Before you book a pressure cleaner
Five questions to ask anyone you're thinking of booking to clean the outside of your house, us included, and what a good answer sounds like.
Anyone can hire a pressure washer and call themselves a cleaner. Before you let someone near your house, ask these five questions. Ask us too. A good cleaner will have the answers ready.
One. Are you insured? Ask for a certificate of currency for public liability. That's the document that shows the cover is current. Anyone real can email it the same day. If a cleaner damages your paint, or someone gets hurt at your place, this is what stands between you and the bill.
Two. What method will you use on each surface? A good answer names the surface and the method. Pressure for plain concrete. A soft wash for render, paint and roofs. Low pressure along the grain for timber. If the answer is the same machine for everything, that's the warning sign.
Three. How will you protect my garden, pets and pond? Cleaning mixes can harm plants and fish. You want to hear that plants get covered or rinsed, and that they'll ask about ponds and pets before they start.
Four. Will you check the paint first? Old or flaky paint can lift even under a gentle wash. A careful cleaner checks it before starting, and tells you if there's a risk.
Five. What won't come out? Some stains only fade. Old oil and deep rust are the usual ones. An honest cleaner tells you before the job, not after. Be wary of anyone who says every mark will go.
A price is only part of it. Two quotes can look far apart because they cover different work. Ask what's included, in writing, so you can compare them fairly.
If you'd like to ask us, ring us or get a free quote. We'll answer all five.