Cleaning concrete

[Maz]

Just recently finished cleaning the walkway of a strip mall. Cleaning include the removal of gum. The job had to be done after hours and there was very poor and little to no lighting. In my opinion, the job looks like s***! Maybe I am too much of a perfectionist. I went back the next day to view the area and there were spots of gum remaining, gum stains, stained areas remaining(particularly at the entrance to the stores where there is heavy foot traffic), and areas that just did not look clean. I have a good hot water unit(3500psi, 5gpm)and surface cleaner. How good is good enough? How do you get the gum up-type of nozzle, etc.? Any insight oir tips for improvement?
Thanks,
Maz, La.

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Maz,

You will never get a good job if you can not see what you are doing! Beleive me I know of what I speak (I am very nearsighted!)

If you are unable to do the work during daylight, you need to find an electric outlet of your customers, or get a small generator. Maybe the mall is not open early on Sunday! Sometimes you can do in front of stores that are not open or open later in the morning on Sundays!

Do you have gauges on your equipment? Are you really getting over 3000 psi, 5 gpm. Are you getting at least 200 degrees!!

Also keep in mind that the first cleaning of flatwork (if it hasn't been done for a long time) does not usually look as good as if done on a regular basis (monthly or quarterly)

We run our surface cleaner at 3000 psi (dual #3 tips) 200 plus degrees. We apply a degreaser before using the surface cleaner and follow up using the wand (3000 psi, #1507 tip, 200 plus degrees. The wand melts off the gum and rinses the trash from the mower.

Dave Olson

Dave Olson

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Tidy Powerwash Service, Inc. P.O. Box 781, Catlin, Illinois 61817 Phone 217-427-5557, Fax 217-427-2632 We are a commercial cleaning contractor serving East-Central Illinois and West Central Indiana since 1984. http://www.tps-inc.com/preswash.htm