Pressure washing vs handyman

A handyman owns a pressure washer, but a dedicated crew does it faster and safer. Compare costs, equipment, and when DIY-adjacent help falls short.

A pressure washing company ($150–$400 for a house exterior, $100–$250 for a driveway, $200–$500 for a deck) uses commercial-grade equipment (3,000–4,000 PSI, hot water capable, surface cleaners for driveways) and knows which surfaces need soft wash (low pressure + detergent for vinyl siding, stucco, painted wood) versus full-pressure treatment. They carry insurance specifically for property damage — overpressured siding, broken windows, and stripped paint are real risks with improper technique. A house exterior takes 2–4 hours. A handyman ($50–$100/hour) who owns a consumer-grade pressure washer (1,500–2,500 PSI) can handle small jobs: cleaning a patio ($75–$150), washing a section of fence ($50–$100), spraying down concrete steps, or pre-cleaning a surface before painting. They're already on-site for other work and can tack on light washing. The gap: commercial surface cleaners ($2,000+ units with rotating nozzles) clean driveways 5–10x faster than a wand, and produce streak-free results. A handyman wanding a 2-car driveway takes 3–4 hours and often leaves tiger stripes; a pressure washing crew finishes in 30–45 minutes. For decks, the risk is higher — wrong pressure or nozzle distance shreds wood fibers, creating a surface that splinters and grays faster.