I wanted to make a page that recommended some of the best pressure washers for stucco because there seems to be a lot of questions regarding what kind of pressure washers use, how much PSI they should have and so on.

​​This article is going to address a lot of those issues and it and I’m going to recommend a couple of different pressure washers as well. I decided to break up the types of pressure washers based on two different key elements and these are: pressure washers for general cleaning and stronger pressure washers for more aggressive cleaning. Hope you like it!Quick NavigationTwo Electric Pressure Washers Ideal For Cleaning Stucco:​A Briggs And Stratton Electric Power Washer…​The Sun Joe SPX3000, A Highly Rated Pressure Washer:​Gas Powered Pressure Washers:​The Generac 6921 Is A Great Choice!​A More Affordable Gas-Powered Power Washer…​A More Powerful Model For More Demanding Jobs!​5 Things You Need To Think About…Should I Get A Gas Or Electric Model?​Dragging It Around The House:​Hoses And Nozzles…​Accessories That May Be Helpful…​How Much Power Do I Need?

Two Electric Pressure Washers Ideal For Cleaning Stucco:

​Here are two different electric power washers ​I found that would be ideal for various types of light to medium-duty cleaning around your home, including the stucco of course. Both of these happen to be under $200 at the time and I would consider them to be a mid-grade pressure washer overall but actually turned out to be the higher-end models on the electric side of the spectrum.

​A Briggs And Stratton Electric Power Washer…

​This electric pressure washer from Briggs and Stratton is a unique electric pressure washer and reminds me of a gas-powered model, to be honest.

This sprayer offers a good balance between price and functionality and is why I think it should be at the top of the list. It also comes with a turbo nozzle, on top of all of the other standard nozzles that usually come with a pressure washer so you can tackle a lot of different cleaning chores right out the gate.

​The feedback left by people for this model was really good and the overall price was very appealing for what you get and the ​quality. It was well under $200 at the time of this article and I expect that it will always be under that $200 mark, a great choice for more general cleaning when it comes to stucco walls and just about anything else on your home.

​The Sun Joe SPX3000, A Highly Rated Pressure Washer:

​The Sun Joe SPX3000 had a ton of reviews and was the best rated electric model out there, by far, with more than 5000 people leaving feedback for this particular model andan overall rating of nearly 4.5 stars!

​There is always a nice peace of mind when you see that other people have rated something so highly because it ensures that it is a quality piece of equipment that really works.

​I don’t really like the overall layout of the machine and would like to see a wider footprint on the base which is always easier to roll around but not a total dealbreaker.this has a little bit more power than the Briggs & Stratton model we looked at, having roughly around 2000 PSI of power and a two-year warranty, which is quite impressive. This was also around the same price as the Briggs & Stratton model, again well under that $200 mark.

​Gas Powered Pressure Washers:

​Gas powered power washers are more powerful than electric models, have greater mobility and are useful for general cleaning and deep cleaning. They are a bit more ($100 – $200 more on average) but worth the money if you want something that is more versatile and more powerful.

​The Generac 6921 Is A Great Choice!

​The Generac 6921 is a good entry-level pressure washer (gas powered) that has plenty of power to tackle both general cleaning and deeper cleaning tasks.

​You have the option to choose between three different power levels when buying one of these Generac pressure washers: 2500 psi, 2800 PSI, and 3100 PSI. I would recommend going with either the 2800 PSI or the 3100 PSI models because of the power and ratings.

​The 3100 PSI model comes in two different types, either a standard pressure washer or one with a dial that you can actually select different pressure settings from. This is a cool feature that I think a lot people can benefit from and will really like to have but remember you can always adjust the pressure using different nozzles so the dial is really not necessary but a nice “luxury item”, if you will.

​This came in at just under the $400 mark, at the time but is well worth the money and what you have to remember is that most of these pressure washers will be in that $300-$400 price range when you are looking for a model that has a balance between a decent amount of pressure and quality.

​A More Affordable Gas-Powered Power Washer…

​The WEN PW31 is a more affordable model that has great feedback and has all the requirements that make power washing stucco surfaces easy and effective.

