What shouldn’t you pressure wash?

What shouldn’t you pressure wash?

Certain surfaces are simply too delicate for high-pressure water and should either be avoided entirely or cleaned with a soft-washing approach instead. Asphalt shingle roofs are the most common mistake — high pressure strips the protective granules and shortens roof lifespan significantly. Painted wood, older or weathered wood siding, and stucco can also be damaged, chipped, or have water forced behind the surface. Delicate items like window screens, outdoor electrical fixtures, air conditioning units, and older mortar joints between bricks are also risky under direct high pressure. Fiber cement siding (like James Hardie) and most manufacturer warranties explicitly warn against it. As a general rule, if a surface is painted, porous, aged, or electrical, treat it with caution or switch to low-pressure soft washing rather than assuming more pressure always means a better clean.