High water pressure cleaning: too powerful for cedar shingles?

[meliz]

Another cottage reno question. The place also needs to be stained-- it has cedar shingle sidings, which are looking pretty scuzzy.

My question is this: the singles need to be scraped, badly. The prospect of doing this by hand is veerrry daunting, to say the least. Would we dare use a high pressure hose to get rid of the flaking? Or will that wreck the shingles? Ideas?

[Csara]

I honestly have no idea, but I would probably try a small section just to test it out....if you could rent a pressure cleaner. Or if you plan on hiring someone to do it, just ask them. They would know, I'm sure. Good luck! When do you move in?

[meliz]

Good idea on the test spot... we plan to rent one, so we shall do just that. Gosh, I hope it works. Otherwise, it will be a tedious and back-breaking task.

This is the family summer cottage I am talking about-- we've been over once this year and surveyed what's needed. Next step is getting at it! We had the cottage foundation reinforced and jacked up last year (saggy after 30 years, ha, what isn't?) and so it's time to spruce it up, now that it is on a solid foundation. It's so easy to let a place that gets used 3 mo of the year just slide... and it's hard because 3 of my 5 siblings are not really interested in taking these projects on (cos they are too busy or broke -- which is somewhat laughable, cos if WE can afford to contribute, they all can) which is frustrating. But I guess we just need to suck it up and do what needs to be done.

[Turtleheadfred]

Definitely just try a small section. Cedar is a very soft wood - and can be easily cut/scratched, etc., so depending on how it's been treated, you could run into problems. Of course you can adjust the pressure of the washer and get different attachments so that's also something to consider.

Let us know how it turns out!!!

[meliz]

We decided to go the scraping route. Well I personally didn't raise a finger as I was not there, but my mom and siblings did. They are less lazy than I.:)

[Turtleheadfred]

Hey - NO judgment here! THat's HARD work!!! Glad it worked out... now you need to post "finished" pictures!