10 Days of Curb Appeal - Day 5: The Magic of a Power Wash
Welcome back to Day 5 of our 10 Days of Curb Appeal series! If you've been following along, you've already tackled your front door, upgraded your outdoor lighting, refreshed those house numbers, and added some gorgeous greenery. Today, we're bringing out the big guns.
It's time to talk about power washing, the single fastest way to make your home look like it just got a complete makeover without actually changing a thing.
Seriously, if curb appeal had a "cheat code," power washing would be it.
Why Power Washing Feels Like Actual Magic
Here's the thing about dirt, grime, mold, and mildew: they sneak up on you. You see your driveway every single day, so you don't notice that it's slowly turned from "fresh concrete" to "sad parking lot." Your siding? Same deal. That once-bright exterior has been collecting years of Utah dust, pollen, and whatever the wind blows in from the Great Salt Lake.
Then someone comes along with a power washer, and suddenly it's like your house traveled back in time.
Power washing strips away all that accumulated gunk and reveals the original color and texture underneath. We're talking instant transformation. Your driveway goes from grimy gray to clean concrete. Your siding looks freshly painted. Your porch actually looks inviting again.
And here's a fun fact for anyone thinking about selling: homes with strong curb appeal can sell for 5–10% more than comparable properties with neglected exteriors. That's real money, folks.
What Can You Power Wash?
The short answer? A lot more than you probably think. Let's break down the key areas around your Salt Lake Valley home that benefit most from a good power wash.
Driveways and Sidewalks
Your driveway is basically the red carpet leading to your front door. And if that red carpet is covered in oil stains, tire marks, and ground-in dirt... well, it's not exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
Power washing your driveway and sidewalks removes:
Oil and grease stains
Tire marks
Dirt and debris buildup
Algae and moss (especially in shadier spots)
Salt residue from winter de-icing
For homeowners in Sandy, Herriman, Riverton, and throughout Utah Valley, driveways take a beating from our freeze-thaw cycles and road salt. A good power wash in late winter or early spring can wash away all that winter grime and prep your surfaces for the warmer months.
Front Steps and Porch
Your front porch is prime real estate for first impressions. It's where guests wait while you fumble with the door. It's where you sit on summer evenings. It's where delivery drivers snap those "proof of delivery" photos.
And if it's covered in dirt, cobwebs, and mystery stains? Not a great look.
Power washing your front steps and porch can:
Remove built-up dirt and debris
Eliminate slippery algae and mold (safety first!)
Brighten up concrete, stone, or composite materials
Make your new house numbers and flower boxes really pop
Siding (With Caution!)
Here's where things get a little tricky. Yes, power washing can work wonders on your home's siding. But it can also cause serious damage if done incorrectly.
Vinyl siding generally handles power washing well, but you need to use the right pressure setting and angle. Too much pressure or spraying upward can force water behind the siding, leading to moisture problems and mold growth inside your walls. Not good.
Wood siding requires even more care. High pressure can splinter wood, strip paint, and leave you with a bigger project than you started with.
Stucco and brick can also be damaged by overly aggressive power washing, especially if the mortar is older or already deteriorating.
This is one of those areas where calling in a pro really pays off. A Salt Lake handyman who knows their way around a power washer can get your siding sparkling clean without causing damage.
Fences
Wooden fences especially benefit from power washing. Over time, they collect dirt, algae, and that grayish weathering that makes them look decades older than they are.
A thorough power wash can:
Remove surface dirt and grime
Strip away loose paint or stain
Prep the wood for re-staining or sealing
Reveal the natural wood grain underneath
If you're planning to re-stain your fence this spring (great idea, by the way), power washing is an essential first step. It ensures the new stain actually penetrates the wood instead of sitting on top of a layer of gunk.
Decks and Patios
Your deck or patio is basically an outdoor living room. And just like your indoor floors, they need regular cleaning to stay looking their best.
Power washing removes:
Ground-in dirt from foot traffic
Mold and mildew (especially common in shaded areas)
Pollen and plant debris
Food and drink spills from last summer's barbecues
For wooden decks, power washing also preps the surface for sealing or staining: which you should definitely be doing to protect your investment from Utah's intense sun and dramatic temperature swings.
Safety First: Why DIY Power Washing Can Go Wrong
Power washers look simple enough. Point, spray, clean. What could go wrong?
Actually... quite a bit.
The Pressure Problem
Consumer-grade power washers typically run between 1,500-2,000 PSI (pounds per square inch). Professional units can hit 3,000-4,000 PSI or higher. That's enough force to:
Strip paint off surfaces
Gouge wood
Crack or chip concrete
Damage window seals
Seriously injure yourself or others
We're not trying to scare you away from DIY projects (we love a good DIY moment!), but power washing requires respect for the equipment and knowledge of which pressure settings work for which surfaces.
Water Where It Shouldn't Be
As mentioned with siding, improper technique can force water into places it absolutely should not go: behind siding, under roofing, into window frames. This can lead to mold, rot, and water damage that costs way more to fix than a professional power washing would have cost in the first place.
Chemical Concerns
Some power washing jobs benefit from cleaning solutions: degreasers for driveways, mold treatments for shaded areas, etc. Using the wrong chemicals (or mixing them incorrectly) can damage surfaces, harm plants, or create hazardous fumes.
Why Hiring a Pro Makes Sense
Look, we get it. Renting a power washer and tackling your driveway sounds like a satisfying Saturday project. And for some folks, it absolutely can be.
But here's why many Salt Lake Valley homeowners choose to call in a professional:
Time savings. A pro can power wash your entire property in a fraction of the time it would take you to figure out the equipment, do the job, and return the rental.
Better results. Pros know the right pressure settings, techniques, and cleaning solutions for each surface. They get it cleaner without causing damage.
No equipment hassle. No renting, transporting, or storing bulky equipment. No figuring out how to connect hoses and nozzles.
Safety. Pros have experience handling high-pressure equipment safely.
Preventive maintenance. Beyond the cosmetic benefits, regular power washing actually protects your surfaces by removing damaging contaminants like mold, algae, and pollutants. Think of it as preventive care for your home's exterior.
The Salt Lake Valley Advantage
Here in the Salt Lake Valley: whether you're in Bountiful, Sandy, Herriman, West Valley City, Magna, or anywhere in between: our homes face some unique challenges:
Winter salt and de-icer residue that eats away at concrete
Dust and pollen from our dry climate
Algae and mold in shaded areas that don't dry out quickly
Hard water stains from our mineral-rich water
Power washing addresses all of these issues and keeps your home looking its best despite what Utah weather throws at it.
Ready to See the Magic for Yourself?
If your driveway, siding, deck, or porch could use a refresh, Your Handyman Pros is here to help. We serve homeowners throughout the Salt Lake Valley: from Herriman to Bountiful and everywhere in between: with professional power washing services that get results without the risk.
Give us a call or visit our website to schedule your power washing service. Let's make your home shine!
Coming up in Day 6: We're tackling another quick-win curb appeal upgrade that takes your entryway to the next level. Stay tuned!
Missed the earlier posts in this series? Catch up on Day 2: Outdoor Lighting and Day 3: House Numbers & Mailboxes.
