I recently bought a home and hired a contractor to perform general clean up. He pressure washed my composite deck. Afterwards, I noticed the following damage but I'm not sure if he caused it or if it is pre-existing. Before I accuse him, I thought I'd ask the internet's opinion.
What do you think? Does this look like damage from pressure washing?
Edit: the pressure washer is 2700 PSI.
Is it possible? Yes.
Is it likely? No.
Could it have been done earlier by something heavy? Yes.
Is it worth falling out with the contractor over? No.
The pattern of marks suggests a curved path consistent with using a pressure washer. 2700 psi is enough to do serious damage. The fact that the center of the marks is gouged out is also consistent with where the water is moving fastest when it hits the wood.
Easiest way to tell is to try the pressure washer out on it again.
It's hard to tell. If the bottom of the grooves look more aged or darker (after the wood has dried) then they could have been there before.
I would suggest that you contact the contractor and say something like - "I am seeing some curved marks on the deck, were they there before? Could you come and have a look at them". Then decide what to do.
Short answer:
Yes the high pressure washer did damage the composite wood. Or it exposed the weaknesses. Simple logic: Was it there before ?
