Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Sidewalk Cleaning

In a competitive real estate market, roughly 46% of millennials cite curb appeal as a strong reason for buying a house. And that percentage is an increase over what previous generations felt. As a result, you’ll need to invest more effort in sprucing up your property’s exterior if you’re hoping to make a sale. 

Don’t just tend to flowers and garden beds, though. The walkways around your property matter, too. Read on to learn how you can enhance your home’s curb appeal with sidewalk cleaning! 

Understand the Best Cleaning Techniques

Ideally, you should plan on cleaning your sidewalks at least once a year. An even better practice, however, is to clean them as you transition from one season to the next. Summer rains and intense sunlight in Florida can contribute to damage and aging.

When it comes to cleaning your sidewalks, you have options. Approaches to sidewalk cleaning include:

• Pressure washing
• Cleaning by hand
• Using a hose

You can use a scrubber brush and vinegar solution to target stains on your sidewalk, for example. Trimming nearby bushes and hedges can help prevent debris from hitting your sidewalk, too, and causing stains. But pressure washing is your best bet for a more thorough clean. 

Pressure washing benefits include getting faster and better results than what you would see with a standard hose. The force of water helps remove deep debris and stains more effectively. You’ll brighten the surface of your sidewalk and remove mildew and mold in the process. 

Skilled professionals will ensure the best results with pressure washing, too. They’ll prepare the sidewalk surface first by sweeping it. Then they will protect surrounding areas so the water doesn’t knock away other vegetation. 

Professional cleaners also will know which cleaning solution is a match for the type of sidewalk you have. They’ll use environmentally safe products, too, that will be safe for your ecosystem. 

Improve Your Property’s Appearance

As a homeowner, maintenance is part of what you sign up for. Although maintenance takes time, it’s worth the effort. Being diligent about grooming and updating your property can translate to a stronger sense of pride and a more attractive home. 

For curb appeal improvement, you can’t beat sidewalk maintenance. Tending to sidewalks regularly can help restore them to their original appearance. Clean sidewalks will:

• Enhance curb appeal
• Contribute to a better-looking neighborhood
• Help improve property value

Clean sidewalks provide an attractive and welcoming edge to your front yard. They’ll demonstrate that you value your property and the safety of those walking by your home. 

Ultimately, when you’re a property owner, you want to live in a well-tended Florida neighborhood. When you take the first step to pressure wash your sidewalks, you’ll set the tone for your neighbors to follow.  

Another benefit of sidewalk maintenance is that a fresh sidewalk can contribute to better property values. If you ever decide to sell your home, you’ll make a good first impression. Better yet, you may even command a better offer!

Create a Safer Environment

The last thing you want is for your property to pose a safety threat to those in your neighborhood. But dirty sidewalks can deteriorate rapidly. And you might develop a reputation for having the stretch of sidewalk that no one wants to walk on. 

Pressure washing sidewalks and addressing necessary repairs will create a much safer environment. Delivery people and mail carriers trek through your neighborhood frequently. They will appreciate safer sidewalks.

But they’re not the only ones who will. Those more prone to tripping, such as seniors and children in your neighborhood, will benefit from safer walkways, too.

Without routine maintenance, sidewalks can develop significant cracks or crumbly edges that are dangerous. Especially if you have tree roots nearby, your sidewalk is at risk of becoming uneven. Old, unmaintained sidewalks can:

• Pose tripping hazards
• Be structurally unsafe
• Adversely impact surrounding vegetation 

With routine maintenance, you’ll help prevent unevenness and remove slick spots caused by algae or oil. Pressure washing is the best choice to achieve safer sidewalks because of the force with which the water hits the pavement. Using at least 3000 PSI (pounds per square inch) with a pressure washer ensures a forceful cleaning without causing damage. 

Increase Your Sidewalk’s Lifespan

Finally, the best home enhancement techniques can keep you from spending money on repairs or replacements later. Most sidewalks will last around 40 years, if not more. Neglecting any upkeep, however, can pull down the lifespan by decades. 

The cost to repair sidewalks easily can hit a few hundred dollars – or even a few thousand. It’s in your wallet’s best interest to stay on top of maintenance. 

Routine pressure washing is the simple solution you need. You’ll end up with sidewalks that can last for decades before needing an upgrade. That’s because pressure washing:

• Gets rid of harmful chemicals
• Keeps weeds at bay
• Removes dirt and grime

Dirt and abrasive chemicals can contribute to a reduced lifespan in your sidewalks. These elements can chew away at concrete over time, leading to crumbling and decay.

Salt and oil also can cause problems with concrete if you don’t commit to regular cleaning. Oil can penetrate and weaken sidewalks. As oil softens the concrete, those sidewalks become more prone to damage from other issues, like intense rainfall. 

Additionally, sidewalk cracks are an invitation for weeds to sprout up and cause problems in Florida. Weeds can make small cracks grow and create uneven surfaces in your walkway. But with the help of pressure washing, you’ll knock out those weeds to keep them from creating deeper cracks in your concrete. 

Invest in Sidewalk Cleaning

Sidewalk cleaning can elevate your property’s value and curb appeal. You’ll create a better first impression while also creating a safer walkway for anyone in your neighborhood. Regular pressure washing removes dirt to increase your sidewalk’s structural integrity and lifespan, too. 

Wrightlook Pressure Washing Company provides the most comprehensive pressure washing services and competitive prices in Central Florida. Our trained technicians can complete concrete cleaning when convenient for you using the safest industry techniques. Contact us today to learn more!