Pressure washing: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering pressure washing
Pressure washing is a surface-by-surface job where the nozzle, the pressure and the cleaner decide whether the surface comes out clean or gouged. Your win is showing you know each surface and protect everything around it.
What customers ask
- Will the pressure damage my wood or concrete?
- Can you remove the oil stain from my driveway?
- What do you do about the plants and the lawn?
- How soon after the wash can I seal or stain?
- Will it make my fence look like new?
- Do you clean the gutters or the house siding too?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for each surface, its material, its age, and any stain or coating on it, so you bring the right nozzles and cleaners.
- Bring a test panel to the visit and show the homeowner the pressure and nozzle you would use on a sample area of their surface.
- Walk the property on the site visit and photograph surfaces, stains, and any loose boards or cracks to address before the wash.
- List each surface as its own line in the quote, with the cleaning method and the cleaner named.
- Explain how you will protect plants, lights, outlets and windows before you start, and show the homeowner what you will cover.
- Tell the homeowner in writing how long each surface needs to dry before sealing or staining.
- Send a closeout photo log showing before and after for each surface, with any stains that did not come out marked.
What to put on your profile
- Before and after photos of driveways, decks, fences and patios that show the surface detail
- Surfaces you clean, such as concrete, pavers, wood, vinyl and fences, with the method for each
- Equipment you use, such as surface cleaners or hot water units, if you have them
- Service area and whether you handle sealing, staining or stripping after the wash
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a sealer or stain after the wash, once the surface has dried for the time the product needs.
- Suggest a seasonal wash for decks and fences to keep growth from building back.
- Recommend a house wash in the same visit where the homeowner wants the exterior cleaned together.
Licenses and permits
Pressure washing is often offered by general exterior cleaning companies, and rules vary by place. Check your state and local licensing requirements, and check the rules that apply to chemicals and runoff where you work.
Questions
Do I need insurance for pressure washing?
Customers often ask for proof of insurance. Carry liability coverage, ask your insurer what is covered for water damage to a house, and show your certificate when customers ask for it.
How do I handle runoff onto a neighbor's property or a storm drain?
Plan the runoff before you start. Keep cleaners away from storm drains and waterways, and tell the homeowner how the runoff will be handled on their property.
Should I use a degreaser on every surface?
No. Degreasers and cleaners must suit the surface. Some damage wood or plants, and some need a specific dwell time. Test a small area first.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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