​I posted a link to the 3100 PSI model because the 2800 PSI model did not have as good of ratings and seemed to have more problems so be sure to look at the 3100 PSI model.

Since it does have that much pressure, they can be used for general cleaning tasks as well as deeper cleaning tasks because of that additional power that an electric model will not have.

​This was just over that $300 mark, making it one of the most affordable models out there that had decent ratings as well. I like the over sized wheels on the unit which will make dragging it around your house a lot easier and will easily roll over different surfaces like concrete, grass, gravel and so on.

​A More Powerful Model For More Demanding Jobs!

​The SIMPSON Cleaning ALH4240 is a higher pressure, heavier duty model that is intended for really tough and demanding jobs. If you are worried about having enough power with some of the other models, then this will not disappoint!

​I wanted to include a more powerful pressure washer to give you another choice, in particular those of you who may be thinking that 3000 PSI is not nearly enough to tackle some of the cleaning that you may want to do.

​This Simpson power washer has a max capacity of 4200 PSI which is phenomenal and will actually take off most stucco so you do need to be careful when using it but if you are using the right ​type of nozzle and are the proper distance away from the wall, it can be extremely ​effective and cut the time down it takes to clean stucco walls that are very dirty.

This unit also has a feature integrated into the one that can actually adjust the water pressure on the fly which is a cool feature that is not typically found in other models and can be really helpful especially because of the power of this unit. This does come with a pretty hefty price tag though, somewhere around $1200 and $1400, at the time!

​5 Things You Need To Think About…

​there are a ton of different pressure washers out there nowadays but there are a few specific things you will want to consider when looking for one ​to use on a stucco exteriors specifically. These are very simple things that make all the difference in the world! Let’s take a look at what some of these things are…

Should I Get A Gas Or Electric Model?

​There are two main types of pressure washers and ​these are either a gas or electric model, each of which has there advantages and disadvantages, of course.

Gas: A pressure washer that uses a gasoline engine is more convenient because you don’t need to run a power cord to them, all you need is a water line and you’re ready to go. These are usually a little bit more powerful than the electric models but are also more expensive too, usually costing about $100-$200 more than an electric model.

 Keep in mind that these will also require you to buy gasoline and oil on a semi regular basis and you will need to drain both the oil and gas every time it is going to be stored for longer periods of time.

Electric: An electric pressure washer will not have any of the maintenance issues that you would typically find with a gasoline engine so it is way more maintenance-free ​in that aspect. Since it is does rely on electricity, you will have to make sure that you have plenty of outlets around the house or a very long extension cord to make your way around the entire house.

These will have less power than a gasoline-powered model which is usually okay for cleaning ​stucco but won’t work as well for a deep cleaning, like if you were going to paint your house and you wanted to pressure wash it prior to painting it. The recommended PSI for this is around 2800 to 3200 PSI and it is really rare to get this kind of pressure out of an electric pressure washer.

​Dragging It Around The House:

​Remember, you are going to be dragging this pressure washer around the house or building and I would recommend having a unit that has a couple of wheels on it and is mounted onto some sort of frame. This will be so much easier dragging it around from corner to corner in order to reach all of the areas of your project.

Certain accessories like quick disconnect fittings for your water hose can be a huge timesaver and eliminate a lot of frustration as well if you have to disconnect and reconnect the hose every time you reposition your pressure washer.

​Hoses And Nozzles…

​One thing that you will definitely need to take into consideration are some of the components of the pressure washer such as the length of pressurized hose you need, what type of nozzle you intend to use, whether you’re going to use a detergent or not and so on.

Hoses: Most pressure washers only come with about 25 feet to 50 feet of hose at the most, so you will probably want to buy an extra 25 feet to 75 feet, depending on wall height, the overall length of your walls, etc. these are pretty inexpensive and can be connected very easily using the threaded fittings which are pretty standard as far as sizes are concerned just make sure you read the description and know which size your pressure washer uses.

