Greene County
Pressure Washing

Do it yourself, or hire someone?

Plenty of homeowners wash their own driveway and deck. Some jobs, like a two-story wall or a roof, are a different matter. This page compares the two honestly. It has no prices, because those depend on the job and change, and it doesn’t recommend anyone.

Side by side

Doing it yourself Hiring someone
Equipment You buy, rent or borrow a washer, plus the right nozzles, a soft brush, cleaners, and eye protection. A surface cleaner helps on big flat areas1. They bring the equipment. Ask what they will use on your surface and whether it fits the maker’s limits.
Time Setup, plant protection, the wash itself, cleanup and drying time. Brick and roofs involve dwell times and repeated wetting23. Your time goes into finding someone, comparing written estimates and checking the work4.
Risks Injection injuries, falls, shocks and fumes are yours to manage. Damage to the surface is yours to fix. Read the safety page first. The risk shifts to whoever does the work, which is why proof of insurance matters4. Damage can still happen, so agree on the method in writing.
Know-how Each surface has its own limits. Our guides list them, with sources. A good pro should already know them, and should ask about your surface before quoting.
Runoff You plan where the water and cleaner go. Ask how they handle wash water and protect plants.
Paperwork None, unless you rent equipment. A written contract with the scope, the dates and any promises made in conversation4.

Usually fine to do yourself

  • Ground-level surfaces you can reach from the ground: a driveway, a patio, a deck, a low fence, patio furniture.
  • Surfaces whose care guide allows a pressure washer, with a figure you can stay under.
  • Jobs where a garden hose and a brush will do. Many care guides prefer that anyway56.

Worth handing off

  • Roofs. The asphalt roofing industry encourages using professionals for roof cleaning3.
  • Anything you would need a ladder to wash. Our safety page explains why the ladder is the problem.
  • Painted surfaces on a home built before 1978. Anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in a pre-1978 home must be lead-safe certified by EPA7.

What a good pro should ask you

Someone who knows the work will want to know about the job before they name a method. If they don’t ask about these things, ask why.

  • What the surface is made of, and the brand if it’s siding, composite decking or shingles. Care limits differ by maker89.
  • When the house was built. Homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead-based paint10.
  • Where the wash water will drain, and which plants are close to the work.
  • Where outdoor outlets, light fixtures and overhead wires are.
  • Whether any part of the job needs a ladder or roof access.

What to ask them

  • For proof of insurance4.
  • For written estimates from more than one business. The FTC also advises against automatically picking the lowest bidder4.
  • Whether they are lead-safe certified, if the house was built before 1978 and the job touches paint7.
  • Which cleaner they will use and at what pressure, and how that compares with the maker’s care guide.
  • For a written contract with their name, address, phone number and license number, start and finish dates, and any promises made on the phone. Fill in every blank4.

Warning signs

  • Asking you to pay for everything up front, or taking cash only4.
  • Pressuring you for an immediate decision4.
  • Knocking on your door looking for business4.

Payment and your right to cancel

  • Don’t pay the full amount up front, and don’t make the final payment until the work is done and you’re satisfied4.
  • In Ohio, if you sign a contract in your home, you have three business days to cancel it, in writing11.
  • To confirm a contractor’s license, the FTC says to check with your state or county government4.

This guide doesn’t offer washing services and doesn’t recommend businesses. To learn more as the guide grows, leave your email.

Sources

Every superscript number on this page points to one of these. Each was read on the date shown.

  1. How to clean pavers Kärcher. Checked 2026-10-26.
  2. Technical Note 20: Cleaning Brickwork (August 2018) Brick Industry Association. Checked 2026-10-26.
  3. Algae Discoloration of Roofs Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. Checked 2026-10-26.
  4. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. Checked 2026-10-26.
  5. How to Clean Vinyl Siding CertainTeed. Checked 2026-10-26.
  6. Do I need to clean my deck before I stain it? Olympic (PPG). Checked 2026-10-26.
  7. Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked 2026-10-26.
  8. How To Clean Composite Decking Trex. Checked 2026-10-26.
  9. Care & Cleaning Guide: Decking and Railing TimberTech (AZEK). Checked 2026-10-26.
  10. Reduce the Risk of Lead Exposure at Home U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked 2026-10-26.
  11. Do I have a three-day right to cancel any contract or purchase I make? Ohio Attorney General. Checked 2026-10-26.