I have a job for a restaurant which has a 75x50 concrete patio. The patio has sat idle for quite a few years, and is very dirty. I use a variety of different pressure washers (3500 psi) all professional grade. My normal cleaning mixture for this job would consist of heavy doses of chlorine and detergent. I was just wondering if anyone has any other mixes they may use to do a nice job on concrete and white stucco. Any help is greatly appriciated. THANKS JAY
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concrete cleaning
- Thread starter jay k.
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PressureForce
New Member
Why risk a job like this with Acid? If that patio has not been cleaned in that long - straight water would leave a drastic impact.
People eat there - so beware your stench of chlorine, although I doubt that will be a problem. Hell - pick up some Zebs concrete cleaner at Home Depot.
Use a turbo nozzle!
Excusing things like rust and oil stains - concrete is almost fun to clean cuzz it's so easy.
People eat there - so beware your stench of chlorine, although I doubt that will be a problem. Hell - pick up some Zebs concrete cleaner at Home Depot.
Use a turbo nozzle!
Excusing things like rust and oil stains - concrete is almost fun to clean cuzz it's so easy.
Mark said:
No doubt, Turbo nozzles destroy concrete. I have a mall that I clean quarterly, the last guy cleaned it for years with a turbo nozzle. They only get the entrance ways cleaned and where the last guy used the turbo nozzle the sidewalks are all rough and pitted up, the rest of the sidewalk that doesn't get cleaned very often is still smooth.
5 Star Johnny
New Member
What's up with you guys always using chlorine/bleach solutions? Because it's cheap? I don't claim to be a chemical expert, but I'm well aware of what bleach does to certain substrates & organics. Why not use a d-limonene dilution or other degreaser?
I do not do a ton of concrete work, but enough to know it's fairly easy. I agree with Texas, if it hasn't been done in a while the customer should be extremely happy with the results, via conventional method.
Cooper, I use a turbo for the gum removal and pull it way back to clean along building edges, obstacles and wherever I can't get with my surface cleaner. Then I spray whatever cleaner the job requires, use my surface cleaner with hot water and then rinse & cleanup all the debris. (By the way, this is for storefront work.) Do you see an issue with this process?
Acids? ESPECIALLY not in a high pedestrian traffice area - even if you're doing outside of normal business hours. Unless you have some sort of containment system, I would worry about residual and unexpected vehicle or pedestrian traffic. This type of job doesn't require caustics. HOWEVER.....on occasion we use ABR X-180 Weathered Wood Restorer if we want an especially "bright concrete" result. It contains Oxalic & glacial Acidics as well as detergents, surfactants, etc. It does have to dwell longer for the result which may not be practical for most commercial situations, on patios, garage floors, driveways for residential, where you may charge more for the service, it works really well.
My 2 cents worth!
I do not do a ton of concrete work, but enough to know it's fairly easy. I agree with Texas, if it hasn't been done in a while the customer should be extremely happy with the results, via conventional method.
Cooper, I use a turbo for the gum removal and pull it way back to clean along building edges, obstacles and wherever I can't get with my surface cleaner. Then I spray whatever cleaner the job requires, use my surface cleaner with hot water and then rinse & cleanup all the debris. (By the way, this is for storefront work.) Do you see an issue with this process?
Acids? ESPECIALLY not in a high pedestrian traffice area - even if you're doing outside of normal business hours. Unless you have some sort of containment system, I would worry about residual and unexpected vehicle or pedestrian traffic. This type of job doesn't require caustics. HOWEVER.....on occasion we use ABR X-180 Weathered Wood Restorer if we want an especially "bright concrete" result. It contains Oxalic & glacial Acidics as well as detergents, surfactants, etc. It does have to dwell longer for the result which may not be practical for most commercial situations, on patios, garage floors, driveways for residential, where you may charge more for the service, it works really well.
My 2 cents worth!
5 Star Johnny
New Member
bMOORECL - Have you tried a surface cleaner? Will cut your time in half without much effort! We used to use turbo nozzles for everything. Granted, on a small area (residential patio, short walkway, etc.) it may not be feasible, but when you get up in total sq. ft., saves a ton of time and increases profit.
If you're insisting that low press. decreases damage from a turbo, you may be correct, but I would believe your still damaging the substrate to some degree. Do you mean to say that you don't get hit in the face by loose aggregate that you pluck up from your turbo? Also, how low is low and how clean are you getting the surface? Low press. is one thing. The psi of a machine is the element that separates the contaminant from the substrate. More importantly, the water flow (gpm) is what pushes the contaminant out of the way to increase cleaning efficiency and decrease time. If you're distance from the work is such as to not damage the substrate with your turbo, my guess is you're either not getting it too clean, or your time cleaning is extended beyond efficiency.
ANYONE? Have you ever used your wood brightener on cement? We have used ABR X-180 on occassion and boy....does it ever brighten that crete! Try it.
Good Luck All!
If you're insisting that low press. decreases damage from a turbo, you may be correct, but I would believe your still damaging the substrate to some degree. Do you mean to say that you don't get hit in the face by loose aggregate that you pluck up from your turbo? Also, how low is low and how clean are you getting the surface? Low press. is one thing. The psi of a machine is the element that separates the contaminant from the substrate. More importantly, the water flow (gpm) is what pushes the contaminant out of the way to increase cleaning efficiency and decrease time. If you're distance from the work is such as to not damage the substrate with your turbo, my guess is you're either not getting it too clean, or your time cleaning is extended beyond efficiency.