Nozzles: Many pressure washers come with an assortment of different nozzles which are pretty standard. Again optional nozzle to buy would be a turbo nozzle which uses the power of a stream in a circular motion so you get more surface area coverage and needs can really help in cleaning more stubborn stains on stucco surfaces.

Be careful when using these types of nozzles because they can actually remove paint an actual stucco finish if you’re not careful, especially when connected to a higher powered pressure washer. Just make sure you’re far enough away so that this doesn’t happen and pay attention to what you’re doing at all times.

​Accessories That May Be Helpful…

​There are a few different accessories that they make that may actually help you out quite a bit when you are running around your house. Extension wands are very helpful if you have taller walls and don’t want to climb up a 30 foot ladder to reach some of those high spots. They hook onto your existing pressure washer one and have a telescoping ability which can reach 20 feet in length or more sometimes.

Another accessory that I would recommend using is a quick disconnect for your water supply line. This will make connecting and disconnecting the garden hose a whole lot easier and will eliminate wear and tear on the threads of your pressure washer hose fitting at the same time.

​How Much Power Do I Need?

​For general cleaning purposes you will want to use a pressure washer that is around 2000 PSI. From my experience this works pretty well on most mild to medium duty staining that occurs on stucco walls. 

If you’re looking for a unit that can handle a little more aggressive staining then you will probably want to look for one that is around 3000 PSI to tackle those types of issues and if you want something that can really power through some of the toughest stains then you’ll want to look at a 4000 PSI washer.

The post What Are The Best Pressure Washers For Stucco in Toronto Canada 2021? appeared first on Sky Stucco Systems Contractor.

​The maintenance is very minimal though, providing that you have sound stucco walls that were applied correctly. It is pretty easy to maintain though and you might be surprised at just how easy it is to maintain.

​Washing Your Stucco Walls:

​Stucco walls can be washed and should be washed two to three times a year in order to maintain the finish coat’s ability to shine awnd function the way it should. You can do this one of two different ways: using a garden hose or a pressure washer.

Using A Garden Hose: ​You can use a simple garden hose and wash down the exterior of your stucco but be aware that this will only remove a small amount of the dirt and debris that gets collected on your stucco walls over time.

Using a garden hose works best on smooth to semi-smooth textures and will provide a decent cleanse, removing the debris that is loose on the surface.

If you want to ​get a much better result from using your garden hose then use a medium stiffness brush to get the majority of the dirt removed. This is a lot more labor intense but will have very different results for your efforts as well.

​Helpful Tip: ​Whenever wetting down stucco walls, manufacturers will recommend starting at the bottom and working your way up for the first initial “wetting down the wall”.

This prevents any staining from occurring that could potentially happen by starting at the top, especially with traditional stucco finishes that tend to absorb water.

​Some brushes have a threaded hole on them somewhere where you can attach an extension wand to make the job easier by extending your reach.

​If you look on Amazon, you will find many deck scrub brushes that work well for this and are wide as well, cutting the required time it takes to get the job done down quite a bit.

Using A ​Pressure Washer: ​A pressure washer is the preferred way to clean your stucco because it is much faster, less labor intense and does a better job than a garden hose would. If you want to clean your stucco then you will ​need a pressure washer that is capable of around 1500 psi MINIMUM.

Always use caution when using a pressure washer and wear appropriate safety gear to prevent injury (eye protection, hearing protection, etc.)

Remember that a minimum recommendation will get the job done but a pressure washer that has 2,800 psi will also do the job, a little faster and a little better because of the added psi. So I recommend a unit around 1,500 – 2,800 psi.

You will want to use a 40 degree nozzle when cleaning the stucco and always be mindful of the distance your nozzle is from the wall and watch the stucco for any damage that may occur from pressure washing. A good distance to maintain is 12″ – 24″ from the nozzle to the wall for cleaning using a 40 degree tip.

Feel free to experiment with the distance and if you want to try a more concentrated nozzle (25 degrees) then be sure you have the nozzle further away to avoid damaging the stucco finish.

​Helpful Tip: ​The closer your nozzle is to the wall, the better the cleaning power but you will ​be cleaning less surface area at once.

