension, and quantity of dirt. Some types of windows will need specialized cleaning. Particularly unclean windows might need power cleaning, which can boost the cost.

Pick a window washer that is completely guaranteed as well as adhered to. There is a possibility of damages if windows are not cleaned correctly. So ensure you are covered. Make certain you get a price quote in creating. This should include an in-depth description of the work to be done. The cost for the project, as well as the moment framework for the conclusion. Also, be sure they have the correct devices. To shield bordering areas from damages. That they are accountable for cleaning up after the job is total.

Ask close friends or households for suggestions. Get many quotes before choosing a company. See to it the company will provide a cost-free estimate. This is basic yet it is smart to confirm. Before incurring any unnecessary expenses. Request for references and also act on them to guarantee they have happy customers. A solution that has stayed in business for a long time. Is a far better choice than a newly formed one. Due to the fact that it will have a proven record.


Home window cleaning can be a taxing, hard duty. Many individuals choose to work with a home window cleaning service. As opposed to doing it themselves. With a good business, you will get a task that shows top-quality job finished in a prompt way. They will be able to do the job safely as well as assure you that any problems will be looked after.


Log Cabin Tips - Bringing Out The Bear In You

Log cabins are generally low-maintenance houses.


Since they are located in far out places and it is not easy. To get maintenance staff or equipment there. Log cabin plans tell the whole story. Most of the building material including the floor textures. Used in a log cabin requires very basic maintenance and it looks as good as new. The exterior of a log cabin has to face the nature's wrath and thus is very simple to maintain.


But, some people might like to keep the interiors of the log cabin in a very good condition. They might use professional maintenance and restoration services. These services provide detailed maintenance services for the log cabin and do not come cheap. Some of the steps of maintenance for a log cabin include. Staining of the interior and exterior wood, chinking repair and replacement. Borate treatment to safeguard against pests, stay dry, chemical strip and cob blasting. Deck cleaning and sealing are also important. Since that is where most of the time of the log cabin residents is spent.


Log cabin plans should include inspection of the entire log cabin. Along with finishing of rough edges is part of the maintenance procedure. If you are a log cabin owner and rent it out on frequent occasions to holiday-makers. Then good maintenance will go a long way to fetch you an attractive rental income. Apart from that, the value of log cabins tends to be higher if they are well maintained and clean. A quick search online will provide you with details of some agencies. Who deal in maintenance services for log cabins. It is advisable that you narrow down your selection to a few companies in the region. Where your log cabin is situated and take comparative quotes for them. For the maintenance need and then make a decision.


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