ANYONE? Have you ever used your wood brightener on cement? We have used ABR X-180 on occassion and boy....does it ever brighten that crete! Try it.
Good Luck All!
PressureForce
New Member
hey - I can destroy concrete with a 40 degree tip and my lowes residential unit if I really wanted to! When I make a suggestion it does come with some assumption that you have some sort of common sense and some sort of clue as to what you are doing!
Whoever said, "turbo's destroy concrete!" - what exactly to you use a turbo nozzle for? What exactly do you think they were invented for? Decks? Siding? Shingles!? Hahahahaha! The truth be known, we've torn up more concrete with sufrace cleaners than anything - now what do you think they were invented for? New flash - it wasn't the surface cleaner that did the tearing up - it was the operator who was fired the next day.
I never use acid and if you re-read my post (MARK!) - it suggested using nothing more than mild detergent - but you use anything you want - chemicals, cleaners - wands - give me a turbo nozzle, some water and any range of pressure you want - 2000 to 5000 - and I'll do a better job, faster, cheaper and with FAR less destruction than you did with your chlorine, acid, 40 degree tip - whatever.
I'm reading some of the replies to this thread and it's dawned on me that I think some of you just think this business has everything to do with chemicals and pressure and nothing to do with know how or technique!
Whoever said, "turbo's destroy concrete!" - what exactly to you use a turbo nozzle for? What exactly do you think they were invented for? Decks? Siding? Shingles!? Hahahahaha! The truth be known, we've torn up more concrete with sufrace cleaners than anything - now what do you think they were invented for? New flash - it wasn't the surface cleaner that did the tearing up - it was the operator who was fired the next day.
I never use acid and if you re-read my post (MARK!) - it suggested using nothing more than mild detergent - but you use anything you want - chemicals, cleaners - wands - give me a turbo nozzle, some water and any range of pressure you want - 2000 to 5000 - and I'll do a better job, faster, cheaper and with FAR less destruction than you did with your chlorine, acid, 40 degree tip - whatever.
I'm reading some of the replies to this thread and it's dawned on me that I think some of you just think this business has everything to do with chemicals and pressure and nothing to do with know how or technique!
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PressureForce
New Member
Hey Mark - I'm looking through this thread, and I actually can't find anyone suggesting Acid and a turbo nozzle as you have suggested. Can you please point this out?
You obviously have some reading comprehension issues - it is YOU my friend that I hope has the good insurance!
Please make sure you get your facts straight before you post anymore insulting posts like that to me.
I think that's more than fair to expect from a moderator.
You obviously have some reading comprehension issues - it is YOU my friend that I hope has the good insurance!
Please make sure you get your facts straight before you post anymore insulting posts like that to me.
I think that's more than fair to expect from a moderator.
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CaroliProWash
New Member
I agree with the use of oxalic acid on concrete. It does a beautiful job of brightening. On brick pavers at restaurants we use another acid product that has gotten us a regular contract. We do prefer a surface cleaner to a turbo for general cleaning, ours does have the adjustable deck height for the variety of concrete that we clean. Frankly, if you talk to your average concrete installer, most all hate pressure washers whether they use chems or not.
Celeste
Celeste
Scott Stone
New Member
PressureForce said:Why risk a job like this with Acid? If that patio has not been cleaned in that long - straight water would leave a drastic impact.
People eat there - so beware your stench of chlorine, although I doubt that will be a problem. Hell - pick up some Zebs concrete cleaner at Home Depot.
Use a turbo nozzle!
Excusing things like rust and oil stains - concrete is almost fun to clean cuzz it's so easy.
Mike Gwas said:
In defense of Mark, here are the two posts.
And I agree completely with Mark, Acid, especially swimmimng pool acid that most people use, is TERRIBLE on Concrete, and Turbo Nozzles have no place in most situations, especially if it is someone that has to ask this question. You have to have the correct tools to do a job. These are not the correct tools.
Now, there are acids and tools out there, but you gotta pay to play...
Scott Stone
PressureForce
New Member
THOSE ARE POSTS FROM 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE GENIUS!!!!!
One suggesting acid - another suggesting NO acid - just turbo nozzle. Gosh - if we just combined two thoughts from two totally different people I'll bet we could come up with all sorts of twists. Geez you are a bright one!
C - I concede - you were are right. See you on the other board.
One suggesting acid - another suggesting NO acid - just turbo nozzle. Gosh - if we just combined two thoughts from two totally different people I'll bet we could come up with all sorts of twists. Geez you are a bright one!
C - I concede - you were are right. See you on the other board.
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Wow
Maybe u guys should settle this dispute like the powerwashers did back in the old west. Both of you take ten paces and then turn around and blast each other with your powerwashers. Just please make it a fair duel and no one use ACID.
Just a little humor gentlemen, have a good day.
Daniel G.
Texas A&M class of 03
Maybe u guys should settle this dispute like the powerwashers did back in the old west. Both of you take ten paces and then turn around and blast each other with your powerwashers. Just please make it a fair duel and no one use ACID.
Just a little humor gentlemen, have a good day.
Daniel G.
Texas A&M class of 03
PressureForce
New Member
Lol - then for that I am DEFINATELY using my turbo nozzle! Although at 10 paces it may just mist you.
marti_girl
New Member
We would use hot water and a surface cleaner.