My deck was embarrassing. I kept putting off doing anything about it because I figured it would cost a fortune to fix. The wood had turned this ugly gray color and there was green stuff growing in between the boards. My wife kept hinting that maybe we should do something about it, and I kept finding excuses to put it off.
Our driveway wasn’t much better. There were oil stains from my old car that leaked, plus all this black streaky stuff that I couldn’t scrub off no matter what I tried. The whole front of our house just looked run down.
Then my neighbor Bob got his stuff power washed and it looked amazing. Like, I couldn’t believe it was the same driveway. So I finally bit the bullet and called USA Power Washing Plus. Best decision I made all year. Everything looked completely different when they were done. I actually wanted to have people over again instead of being embarrassed about how everything looked.
Power Washing Benefits For Your Deck and Driveway
Why This Stuff Gets So Gross Here
New Jersey weather is rough on everything outside. We get humid summers where green slime grows on everything, then winters with all that road salt that leaves white crusty residue everywhere. My buddy Mike lives in Arizona and his outdoor stuff stays pretty clean. Not here though.
The humidity is the worst part. By July everything outside is covered in this film that makes it look old and neglected. The deck gets slippery when it’s wet, which is dangerous. Last summer my father-in-law almost slipped coming up the steps after it rained.
Plus we get all this pollution from being near the highways and the city. Cars, trucks, whatever – it all leaves this grimy coating on concrete that you can’t wash off with a garden hose. I tried every cleaner at Home Depot and none of them worked.
The salt in winter really does a number on concrete too. I didn’t know this until the power washing guy explained it, but salt actually eats away at concrete if you don’t get it cleaned off. No wonder my driveway was starting to look pitted and rough.
What Actually Happens When You Power Wash
The difference is incredible. I’m not exaggerating – it’s like having new surfaces installed. All that gray weathered look on the deck was just dirt and mold buildup. Underneath, the wood still had its natural color.
The driveway was even more dramatic. Those oil stains I thought were permanent came right out. The black streaking disappeared. It went from looking like a 20-year-old driveway to looking almost new.
My wife was amazed at how much brighter everything looked. The whole backyard felt different because the deck wasn’t this dark grimy color anymore. Even our patio furniture looked better sitting on a clean deck.
Getting Rid of Stains That Won’t Come Out Otherwise
I tried everything on those oil stains. Degreaser, dish soap, even bought some expensive concrete cleaner. Nothing worked. The power washer took them out in about five minutes.
Same with the green stuff on the deck. I scrubbed it with bleach solution and it just kept coming back. Power washing stripped all of it off and it hasn’t grown back nearly as fast.
There were also these rust stains around where my grill used to sit. Thought I was going to have to live with those forever. Gone after power washing.
Preparing for Staining
The guy who did the work explained that you can’t stain over dirty wood. The stain won’t stick properly and it’ll peel off within a year. Since the deck was completely clean after power washing, the stain I applied went on evenly and has held up much better than my previous attempts.
I used to wonder why my deck stain always looked patchy and started peeling so quickly. Turns out it was because I was applying it over all that grime and buildup.
Other Benefits I Didn’t Expect
The safety thing was big. The deck isn’t slippery anymore when it rains. Before, you had to be really careful walking on it when it was wet because of all that algae or whatever growing on there.
I also noticed problems I couldn’t see before. Once all the dirt was gone, I could see a couple loose boards and some areas where the railings needed tightening. Fixed those issues right away instead of letting them get worse.
My neighbor across the street mentioned how much better our house looks from the street now. That’s worth something when you’re thinking about property values.
When to Do This
Spring is definitely the best time around here. Get all the winter salt and grime off before the weather gets nice and you want to use your outdoor spaces. I did mine in May and it was perfect timing.
Most people seem to do it every year or two. My deck is under some trees so it gets dirty faster. The driveway is in full sun and seems to stay cleaner longer.
Worth Every Penny
I was worried about the cost but it really wasn’t that bad. Way less than I would have spent trying to replace anything. And the results were immediate and dramatic.
Now I actually enjoy sitting on my deck instead of avoiding it. Having friends over for barbecues is fun again instead of stressful. My wife is happy, which makes everyone happy.
If your deck and driveway look anything like mine did, don’t wait as long as I did. The difference it makes is amazing, and you’ll wish you had done it sooner. Just make sure you find someone who knows what they’re doing and has good reviews from neighbors.
