How Much Does Commercial Pressure Washing Cost? Prices and Rates Breakdown
Does your business consistently encounter stubborn stains, like grime on your sidewalks or rust from industrial machinery?
If so, commercial-grade pressure washing is the only reliable way to get those surfaces sparkling clean.
At first glance, outsourcing cleaning may seem like the only option, but how much does commercial pressure washing cost, and is the juice worth the squeeze?
This guide explores the average cost for commercial pressure washing services. You’ll learn how commercial pressure washing rates vary based on factors like square footage or location, helping you decide if hiring a contractor is right for your business.
Of course, outsourced commercial pressure washing prices are always on the rise. In the long run, investing in a machine is the best way to save money and avoid costly price increases.
You can find the best commercial pressure washers in Houston at Hotsy of Houston! Our team of experienced and friendly Houston natives will help you determine the best choice between buying, renting, or outsourcing for your commercial pressure washing needs.
Why Commercial Pressure Washing is a Great Investment
A high-quality pressure washer is a total game-changer for your business. The average cost for commercial pressure washing is nothing compared to the payoff from enhanced curb appeal, safety benefits, and regulatory compliance.
Enhancing Property Appearance
As a business owner or manager, you’re already juggling thousands of priorities like marketing, payroll, R&D, and so on. At first, you might think the last thing you need to be worrying about is how the exterior of your building looks.
The reality tells a different story, however. The appearance of your property, both interior and exterior, is crucial to your business’s success. Customers, vendors, and investors will form their first impression of your company based on its curb appeal.
So, what do you want your business to say to the people essential to its success? If your properties are dingy, grimy, and neglected, customers believe they will be treated the same way, and that’s all the negative incentive they need to get back in their cars and drive away.
Instead, consider commercial pressure washer prices in terms of the potential new sales you get. A business that takes pride in its appearance and cultivates a welcoming environment will send a powerful message.
Health and Safety Benefits
When did you last examine what’s been building up around your business? Substances like mold, mildew, oil, and grease can pose massive risks to your employees and customers in the short and long term.
Mold and mildew are a one-way ticket to respiratory issues for your employees, while slipper stains like oil and grease are lawsuits just waiting to happen.
After all, how much does commercial pressure washing cost when considering it against legal fees and decreased production from your employees?
Compliance with Regulations
As a business owner or manager, the number of regulations and standards you must balance can sometimes be overwhelming. Essential to these rules is maintaining a clean and well-maintained property.
There are often regulations on several different standards, like the cleanliness and appearance of your buildings, health and safety guidelines, and environmental rules. Failure to comply with these guidelines can lead to significant fines or even the revocation of operating licenses in some industries.
Trust us, you don’t want the headache. The average cost for commercial pressure washing is nothing compared to costly fines and rulings that will crater your business entirely.
So, how much does commercial pressure washing cost, anyway? We’ll need to consider several factors, so let’s do so in the next section.
Factors Influencing Commercial Pressure Washing Rates
Commercial pressure washing prices are hardly a monolith. Plenty of factors will affect the ultimate sticker price.
Things like which pressure washer types are needed for your job, how far away your location is, and your total surface area can all add to the commercial pressure washing rates you will owe.
Square Footage
One of the biggest influences of commercial pressure washing prices is the size of the area that needs to be cleaned. Most companies charge by square foot, so pressure washing industrial buildings inside and out will be significantly more expensive than pressure washing construction equipment or pressure washing farm equipment.
Well, how much does commercial pressure washing cost per square foot?
Companies often start at around $.10 per square foot, but for a great job, expect to pay closer to $.50. That means that commercial pressure washing rates for a 5,000-square-foot building or parking lot could cost you $2,500!
Complexity and Accessibility
The size of your property is far from the only multiplier on the cost of your outsourcing. You’ll also need to consider time-based costs.
Take a multi-story office building or warehouse, for example. The tall walls, hard-to-reach nooks, and densely packed machinery require specialized equipment and extra labor to handle promptly.
The complexity of a job can also require multiple pressure washer models to achieve a speedy result. For example, choosing between an electric vs gas pressure washer depends typically on whether you need indoor or outdoor cleaning, but what if you have an extra-large property that needs both? Expect average commercial pressure washing prices.
Similarly, the size of the pressure washer also matters. Two factors, pressure washer PSI (pounds per square inch) and pressure washer GPM (gallons per minute), will determine your cleaning power and speed, respectively.
If you have stubborn grease stains in one part of your commercial property but delicate vehicles that also need cleaning, the company you hire will need multiple machines for the job, adding to your costs.
Material Considerations
Each surface requires a different approach. Pressure washing concrete, for example, requires a more powerful stream than wood or brick.
This can also include water temperature, as the outsourcing company will have to understand the hot vs cold water pressure washer debate to ensure the job is done correctly.
Failure to understand the surfaces can lead to damage or ineffective cleaning, not to mention upcharges that raise commercial pressure washing prices.
Surface Condition
When you hire an external cleaning company, you expect them to take care of those things for you, right?
