I have started to power wash the 40 year old cedar barn shakes on our house. I have a 1750psi power washer. I am using Zen cleaner. This does a couple inch wide path at a time holding it 4-6 inches away. I see many warnings about using too powerful a machine. I can dig a mark into the shingle if I get much closer with this machine. Is there a faster but just as safe way to restore the red cedar look to these cedar shingles? A wider spray does not remove the gray using this machine. Is this a good idea to attempt to restore the red cedar look?
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Billhart's suggestion of using a brightener with oxalic acid is good. It can be applied using a sprayer or the detergent sipon on the pressure washer.
A high pressure and high volume pressure washer is better to use for most jobs. The force of the water applied to the job is modulated by the size nozzle that you use and the distance you maintain the nozzle from the surface. Nozzles range from 1 to over 40 degrees (spray angle). The inexpensive small pressure washers have only one setting. It is not very efficient to be able to clean only a couple inches at a time. I would recommend a 2500 psi washer with a 20 degree nozzle, or a 3000 psi machine with a 30+ nozzle. I powerwashed my redwood deck in about 2-1/2 hours this weekend and was able to refinish it the next day. I used a 2550 psi 2.8 gpm machine with a 20 degree nozzle. With a 2-inch spray, I would still be out there.
A high pressure and high volume pressure washer is better to use for most jobs. The force of the water applied to the job is modulated by the size nozzle that you use and the distance you maintain the nozzle from the surface. Nozzles range from 1 to over 40 degrees (spray angle). The inexpensive small pressure washers have only one setting. It is not very efficient to be able to clean only a couple inches at a time. I would recommend a 2500 psi washer with a 20 degree nozzle, or a 3000 psi machine with a 30+ nozzle. I powerwashed my redwood deck in about 2-1/2 hours this weekend and was able to refinish it the next day. I used a 2550 psi 2.8 gpm machine with a 20 degree nozzle. With a 2-inch spray, I would still be out there.
