Safety Precautions: Can You Use Pressure Washing On Wooden Surfaces?
You can pressure wash wood. That’s the short answer. But the long answer is far more useful — yes, you can, but only if you do it properly. Blast a wooden surface with a 3000 PSI pressure washer and you’ll likely turn your beautiful garden decking into a splintered mess. Pressure washing wood is less about power and more about precision. The type of wood matters, the condition it’s in matters, and most of all, the pressure setting you choose makes all the difference. If you’ve got timber features around your London home — a patio deck in Walthamstow, a shed in Dulwich, or maybe a vintage bench in Islington — you need to be careful. Pressure washers can work wonders, but they’re not magic. Use too much force and you’ll leave behind deep lines, fuzzy fibres, or even cracks that weren't there before. Use too little and, well, you’re basically just giving the mould a light rinse. So, where’s the sweet spot? Somewhere between 500 and 1500 PSI for softwoods, maybe a bit higher for hardwoods — but never leap straight into 3000 territory. And that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Weather conditions, nozzle choice, technique, and the wood type itself all play a role. Let’s break it all down so your next clean-up doesn't become a cover-up job. The Basics: What’s PSI, and Why Should You Care? Understanding Pressure Settings PSI stands for Pounds per Square Inch, and it measures the force of water coming out of your pressure washer. The higher the PSI, the more powerful the blast. Think of it like this: 1500 PSI: Enough to clean softwood, like pine, without shredding it to bits. Ideal for delicate jobs or older timber that's already been weathered. 3000 PSI: A brute. More suited for concrete, brick, or stubborn grime on very durable materials — not your nan’s wooden garden bench. Wood doesn’t love high-pressure anything. It’s porous, soft (depending on the species), and it moves with temperature and moisture. That means blasting it with 3000 PSI is like trying to sand a violin with an angle grinder. The result won’t be pretty. For pressure washing wood, your safest bet is starting low and working your way up. A PSI of 500 to 1200 is usually the sweet zone for cleaning without causing damage. You can always test on a small, hidden spot first — just to be sure. The Role of Nozzles Don’t ignore the nozzle angle. A 25- to 40-degree nozzle is usually your best friend for wooden surfaces. That wider spray pattern spreads out the pressure, reducing the risk of gouging or cutting into the surface. Common Outdoor Wooden Surfaces in London Homes Decks, Fences, Sheds — Each Needs a Slightly Different Approach Walk through any London street, and you’ll spot wooden surfaces in nearly every back garden or courtyard. Some are new and pristine, others are older and wearing a coat of algae. Each one deserves its own game plan. Garden Decking Decks…