​When your nozzle is farther away from the wall you will get more surface area cleaned at one time but it will not be as aggressive at cleaning the wall.

​​Using Cleaning Agents On Your Stucco:

You can also use specific cleaners to help remove tougher stains like dirt, mildew, mold and other problematic materials that can cause staining on your walls. 

There are many different cleaners out there to choose from but I will keep the list short to avoid confusion and keep the process as simple as possible.

Plain Dish Soap And Warm Water: ​You can use warm water and a good quality dish soap to do a general cleaning of mild dust and debris on your stucco walls and  using a good soap (I like Dawn) will give you more cleaning power than just water alone.

​Bleach And Water Solution: ​Bleach can be a great cleaner to use on mold and mildew stains on your stucco walls but be wary of nearby plants, trees or anything else that might be at risk from using bleach.

You can add 1 part bleach to 10 – 20 parts water for a more general type of cleaning on the walls or you can strengthen the mix to 1 part bleach and 5 -10 parts water for tougher stains and “spot treatments”.

​Helpful Tip: ​Always test a small area of your stucco before using bleach in an inconspicuous area of your house or building to see how it reacts and if it harms the color in any way.

Stucco Cleaners From Stucco Manufacturers: ​There are a few manufactures that have stucco cleaners available and these usually come in the form of a spray bottle that you hook a garden hose up to, making it easy to use and pretty effective too.

​The image on the right shows a stucco cleaner from the stucco manufacturer Omega and as you can see, the smaller bottle gets hooked up to a garden hose and you directly spray it onto the wall.

The larger container (gallon) is used to refill the smaller jug (32 oz.) ​which is good for approximately 1,000 sq. feet of wall.

omega-products.com

TSP Solution: ​TSP is a great chemical that is used for many cleaning tasks, especially when prepping walls for paint and it can work great for cleaning stucco as well.

A good recipe for using TSP is 1 – 2 cups of TSP to 1 gallon of water. If the water is warm, it will work better and help to break down the dirt and debris a little better too. Be sure to pre-soak the wall first, from the bottom, working your way up the wall.

​Helpful Tip: ​Start further away from the wall when pressure washing and move closer to get an ideal distance and maintain the distance that works best.

​Maintaining Your Stucco Color:

​Stucco color can fade over time and sometimes it can even become stained or discolored in extreme cases. There are a few different things you can do to prevent these things from happening and things you can do to remedy staining issues, blotchy coloring, faded coloring, etc. as well.

​Preserving Your Stucco Color:

• Regular cleaning is key to maintaining your color over the years​ and it helps to eliminate the accumulation of dirt that builds up and can eventually stain (especially lighter colors) the stucco.
  
• ​Landscaping is very important to have around your home or some type of barrier between the bare dirt and your stucco wall.
  
  Water that hits the ground and splashes up can ruin the bottom edge of the stucco very quickly and will likely stain the wall within a matter of weeks and sometimes even days.
  
• ​If your stucco is painted then you will have to schedule to have the house repainted every 3 – 7 years (on average) and keep avoid letting it go too long.
  
• If you have a traditional stucco finish that is unpainted then you may want to consider having it fog coated to restore the luster of the original stucco color and to make it look like new again.

​Stucco Cracks Are Part Of Maintenance…

​Stucco is going to crack, it is just the nature of the material but you can fix most of these with a little bit of patience and know-how. Most of the smaller cracks can be fixed using a little caulking and is something most people can do themselves.

Many of the cracks that form are hairline cracks and I have a more in-depth tutorial on how to fix hairline cracks in stucco that shows you how to go about the process.

​Applying Caulking Where It’s Needed:

​Applying caulking at specific locations where the stucco meets woo or another material is part of maintenance on your home and I think it should fall under stucco maintenance.

Anytime the stucco meets another material, you will have to apply a bead of caulk because the two different materials expand and contract at different rates, which can cause a gap or crack to form. Caulking will bridge this gap and flex with any type of movement preventing issues from potentially happening.

