Atlantic Coast Painting
"Quality with a Personal Touch"

Atlantic Coast Painting is a:
WOLMAN CERTIFIED CONTRACTOR

Pressure Washing, What is it all about?
First, lets start with the elements which will eventually destroy your deck or siding

1.   Water: Water is absorbed into the wood and washes out the natural wood resins and color.
      Freezing/thaw cycles can splinter and crack the wood. Water also promotes algae, mold, and mildew
      growth along with rotting.
2.   Sun Light. Ultraviolet (UV) rays bleaches the wood fibers and breaks down the cell structure.
3.   Mold, Mildew, Algae, and Fungus. Wood and moisture are a natural food source for mold, mildew, algae, and
      fungus. This generally causes a black, green or gray discoloration.
4.  Contamination. Contamination comes in the form of food, dirt, atmospheric pollution, etc. This is a good food
     source for Mold, Mildew, Algae, and Fungus.
 
 

$$$$$$$$$$$$
Wood in poor condition reduces the value of a home.
Proper cared for wood adds to the value and appearance
     of a home.
$$$$$$$$$$$$

The use of chlorine based detergents, aka - bleach

Chlorine Based Bleach is the most popular chemical used to clean and brighten decks. About 1/2 of the professional contract cleaners use this chemical. However its use is very controversial. Bleach is a fair cleaner and a good mildewcide as it kills non-vascular mildew growth. It also is one of the most economical solvents.
 


So why doesn't Atlantic Coast Painting use bleach?

Lignin is natural component the holds wood fibers together. Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) is used in the production of paper to break down the Lignin. Excessive bleach will do the same thing to your deck. If this happens the wood fibers will appear loose which you can push up with your fingernail. This may also be visible and appear as fuzzies.
 


What chemicals does Atlantic Coast Painting use?

We use a variety of  Wolman products based on the particulars of each job, depending on the condition of the surface and the levels of mold, mildew or contamination.  Even the type of wood plays a role.  Certain woods require extra special attention to avoid destroying the woods natural characteristics.
 


Actual pressure washing procedures

Bigger is better, right?  Not when it comes to pressure washing.  If you ask many of today's power washing companies what PSI do they use, you would probably get an answer ranging from 1200 PSI to 3600 PSI, and maybe even higher.  The fact is that a pressure this high will only tear your deck up, causing the wood fibers to loosen, and producing visibly rough wood.  This only allows water, dirt and mold to get into the wood and cause further damage.
It is rare that Atlantic Coast Painting would ever use a PSI higher than 300 to 500 PSI on a wooden surface, depending on the distance between the wand and the surface.
 


So the wood is clean, what next?

At this point most companies would do one of two things.  One, seal the wood using one of the various sealers on the market; or two, pack up the truck and go home!  Atlantic Coast Painting has an extra step to insure the lasting effects of our cleaning.  After cleaning with any solvent, the surface needs to be neutralized.  If left alone caustic cleaners promote fiber degradation, wood rot, and darken the wood.  Cedar or redwood may be turned black from the cleaning process but will return to the natural color after neutralization.
 


Sealing the Color and Brightness In:

After allowing the surface to dry  we will then seal your deck.  There are an array of sealers on the market, and we use only Wolman Products, which are high grade quality sealers.  Although they are slightly higher in price, we have found that in the long run it is money well spent. They offer UV protection, mold and mildew resistant, and a longer life than most others.  All surfaces, not just the deck are sealed.  This includes the actual deck, all steps and landings, and all railings and spindles.
 

A special not to consumers: The wood grain in knots is different from the rest of the wood and normally will dry shinier than the rest of the deck. However with time these shiny spots will begin to blend in with the rest of the deck.
 

When Is it to soon to protect my new deck?
Many people believe that new wood must "age" before it can be cleaned and protected from the elements!
Not so - All Wolman products are designed for use on new wood also!  So now you can protect your investment as soon as possible.
 
 

We hope that we have helped you become an informed consumer.  When you are comparing pressure washing contractors, please use the following check list:

1.  What chemicals, if any, do you use?

2.  How much pressure (PSI) do you use?

3.  If you use a chemical cleaner, do you neutralize the wood after cleaning?

4.  Do you offer discounts for large size areas?
 


$$$$$$$$$$$$ THE BIGGER THE JOB THE BETTER THE PRICE $$$$$$$$$$$$

When pricing our jobs we charge per square foot, depending on the condition of and amount of contamination present on the proposed surface, with an additional charge for stairways.

400 sq. ft. to 999 sq. ft. = a 10% discount off the sq. ft. rate
1000 sq. ft. to 1999 sq. ft. = a 15% off the sq. ft. rate
2000 sq. ft. and above = a 20% discount off the sq. ft. rate

Is your siding or concrete driveway also looking neglected?

We also provide pressure washing for other surfaces, using different techniques where necessary.  Contact us for more information.
 

Give us a call at 252-995-7176 and will send you a brochure on why you should choose a
WOLMAN Certified Contractor!