How long does pressure washing take? Obviously, this question does not have a one size fits all answer. And yet, we see it asked constantly here at Hotsy. So today, we’ll take a deep dive into the efficiency of power washers so you can see why these machines are the preferred approach to cleaning the toughest messes.

We’ll talk about how long it takes to pressure washer a driveway, how long it takes to pressure wash a house, and how power washing stacks up to other cleaning tactics: like soft washing, sandblasting, steam cleaning, and more.

The best part? Towards the end of this quick article, you’ll learn how to pressure wash even faster – supercharging the efficiency of your operation.

Whether you’re a business owner looking to help your team make quick work of constant messes around the facility or you’re considering starting a pressure washing business – you’ll see why power washers are the #1 choice for fast, effective cleaning by the end of this read! First – let’s assess the factors influencing how fast you can pressure wash.

Factors Affecting How Long Pressure Washing Takes

There are three reasons there is no definitive answer to how long does pressure washing take:

Your pressure washer setup
Your skillset
The specific job in question

Your Pressure Washer Setup

Obviously, not all pressure washers are created equal. The pressure washer PSI and pressure washer GPM on your unit are your biggest limiting factors. More pressure and more water flow contribute to a faster cleaning process.

But there are other factors of your pressure washer setup that can dictate the rate at which you’re able to clean. One of these is whether you’re using a hot water vs cold water pressure washer. A heated unit is superior as the hot water can more easily agitate caked-on messes. If you’re using a cold water pressure washer, it may be worth upgrading to a hot water pressure washer for sale at Hotsy.

Beyond the unit itself, you can arm yourself with the best pressure washer attachments – dramatically increasing your efficiency for certain jobs. We’ll talk about that later on. You’ll also discover the impact of learning how to use a pressure washer with detergent. For now, just know that the equipment and supplies you use in your regimen influence how fast you can get through jobs.

But, even the best setup is useless without a skilled operator…

Your Skillset

Learning how to use a pressure washer isn’t rocket science. However, there are certain techniques you can use to speed things up and clean them more efficiently. For example – knowing which nozzle to use for certain jobs will allow you to work smarter – not harder.

Similarly, following the best practices for actually using your unit will allow you to get the job done fast. You should apply soap, let it agitate the mess, and then blast it away using sweeping motions to reveal a like-new surface on the other side.

You also need to account for time spent on set up and tear down. With time, all of this becomes second nature and you start to get through jobs much quicker. When first starting out, jobs will take longer than they do after you get some experience under your belt.

The Specific Job in Question

Finally, the specific job in question influences how long pressure washing takes. This is obvious – but still worth mentioning. For example – parking lot pressure washing will take much longer than cleaning a car with a pressure washer. That’s due to the scale of each job. You have way more ground to cover.

Another factor to take note of is just how dirty the surface being cleaned is. Certain jobs will require just one pass with your pressure washer. Others will require multiple phases of agitation with soap, rinsing, manually scrubbing, and repeating. While some jobs can be completed in mere hours, others will take the entirety of your day – or longer.

How Long Does Pressure Washing Take? Evaluating Different Timelines for Common Jobs

So, with all that said – how long does pressure washing take?

If you’re getting started as a pressure washer business owner, you likely want to know how long different jobs take so you can set your pay scale accordingly for employees. Similarly, this information will help you price your services effectively and assist you in scheduling.

If you’re not a pressure washing business owner – but rather a business owner with pressure washing needs – it can be helpful to know how long much time you should allocate towards cleaning efforts at the end of certain jobs or projects.

Below, we’ll explain how long you can expect pressure washing to take for certain jobs. We’ve done research into the most common cleaning tasks to answer all your burning questions. First – how long does pressure washing a driveway take?

How Long Does Pressure Washing a Driveway Take?

Whether you’re cleaning the driveway of your business or you’re cleaning residential driveways as a service, power washing driveways is incredibly common. In fact, we have a complete guide on how to pressure wash concrete. But how long does it take to pressure wash a driveway, exactly?

On average, a standard driveway (20×20 ft) can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to pressure wash. However, if the driveway is larger or made of a more porous surface, such as stamped concrete, it may take longer. Additionally, if the driveway has not been cleaned in a while and there is a significant amount of dirt and grime built up, it may take longer to clean.

How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a House?

On average, a standard single-story house can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to pressure wash. However, if the house is larger or has multiple stories, it may take longer. Similarly, if the house has a lot of windows or other architectural features that require extra attention, it may take longer to clean.

The type of siding also plays a role in how long it takes to pressure wash a house. Hardier materials, such as brick and vinyl, may take less time to clean than softer materials, such as wood or stucco. We have a complete guide on pressure washing house siding if you’d like to learn more.

