Our Guide to Pressure Washing an Old Wooden Shed

If you have an old wooden shed lying around that could use a deep clean or two, the most effective way to breathe new life into it is through pressure washing. These nifty devices use a high-powered spray of water to strip the dirt and grime away from the shed’s surface, revealing clean, unadulterated wood underneath. While this process also involves taking away a thin layer of wood, requiring you to paint or finish it after, you’ll have a shed that looks almost brand new.

Pressure washing brings a world of convenience to those who want an easy way to get anything from pavers to exterior walls to their wooden sheds immaculate again. Here’s what you need to know about pressure washing an old wooden shed:

1. Inspect Your Shed
   

While it’s generally safe to use a pressure wash on wood siding, it’s still important to inspect your shed and ensure it can withstand the force of a pressure washer. The water may make its way through the gaps between the boards. Since most sheds have a tiny opening between the roof and the wall to have sufficient ventilation, the water may enter the shed through these spaces.

If your shed is finished, you may want to opt for a gentler mode of washing it, as you wouldn’t want to risk water damage to the inside. However, if your shed’s interior can withstand some water, then a pressure washer is your best bet for a convenient way to restore it.

1. Apply Cleaner  
   

Before you start pressure washing, be sure to pre-treat your shed with cleaning products, which will make it easier for the device to do its job. If your shed has algae, mold, or mildew on the siding, you must also spray bleach here to get rid of them. The bleach will kill them, and you can wash it off with the pressure washer. If you have other stains, like grease and oil, you’ll want to apply dish soap to them since they allow water to wash it away more quickly.

1. Start Pressure Washing
   

Once you apply the appropriate products, it’s time to start pressure washing your shed. Use a low-power setting on your washer for wood siding. Use the nozzle with the broadest spray area, as it distributes the force more evenly on your shed. If your shed has steel or concrete components, you can use heavy pressure without any problem as they are strong enough to withstand it. However, wood calls for a gentler approach as you can make deep gouges in your shed with too high pressure.

Start washing your shed at an angle, starting at the wood siding’s top. Wash down the siding until you’ve entirely washed the entire section, then repeat with the adjacent section. Starting at the top will prevent streaks of cleaning products from trickling down and creating an unsightly mess. When you’re done, prop the front door open so the water that made its way inside can evaporate. 

1. Stain, Finish or Paint the Shed
   

Lastly, as power washing strips off a thin layer of the wood’s surface, it will also take off the paint along with the stains and dirt. After pressure washing your wooden shed, you’ll need to paint or finish the wood to seal it from the rain, but you must also wait for it to dry completely before you start the process. The drying time highly depends on your area’s humidity, which means it may be a few days until you can start working on your shed. You can tell your shed is dry if the wood absorbs a small drop of water instead of beading on the surface. 

Conclusion

Pressure washing is the most efficient way to make your wooden shed look brand new, although it will require some work to dry and refinish. Still, it’s a faster way of cleaning it, removing years of accumulated stains and dirt from your shed and giving it a fresher look.

Kingwood All Star Window & Power Washing offers commercial and house washing services to make anything from your roof, brick, or sheds look new again. Our services include window washing, soft wash, roof cleaning, calcium removal, and more. Contact us today for an instant quote!

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