These areas should be inspected annually and you should reapply any caulking when necessary (usually 3 – 5 years on average). An acrylic caulking will blend in best (if done properly) but a silicone or polyurethane caulking will work better and last longer but is difficult to work with.

​Stucco Maintenance Cost:

​There are minor things that should be done and a lot of them are very low cost and sometimes even free, depending on what you have on hand in and around your home.

On walls that are in very good condition, you may only need warm water, dish soap and a scrub brush, which most people have at their disposal and if not, it would only cost you $20 or less, in most cases.

Other items include caulking and cleaning agents which are very inexpensive too so in general, stucco maintenance is very inexpensive if you tackle it yourself.

The only way you may run into more costly tasks regarding maintenance is if you have neglected your home for a while making a larger amount of work, if you have repair work that needs to be done as well or you hire someone to do the work for you which isn’t that bad considering the value of your home and what you are getting for the money.

​Traditional Finishes VS Acrylic Finishes:

​Coming Soon! No, its here already!

​Common Problems That Can Arise:

​In the process of cleaning your stucco walls, there can be a couple of problems that can arise so I wanted to briefly touch on these so you know what to expect and what to look out for.

Finish Chipping Off: Sometimes when you are in the process of cleaning your stucco, the finish can come off in some spots. You can’t always prevent this and it is more of an aesthetic problem (in most cases). This is more likely to happen when pressure washing.

Fixing this can be done but you will need to know what type of finish material you have on your home (traditional or acrylic) and what type of texture. You will also have to get a custom color match with the correct finish material or paint if you want it to blend in as close as possible.

​Stucco Color Is Faded Or Discolored: ​When your color becomes faded or discolored it is easy to remedy but more work that you might think (in some cases).

You can apply a fog coat to tradition stucco finishes (unpainted) or paint to get rid of the discoloration or fading (after cleaning the area well) but color matching is hard and “spot coloring” areas will still be noticeable.

In order to get the entire wall to look consistent, it is recommended that you color the entire wall (from corner to corner). A lot of work, especially if you have a larger wall that the color issues are on.

​Stucco Has Larger Cracks: ​Larger cracks (larger than 1/8″ wide) will require a bit more attention and sometimes can be a sign of a more serious problem (1/4″ and larger). These are better left to have someone come out and look at what’s going on to give you an idea of what to expect.

More often then not, stucco contractors will come out to give free estimates and if you find one that is willing to discuss the problem with you, giving a little insight on what might be causing the issue and how serious it is.

​Staining Along Bottom Of Walls: ​Staining along the bottom of your walls is usually caused by rain falling and hitting the dirt on the ground and splashing up onto the wall. 

You can prevent this by having a barrier of rock, mulch, straw or some other type of material that covers the soil. This is the best way to prevent this from happening in the future.

​If the staining has already occurred then you will need to put in a pretty decent amount of effort to remove or fade the staining, especially if it has been accumulating over a few months.

A pressure washer is recommended for these types of tough stains and a 25 degree nozzle at a distance of 8 – 12 inches is going to be my starting point. Go as close as you can to the wall without removing any of the finish but use caution and go slow.

​Some Other Helpful Tips On Cleaning Stucco:

• ​Work on one wall at a time from corner to corner in order to get the best possible results. This will ensure that you get every wall as clean as possible and will help prevent the walls from drying too quickly, which could be counter-productive.
  
• ​If you have a large house, you can break it up into sections to make the process less labor intense. Try to break the process up into two – four days if you need to, working one side of the hose at a time.
  
• ​Remember to pre-soak any stucco walls before doing any cleaning. This will help to reduce any staining that can occur if you are cleaning surrounding areas that run down the wall.
  
• ​Different textures will hold different amounts of dirt and the rougher the texture, the more dirt you will have built up on your walls. More frequent cleaning will be required to maintain a clean looking exterior if you have a rougher texture.
  
• ​Traditional stucco finishes will soak up water (even dirty water) and will be more prone to staining and discoloration when compared to an acrylic type of texture.

The post How Do I Maintain My Exterior Stucco? (Resource Guide) appeared first on Sky Stucco Systems Contractor.