How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a Deck?

On average, a standard deck (12×12 ft) can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to pressure wash. However, if the deck is larger or made of a different material, such as composite, it may take longer. Additionally, if the deck has not been cleaned in a while and there is a significant amount of dirt and grime built up, it may take longer to clean.

It’s also important to mention that if the deck is made of wood, it’s necessary to use the proper nozzle tip to avoid damaging the wood, which could increase the time of cleaning

How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a Roof?

Whether you’re cleaning customer roofs or you want to clean the roof of your building, you must first read our article on pressure washer safety – this will protect you while working up on elevated surfaces. But how long does it take to pressure wash a roof?

On average, a standard roof (2000 sq ft) can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to pressure wash. As with the other sections we’ve covered so far, this is also influenced by the material in question. Tile or metal roofs may take longer. Of course, if the roof has not been cleaned in a while and there is a significant amount of dirt and grime built up, it may take longer to clean than roofing that is regularly washed.

How Long Does Pressure Washing Take Compared to Other Cleaning Tactics?

Pressure washing is generally considered to be one of the fastest methods of cleaning when compared to other types of cleaning, such as scrubbing by hand or using a garden hose. You probably already knew that. But what about other tactics – like steam cleaning? Or, what about sandblasting?

We have a few different resources on comparing pressure washing to other types of cleaning. For example, our article on soft washing vs pressure washing. Or, our blog post on steam cleaner vs pressure washer.

However, you’ll find a similar answer across all these other types of cleaning: pressure washing remains supreme. Combining a powerful jet of heated water with the right chemicals unlocks the fastest cleaning process possible. But how can you make this process as fast as possible? Keep reading for some parting advice…

How to Develop the Fastest, Most Effective Pressure Washing Process

As promised earlier, we’re going to wrap this article up by explaining how you can supercharge your pressure washing process to make fast work of any mess.

Optimize Your Setup

First, make sure you have the best commercial pressure washer for the job – available at Hotsy. We have all the different types of pressure washers in our store so no matter what your unique needs are, we can help you get the perfect setup.

And beyond the unit itself, we can empower you with the best pressure washer soap. Rather than cutting corners with a homemade pressure washer soap, use one of our specially formulated detergents – we have a formulation for every type of job imaginable. Getting a targeted solution like this will rapidly increase your efficiency.

Finally, arm yourself with all the different pressure washer parts & accessories you may need. That means getting the right pressure washer soap nozzle, of course – but also grabbing different types of wands for hard-to-reach areas, floor cleaners, and more. At Hotsy, you’ll gain access to everything you need to perfect your setup. Then, it’s just a matter of enhancing your skillset!

Enhance Your Skillset

We have a beginner’s guide on how to use a pressure washer – but to unlock peak productivity, you’ll want to read our article on advanced pressure washing techniques. Here are some quick tips straight from that blog post:

Plan ahead: Before starting the pressure washing process, it’s important to plan ahead. This includes identifying the specific areas that need to be cleaned, determining the appropriate cleaning solutions and nozzle tips to use, and ensuring that you have all the necessary supplies and equipment on hand.
Start from the top and work your way down: When pressure washing, it’s important to start from the top of the surface and work your way down. This will prevent dirty water from running down the surface and causing streaks.
Use the right pressure setting: It’s important to use the right pressure setting for the specific surface you are cleaning. Using too high of a pressure setting can cause damage to delicate surfaces, while using too low of a pressure setting may not be effective in removing dirt and grime.
Clean in sections: Cleaning in sections can help to break the task down into smaller, more manageable parts, making the process more efficient.
Take regular breaks: Pressure washing can be physically demanding, so it’s important to take regular breaks to prevent fatigue. This will help to maintain the efficiency of the pressure washing process and prevent accidents.

Closing Thoughts on How Long Pressure Washing Takes

We hope this resource provided you clarity on the question you came here with – how long does pressure washing take? You’ve learned the factors influencing your efficiency, and we’ve provided tips on supercharging your workflow to get through jobs quickly while maintaining safety and efficacy. And, you’ve discovered the average timelines for different types of pressure washing jobs – like concrete surfaces, siding, roofs, and more.

So – at this point, the only thing left to do is take the advice we’ve offered and take steps to improve your productivity today. That may require you to start by visiting a Hotsy location near you. We’re the #1 choice in South Texas, and you can count on us to get you set up with the specific unit, detergents, and accessories you need for fast, effective cleaning!

How Long Does Pressure Washing Take? Evaluating the Efficiency of Power Washers