Vinyl Siding . . . Bottom to Top?

[Mirage Cleaners]

For years I've been cleaning vinyl sided houses starting at the top working my way down.

I remember reading that it should be done from the bottom up.

Can someone please explain the reasoning for this?

I would think if you wash the bottom first it ends up getting dirty again from all the dirt falling from the top.

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[Clean County]

Stick to what your doing. Bottom to top for chemicals/cleaning solution and top to bottom powerwashing.-John-

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[Jackrabbit]

Mirage,
Wash bottom to top and the dirt gets rinsed down over the clean areas. Wash top to bottom and the raw chemical runs thru the dirt below and doesn't get pressure washed away til long after the recommended few minutes. If it goes wrong enough you're either spending lots of time trying to clean up the mess or expanding your offered services into siding replacement. Big on expenses and short on income, not recommended. Since you haven't had one go South you really haven't done anything wrong. Pulling the trigger five times with no BOOM doesn't make it right for you to lay the muzzle against your temple and give that last pull though.
Wash bottom to top. Rinse top to bottom.
Like John said.

JRabbit

 

[Mike Hughes]

I always wash top to bottom.......however, I do see some logic in washing bottom to top. If you start at the bottom, your cleaners will remain on the home until you wash them off, where if you start at the top, all of the cleaner will get rinsed off the bottom half of the home while you are washing the top.......make any sense? If you did decide to wash bottom to top, it would only take a moment to rinse the extra dirt off with a zero degree tip when your done......

I think I'll stick with top to bottom.

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Jackrabbit]

Mike,

I know two people who paid dearly learning that lesson.
Streaked siding and angry customers. One broke even by lucking out with cleaning, the second choked on $10K in repairs and replacement of the siding.

JRabbit

 

[JR Wood]

When washing from top ,chemicals find there own valleys or path of least resistance.By the time you rinse them off there are streaks all over the place.Extremely visible on aluminum.I learned from experience.Apply chemical from bottom up, clean from bottom up then rinse from top down.

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[Layman's P/W]

JR,

I agree,I always wash from the bottom up.Washing from the top down is the same as applying your soap rinsing the soap off and then washing the house because you will rinse off the soap before the pressure hit it.

Daren

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[Mike Hughes]

Originally posted by Jackrabbit:

the second choked on $10K in repairs and replacement of the siding.

JRabbit

$10K in repairs for what? What did he do? Sounds like a bit more then the difference between washing top to bottom vs. bottom to top !! Do tell.



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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Jackrabbit]

Mike,

Streaked the siding way bad. Customer went nuts, guy was running sans insurance (not a good idea huh?) and after some legal wrangling he settled it by residing the house. Wish I could say he got insurance and made it all work but far as I know he's running a convenience store somewhere in Iowa and won't discuss pressure washing in any form.

Moral: GET INSURANCE!! CYA!!
Wash bottom to top, rinse top to bottom.
(I don't know the dude, just heard this horror story down to the diner one afternoon)

JRabbit

 

[Mike Hughes]

The insurance issue needs to be discussed a bit more. If you just have general libility insurance, it is my understanding that damage to the siding like that would not be covered, because you are supposed to be the expert on siding. General libility ins will not cover the surface you are working on......you need Care, Custody, and Control coverage for that. Now, if you somehow burned the house down, that would be covered.......


Anyone else know differently??

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Trace]

Have found when applying chems. top down that it will run down over the lip of the siding and not get right below it, this leaving a spots where no chems. have touched. Myself i apply chems. bottom up, then wash bottom up and rinse top down. Just my 2 cents.

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[Walt Graner]

JR

Good post, thats how I've done it.

Mike
I go with you about the insurance, no mater what kind of insurance you got, if you did'nt do a professional job your insurance company will bail on you fast. Gross negligence, it's a bad thing.

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Walt Graner
"Off The Wall" Graffiti
3006 Bee Caves Rd, Suite B-160
Austin,TX 78746
Ph512) 328-7776
fax(512) 328-2399

 

[spraymasters]

Just my cent worth. We have tried both ways of applying chems to a home. The best way we have found is to apply them bottom to top then rinse from top to bottom. It is more important as the chemicals get stronger due to streaking etc. If there might be a problem why not apply bottom to top to save yourself any headaches. It does not take any longer nor take any more chemical. We also apply a hot wax to our homes after cleaning. We apply it bottom to top then rinse from top to bottom with cold water.

Dennis

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