The dirtier and more neglected your surfaces are, the more work will take to get them pristine again. This means higher labor costs, upcharges for pressure washing pre-treatment, etc.
For example, let’s say you are hiring a company for pressure washing parking lots because you haven’t maintained yours in a while. Expect extra charges to deal with oil and grease, additional brushes and attachments to scrub down debris, and miscellaneous ‘fees’ that can be downright predatory.
The same is true for specific use cases, like pressure washing graffiti, which requires specialized machines and detergents that many companies don’t even have on hand.
Frequency of Service
How often you need cleaning will affect the commercial pressure washing prices you expect to pay. If your business encounters frequent stains, you may spend hundreds of dollars each month, quickly becoming a massive hole in your budget.
Geographic Location
Finally, commercial pressure washing rates will be modified by how far your properties are from the contractor.
Companies tend to charge higher rates based on distance traveled and where you are relative to nearby metropolitan areas.
You’ll often find that if your business is located too far from a city center, like for oil rig pressure washing, you’ll pay far extra in travel costs, but if you are in the city, you’re still getting a price bump typical to urban locations.
So, How Much Does Commercial Pressure Washing Cost on Average?
We’ve discussed all the factors that can affect price, so how much does commercial pressure washing cost?
Companies will charge you between $.10 to $.50 per square foot, but the average is closer to $.40 for a high-quality job. For a low-scale job like a simple sidewalk, this may only run you $100. Conversely, extensive buildings can easily climb into the thousands of dollars.
Are You Better Off Renting or Buying Your Own Equipment Instead?
Thousands of dollars for a one-off clean is daunting. Is there a better way?
The answer is yes!
Once you know what to look for while shopping, creating a pressure washer equipment list to buy everything outright is far cheaper than just a few professional cleanings. You also have the option to rent, which is a low-risk way to harness the power of pressure washing. You’ll often find the cost to rent a pressure washer under $100 significantly cheaper than outsourcing.
Drawbacks to Outsourcing Pressure Washing Beyond Cost
The drawbacks of outsourcing are more than just the price tag. You’re exposing yourself to many risks that can seriously impact your business.
For example, when you outsource, you rely on a contractor and are at the mercy of their schedule. Employees spill grease, and it’s already embedded into your floors, but your contractor can’t get to you for a week for restaurant pressure washing? You’ll have to grin and bear it until they’re ready.
Then there’s quality control. Sure, the pressure washing crew might do a decent job, but how can you be sure they’re giving your property the attention it deserves? It could expose you to costly health and safety risks if they miss the mark.
Benefits of Renting or Buying Your Own Equipment
When you buy or rent, you have total control of the process. Learning and teaching staff how to use a pressure washer is simple, letting you maximize quality control.
Additionally, you’ll be able to learn how to maintain a pressure washer with your equipment or have access to rentals from a company specializing in repair. This ensures your machine has all the cleaning power you need.
Even with pressure washer repair costs from owning, you’re still saving massive amounts of money compared to those sky-high per-square-foot costs outsourcing will run you.
Which Approach is Best for Your Business?
We’ve covered everything you need to know, but how do you decide between outsourcing and doing it yourself? And which of buying vs renting a pressure washer is more suitable for your cleaning?
We recommend buying or renting instead of outsourcing.
Relatively small properties that only need occasional washing are better suited for rentals. Just pick up your equipment for the day, let those sidewalks sparkle again, and then return it with no hassle and little cost.
For larger commercial properties, buying your own is the better long-term investment. You’ll make up the higher cost quickly and gain a valuable asset for your business.
The only thing left to consider is where to rent a pressure washer! Thankfully, the #1 home for commercial cold water pressure washers in Houston is right before you.
Bring Costs Down and Improve Operational Efficiency With Hotsy of Houston!
Whether looking for the best commercial pressure washer or specialized pressure washer detergent, Hotsy of Houston is the place to go! Our expert team of Houston natives is proud to work with the industry’s best pressure washing brand to deliver you the power to take control of your cleaning needs.
Whether you want to know how to use soap with a pressure washer, are curious about homemade pressure washer trailer setup, or want advice on how to rent a pressure washer, our team will be your strategic partner. We’ll analyze your cleaning needs to find you the perfect fit.
In addition to commercial pressure washer rental in Houston, we’re also the #1 home for pressure washer parts in Houston, including soaps and attachments, as well as commercial pressure washer repair in Houston. You’ll have access to our team’s guidance and maintenance tips to ensure your machine is always running at peak condition.
Bringing Our Commercial Pressure Washing Prices Guide to a Close
Overall, the only way to master your commercial cleaning needs is by buying or renting your own machine.
You can find everything from pressure washer trailers in Houston to the best pressure washer attachments at Hotsy of Houston! Our friendly team loves working with businesses to teach the ins and outs of pressure washing, from identifying the best pressure washer detergents to gushing about the differences in pressure washer PSI vs GPM.
If you’re ready to harness the flexibility of buying or renting a pressure washer, check out our selection of commercial hot water pressure washers in Houston! We’ll help you take back control of your cleaning needs, so give us a call or stop by our Pasadena storefront!
