The season of watery eyes, runny noses and itchy throats has arrived. Not only does pollen wreak havoc on your body, it also makes a mess of your cars, home an pretty much anything that’s exposed to it. Fear not, we can get the house portion of that all taken care of. Pressure cleaning will remove pollen from outside areas as well as help extend the life of the exterior finishes of your house, but you must do it properly to protect surfaces.

Tree pollen is usually the biggest culprit and typically does its damage through the early days of June. If you have problems with allergies you might consider investing in a pressure washer and using it throughout the season. If allergies are not a problem in your household then you can wait until the end of the season to rid yourself of the pollen coating. Doing it yourself is an option, but if it is a more ambitious task that you are looking to take on yourself, a power washing professional or painter can perform pressure cleaning for you.

Brick, stucco and siding all benefit from pressure washing. You also can pressure clean decks, patios, walkways and driveways. Each surface type requires its own method, though. For example, siding can withstand medium pressure, but stucco and brick call for low pressure as they prove more susceptible to damage.

Before you pressure wash there are some things that need to be done in preparation for the cleaning. You should patch any cracks and chips on stucco and any damaged mortar on brick. This prevents water from getting where is doesn’t belong and keeps you from making small problems worse. You will also want to make sure to wet and cover nearby plants, exterior lights, exterior fans and outlets using plastic sheeting and painter’s tape. Close all windows and doors to avoid making a mess of the inside of your home while cleaning up the outside. I encourage you to keep an eye on the inside around the windows and doors as you clean those areas because sometimes the water finds its way through small cracks.

One final note before you make plans to pressure clean your home’s exteriors is to follow the directions on both the pressure cleaner and any cleaning products involved. As mentioned before, different surfaces require different cleaning methods to avoid causing costly damage. If the pressure cleaning is beyond your comfort level, turn to a professional pressure cleaning services and simply enjoy the results.

The number one enemy to hardwood floors is water.  Not only will the finish lose its shine, it can also cause the hardwood floors to warp.  Wipe up any liquid spills immediately with a soft cloth, starting at the edge of the spill and working towards the center of the spill.  If using a steam mop or other type of steam cleaner on your hardwood floors, make sure that it is appropriate for hardwoods.  If the steam cleaner is not appropriate for hardwood floors, it could cause moisture to absorb into any scratch and eventually seep into the wood and cause damage.

Dirt, dust and grit can also damage your hardwood floor by dulling the floor’s finish as well as scratching it.  In such cases, the only way to repair the floor is by refinishing it.

Sweep your floors on a regular basis.  Brooms with exploded tips help to trap dust and dirt, not spread it around.  Dust mops can also be very helpful in keeping dirt, dust and grit under control.  Vacuuming frequently, with an upright or canister vacuum, with special hardwood attachments, is also a helpful method of cleaning the floors.  Lastly, doormats at the entrances of your home can help trap dirt and grit.  Clean them regularly.

Another method to prevent scratching is to place glides made of felt or some other type of fabric under the legs of furniture to prevent scratches.  Clean the glides on a regular basis to ensure that dust and grit do not become embedded.

Another detriment to hardwood floors is sunlight.  Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight can cause hardwood floors to discolor over time. Prolonged exposure to sunlight will change the color of any wood floor, regardless of stain or finish.  Some woods lighten when exposed to sunlight.  Others, like cherry and oak, tend to darken. 

To clean hardwood floors, the most effective way to rinse the hardwoods is to use a mixture of vinegar and water.  A gentle soap mixed with water is more effective at cleaning tough grease and dirt.  However, using a soap based cleaner will dull the floor over time.  It is recommended that after damp mopping your floor, you follow behind with a dry mop to absorb any water, as to not damage your floor.

For a vinegar wash use 1/2 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. White vinegar is great for cutting grease, removing odors, mildew, most stains and wax buildup. As always, be careful when using anything that gives out strong vapors.  Be sure to have adequate ventilation and if you are feeling any effects of dizziness take a break and get some fresh air.

Get Recommendations

Start with your friends and family. You can always rely on them to have your best interest in mind. Your architect or designer will also have great recommendations of contractors they have worked with before or contractors that are most likely qualified to properly execute your design. These days, there are several online options that can give you insight as well as examples of the work, such as Houzz.com

First Contact

Once you’ve assembled a list, make a quick call to each of your prospects and ask them the following questions:

• Do they take on projects of your size?
• Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?
• Can they give you a list of previous clients and addresses of completed projects?
• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?

The answers to these questions will reveal the company’s availability, reliability, how much attention they will be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.

Meet Face to Face

Based on the phone interviews, pick three or four contractors to meet for further discussion. A contractor should be able to answer your questions satisfactorily and in a manner that puts you at ease. It is crucial that the two of you communicate well because this person will be in your home for hours at a time.

Investigate

Now that you’ve narrowed your list, put your research to use. Call up former clients to find out how their project went and ask about the contractors ability to problem solve without impeding on design. The thing that sets a good contractor apart is how they deal with things when they don’t go according to plan. From here, select two or three to continue forward with.

Get Bids

You have your short list of contractors whose track records seem clean and whose work ethic looks responsible. Now it’s time to stop looking back at past work and start looking forward to your project. A conscientious contractor will not only want a complete set of blueprints, but also a sense of what homeowners want out of a project and what they plan to spend. To compare bids, ask everyone to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins and other expenses. Be sure to investigate allowances and quality of materials to ensure that you are comparing apples to apples.

Don’t Let the Price Rule the Process

All prices should be within 5% of each other for total cost of labor and materials. If you find a larger variation there is likely a discrepancy in something. Beyond technical competence, comfort should play an equal or greater role in your decision. The most important factor in choosing a contractor is how well you and he/she communicates as well as the comfort level you have with them. All things being equal, it’s best to get someone you are comfortable with.