On 4/25/2012 11:39 AM, Doug wrote:
I've toyed with this idea in the past and now I'm thinking of it again
after seeing my neighbor use his own. In the past, I just hired
someone.

What is a good power washer to do concrete, maybe wood fence, windows
and car? That's all I can think of now and I probably would not use
it but 2 or 3 times a year for the next 10 years or so. If I wash the
car with it, might use it a bit more. I'd like it to be able to be
lifted and put into a car trunk for portability and easy on the budget
(in other words, don't want to buy the best).

Don't mean to start a flame war here as I know it's like asking about
what's the best car for me so I'm trying to give information to narrow
the choices here. Can you recommend brands, gas or electric,
accessories, etc... . If I omitted any information, just ask.

Last, is it possible to use it with some accessory for 2nd story
windows without going up a ladder?

This is not a simple issue.
If you want portable, you want an electric one.
Problem is that they're weak and unreliable.
It takes a LONG time to clean up concrete.
My neighbor is on his third one in as many years.
The motors burn up. And if you don't get every bit of
water out of it, it freezes in winter and the pump is broke.

I have a 3HP gas unit. I found it to be more trouble than it's worth.
It can dislodge most, but not all of the moss from an exposed aggregate
patio, but it takes forever. I'm afraid to try it on the roof. It'll
dislodge the moss...and the shingles...
It does a fair job on motorcycle wheels if you put cleaner on 'em first.
I've found that a steam cleaner works as well and is less hassle.
I've read cautions about using them to wash a car. Having the paint
ripped off is an unpleasant experience. Same goes for your house.

What most people don't realize is that you can get a LOT of pressure
over a small area. Yep, with a 0.1" stream, you can blast a lot of stuff
off the concrete. If my math is correct, it'll take you
100x144x100 = 1,440,000
of those .1" areas to clean up that 10'x10' patio. Yes, that's 1.4 million.
So, you fan it out to an inch. Goes much faster, but the pressure is
down by a factor of 100 and it don't work so pretty good no more.

A washer that can do the tough jobs quickly has the potential to tear
the small stuff to shreds.

So, I put chemical moss killer on the patio and the pressure washer
is buried under a pile of crap in the shed.

Offer to buy half of your neighbor's. Let him store it.