Turnover week often reveals a simple problem, the exterior looks fine until bright sun hits it. Algae on north facing siding, soot near dryer vents, and tire marks on concrete show up fast. Those stains can drag down photos and tenant first impressions, even when the inside is spotless.
For many cleaning crews, skids for pressure washing keep pumps, tanks, and hose organized on one frame. Property managers like them because setup stays consistent from house to house during busy turnover windows. A steady setup also lowers the odds of damage on older paint, trim, or fragile siding.
Match The Skid To Your Real Work Mix
Begin with an inventory of the surfaces you clean most often around managed rentals and small commercial sites. Vinyl, painted wood, and older stucco usually need low pressure and longer chemical dwell time. Concrete, brick steps, and dumpster pads can take higher pressure with a surface cleaner when runoff stays contained.
Soft washing focuses on even chemical coverage and gentle rinsing, not chasing high pressure numbers for quick results. A soft wash skid needs a dependable chemical pump, stable draw, and clear rinse flow at the wand. If you also do flatwork, pairing a pressure pump with soft wash gear can cover both tasks well.
Your work mix should guide the build, because every extra function adds weight, cost, and more fittings. If most calls are house washes, keep the pressure side modest and lean on rinse volume for speed. If most calls are concrete, put budget into flow, nozzle options, and surface cleaning stability.
Use this job map to keep decisions grounded in the work you see each month across your route.
- House and fence washing needs steady chemical draw, moderate flow, and gentle rinse that avoids forcing water behind siding.
- Roof washing calls for very low pressure, long hose runs, and mix control that protects plants and gutters.
- Flatwork and patios need higher flow with stable pressure, plus a surface cleaner sized to your gallons per minute.
- Trash areas and loading pads need strong degrease options, tight runoff control, and fast rinse for quick turnover.
Choose Pumps That Fit Pressure, Flow, And Duty Time
A pressure pump choice should match your rinse needs, not the highest PSI printed on a box. Many flatwork crews like four to eight gallons per minute and a three thousand PSI working range. For mostly house washing, lower PSI with strong flow often feels calmer and reduces streaking on siding.
Water supply is the next limiter, and it affects every stop on your route in Charlotte. A buffer tank helps when a spigot is weak, or when a float valve fills slowly between passes. It also reduces cavitation risk, which protects pumps, and it keeps rinse patterns steady on long pulls.
High pressure spray can injure skin and eyes in seconds, even during a quick test spray. The CDC lists clear pressure washer safety steps that crews can review before busy seasons or new hires start.
Power choice matters in rentals and communities with noise rules, small driveways, and limited parking space. Gas engines run anywhere, yet they need outdoor airflow and steady fuel care to avoid hard starts. Electric motors can be quieter, but they demand proper cords, breakers, and wet rated connections at every outlet.
Size Tanks And Mix Control For Faster Rinse Cycles
Tank sizing is where a skid either feels smooth all day, or feels rushed between fills and refills. A small water tank may work for short jobs, but longer hose runs drain rinse water fast. A larger buffer helps when a property has weak pressure at the spigot, or when two techs rinse at once.
For chemicals, decide if you prefer batch mixing or on demand proportioning at the valve for consistency. Batch mixing is simple for one crew, yet it can waste product when the job ends early. Proportioning helps keep the mix repeatable, which matters for painted trim, landscaping, and tenant pets nearby.
Hose management sounds minor, but it drives pace and safety on occupied rentals with people coming and going. Separate reels for pressure hose and soft wash hose cut tangles and reduce dragging across steps and porch rails. Add enough length to reach the back yard, and use a reel brake so hose does not whip.
Check Build Quality And Service Access Before You Buy
The frame takes abuse from vibration, road spray, and chemical drips that never rinse off fully. Look for coated metal, stainless hardware, and mounts that keep pumps from flexing under load. A compact skid is fine, but only if service points stay reachable while the unit is mounted.
Plumbing layout matters because filters and strainers need frequent checks during real work on dirty surfaces. Put the suction filter where you can see it fast, and keep spare screens in the truck. Add drain points that open easily, so winterizing and end of day flushing do not become a struggle.
A Quick Checklist Before You Commit
A skid feels right when you test it against a normal turnover day, not a rare job. Quotes should include pump model numbers, rated flow, and tank volumes so comparisons stay clean later. That keeps the decision tied to crew size, stop count, and water sources you see weekly.
Wash water planning belongs in the same checklist, because runoff issues appear fast in occupied communities. UNC Environment, Health and Safety shares practical pressure washing steps like dry cleanup and storm drain blocking. Those basics help property managers reduce complaints, avoid stained sidewalks, and keep exterior work predictable.
- Soft wash pump rated for your chemical mix, hose length, and expected duty time on site.
- Pressure pump matched to your surface cleaner size, nozzle set, and rinse volume for concrete.
- Water tank sized for your longest rinse window at a typical rental with a weak spigot.
- Clear mix control method, with labels your team can follow without guessing during hectic turns.
- Hose reels placed to avoid crossing walk paths where residents step and where cars park daily.
- Weight and tie down points suited to your trailer ramps and everyday loading routine without strain.
- Easy drain and flush points for winter and end of day cleanup without delays or extra tools.
- Runoff plan that fits local rules, tenant areas, and surfaces you wash near storm drains.
If your sites include shared parking or tight sidewalks, add berms, socks, and a simple recovery plan. A unit that drains and flushes easily gets used properly, which protects pumps and reduces end of day delays. Once the checklist fits your route, the skid choice becomes a straightforward match instead of a guess.
Wrap Up With A Setup That Fits Your Route
Pick a skid that matches your work mix, water access, and runoff plan, then keep it service friendly. When the rig fits the job, crews move faster, parts last longer, and surfaces stay safer during turns. That helps residents, owners, and managers protect the building while keeping maintenance costs steady over time.
