Oh, the Pressure

Five months after carpenters screwed down the last board on my oak and mahogany deck, I rented an industrial pressure washer, cranked it wide open and learned too late why wood manufacturers warn people to think before they shoot.

I made two key mistakes. I applied a harsh wood cleaner for longer than directed. I also held the pressure wand -- rated at 3,200 pounds per square inch -- too close to the deck.

Professional washers, such as Chris Dupy, see a lot of DIY bloopers. (Potomac Pressure Washing)

The next day, the deck's almost-new surface resembled an ancient river bed crisscrossed with furry strips of raised wood grain. A subsequent coat of cedar-toned stain made a dozen ugly gouges glare like beacons.

I cursed myself, but experts say pressure-washer mishaps are common. People ignore user manuals and damage costly decks, siding, brick or driveways. Sometimes it's worse. In 2004, an estimated 3,747 Americans needed hospital care for pressure-washer injuries, with 20 percent sustaining chemical burns to their eyes, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Manufacturers say consumers need to know the operational basics, as that can spell the difference between a job well done and a frustrating or dangerous experience.


Click to read the rest of the Washington Post article.

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