Pressure washing
Deck Pressure Washing Cost Calculator
Prices deck cleaning, where too much pressure raises the grain and ruins the timber.
Result
A planning estimate, not a quote. Access, the age of the equipment, what is found once it is opened up and local labour rates all move the real figure, sometimes a long way.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Hours times crew times rate, plus chemicals and the call-out, by area including the railings. A timber deck is cleaned at low pressure with a wood-appropriate cleaner and, usually, a brightener afterwards to restore the colour and neutralise the cleaner. Railings and spindles take disproportionate time for their area because of all the edges. The chemistry does the cleaning and the pressure only rinses, which is the opposite of how concrete is approached.
What moves the number
- Railing and spindle count, which dominates the labour relative to the deck area.
- Timber condition, since weathered soft timber damages easily.
- Whether a brightener is used after the cleaner, which most jobs need.
- Whether the deck is being refinished afterwards, which affects the prep standard.
Where this one goes wrong
High pressure on timber tears the surface fibres and raises the grain, leaving a furry, splintered finish that looks worse than the dirt did and cannot be undone without sanding. Softwoods and older weathered decks are the most vulnerable. Keep pressure low, keep the tip moving and keep it at a distance. Composite decking is worth treating carefully too, since many manufacturers specify a maximum pressure and exceeding it damages the surface and can void the warranty. If the deck is to be stained afterwards, it also has to be properly dry before coating, which is days rather than hours.
Before you quote
- Use low pressure and keep the tip moving to avoid raising the grain.
- Check the manufacturer's maximum pressure on composite decking.
- Allow proper drying time if the deck is being stained afterwards.
Questions
About this calculator
Can pressure washing damage a wooden deck?
Easily. Too much pressure tears the surface fibres and raises the grain, leaving a furry splintered finish that looks worse than the dirt and needs sanding to correct. Decks should be cleaned with low pressure and the right chemistry, where the cleaner does the work and the water rinses.
What is a deck brightener for?
It restores the wood's colour after cleaning and neutralises the cleaner, which is usually alkaline. Without it the timber can look dull or darkened and a subsequent stain may not take evenly. Most proper deck cleaning jobs are a two-step process for that reason.
Can composite decking be pressure washed?
At the manufacturer's specified maximum pressure, which is lower than people assume. Exceeding it damages the surface and can void the warranty. Composite resists staining better than timber but it is not immune to pressure damage.
The formula
total = hours x people x rate + parts + call-out, then sales tax
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How to use this calculator
- Hours on site (h). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 3 h.
- People needed. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Parts and materials ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $35.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Sales tax (%). Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to estimated total, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours on site | 3 h |
| People needed | 1 |
| Labour rate charged | $95 |
| Parts and materials | $35 |
| Call-out or diagnostic fee | $95 |
| Sales tax | 0% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated total main result | $415 |
| Labour | $285 |
| Before tax | $415 |
| Sales tax | $0 |
About $415: $285 of labour, $35 of parts and a $95 call-out.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only labour rate charged, this is what happens to estimated total. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Labour rate charged ($) | Estimated total |
|---|---|
| $48 | $274 |
| $71 | $343 |
| $95 example above | $415 |
| $143 | $559 |
| $190 | $700 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Hours on site (h)
- Measured in h, between 0 and 400, starting at 3 h.
- People needed
- A number, between 0 and 40, starting at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Parts and materials ($)
- A money amount, starting at $35.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Sales tax (%)
- Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Estimated total | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Labour | A money figure. |
| Before tax | A money figure. |
| Sales tax | A money figure. |
Estimating is the easy part
The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.