First Job Completed - Not 100% HAPPY with results

[Burtco]

Hello everyone - This is my first posting so bare with me if it runs astray. I am very new to the Power Washing business. I just started my Business last week. I went out and purchased a 4000psi / 4gpm / 15hp power washer. I have used a power washer several times in the past and I practiced on my driveway before first attempting to clean someone else's and all went well. I am using a chemical called Krud Kutter mostly because it is enviromentally safe and the paint store guys around here say it is the best.

I had my first job yesterday, 1600 square foot of concrete drive way and walk way that had not been cleaned since it was layed 17 years ago. I worked on this for 5 1/2 hours and when I was done the client said it looks wonderful and I said thanks. But, as I looked around I was not happy with the job. I saw what I will call tiger stripes, different shades of concrete light and dark in several areas. I was very consistant in the distance I Kept between the nozzle (40 degree) and the concrete (about 3 to 4 inches) so I am not sure where these marks came from. Also, there were these stains in the concrete that just would not come out. they were brown like tree sap or leaves had stained into the concrete. I used some intense pressure focused directly on it and they would not come up. Does anyuone know how to get this stuff up using something that is environmentally friendly. This guy paid me $275 for the job and I if can figure out how to get this stuff off I am going back to re-do that section at no cost.

So I guess I have 3 questions:

1) Is Krud Kutter the right stuff to use (Bleach Has been recommended to me by several people applied with a Sprayer)?
2) What did I do wrong to get the tiger tails?
3) What are these stains and how do I get rid of them?

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with those of us who are currently less knowledgeable. One day I hope to be a contributor to this forum.

 

[Dan Flynn]

Hey John,

Welcome to The Power Wash Network. If you don't mind going to your profile and letting us know were you’re from I think everyone would appreciate it.

The streaks can be a number of things. So I would have to see them to give you some insight. Now that the job is done! If you go back with bleach and spray the individual brown spots. They will disappear in no time. The spots of foliage stains!

They usually don't come off with the wash. But after you rinse, go back with the above statement and you'll be fine.

I have seen Krud Kutter at the local Wal-mart.. Never used it!

 

[the_GUNN_man]

I think that the stripes you talk of are overlap marks. It takes skill to wash concrete with really high pressure with a wand and not leave stripes. I use a 30" surface cleaner. Although you can still leave overlap marks with a surface cleaner they are more spread out and less noticeable. I think that 4000 psi is pretty high for cleaning concrete with a wand. Some people might disagree with me but everybody has their own preference. I usually will test it out and see what is the lowest psi I can get away with and still do a good job. I don't recommend using your highest pressure on everything. More pressure equals more chance of damage.

 

[Burtco]

Thanks Dan and Steve for your input. I did go to my profile and edit it. Thanks for the tip with the bleach, I am going to stop by with a spray bottle of straight bleach and try to get the spots out.

Hey Dan what do you think about using bleach as the sole cleaning agent from the start??

Steve: I did run the sprayer just a little over 50% power yesterday. I was afraid that full power would damage the concrete.

 

[the_GUNN_man]

What do you mean you ran it a little over 50% power? Did you do that by adjusting the unloader or changing tips? If you turned down the unloader then that means you turned down your gallons per minute too. They go hand in hand when turning your unloader down. It is better to adjust pressure with different size tips.

 

[Burtco]

I reduced the pressure regulator knob and Throttled the engine down a little. I am already using a 40 degree nozzle would you recommend one that directs less pressure? I did not know there was one with less other than the soaper nozzle. (Don't newbies just drive you crazy?)

 

[the_GUNN_man]

One thing they tell you is never throttle your machine down to lower pressure. Your pump is made to run at certain rpm. The regulater knob is the unloader. I would strongly suggest you use a different size nozzle to lower pressure. You never want to lower your gallons per minute. On your machine you probably are using #4.0 or #4.5 tips. The higher the number the lower the pressure. their are nozzle charts you can use to figure it out. You might be able to ask others and they can direct you to the site that does that. My chart is out in my truck and could give you numbers later.

 

[ron]

ron p/ burtco

only use tips to change pressure not the engine idol or the unloader.
If it took you 5 1/2 hours to wash with a wand, a surface cleaner would have done a better job in 1 1/2 hrs.
As far as bleach, it has no cleaning powers it just takes the color out of stains[organic stains, that is]
If you would have use oxalic acid on that driveway after you cleaned it, you would have WOWED him. It brightens it.
Those brown spots could be old oil stains and bleach wont do crap to them.
use the search feature on this site and invest some more time learning. I think learning chems is the most important thing in this biz.
Chems clean,pressure washes it away.
Not trying to put down your wash unit in any way but you would have been better off with 3000 PSI and 5.5 gal. per min.
I know of a co. selling ts2021 general pumps for $288.00
It would prob. be the best investment ,besides a surface cleaner, that you could make right now.
These are my opinions and you/anyone can disagree.
rottie72@aol.com

 

[Jon]

Burtco Email me.

Jon
opclean@earthlink.net

 

[Burtco]

Jon - I just emailed you.

 

[doug mckenzie]

if you don't hold the lance at a right angle to the surface you will get marks too.you get a variation of pressure across the fan of the nozle spray pattern. one thing nice about a surface cleaner. the nozzles are canted to make the thing work but the spray pattern is is at a rt. angle to the surface. bleach or oxalic acid that's going to do it. (i would have used new again,but some of you knew that)
suds mckenzie
quality housewashing
ridgefield conn.

 

[paul-uk]

ron p

"I know of a co. selling ts2021 general pumps for $288.00
It would prob. be the best investment "

hi ron, i was just wondering why you have recomended another pump.

i know cats are triple the price of general and also general will usualy replace faulty pump, but iknow there must be a reason.

always look foreward to reading your posts ron, thanks for taking the time to do it, and i hope your new bride is spoiling you.

cheers paul.

 

[Mike Hughes]

What good would a TS 2021 be to him when he has a 15 hp engine?


If the customer was happy with the job, don't go nuts trying to get those stains off.

The tiger stripes might be avoided if you quickly wash in the opposite direction over each section you do. Wash a square side to side, then turn 90° and wash it up and down. That should reduce those marks.

Get a 40° tip of a bigger size, so it reduces your pressure. Somewhere on here there was a nozzle chart posted...........try searching under "nozzle chart".

 

[ron]

more GPM and less PSI will clean faster and do less damage.
I have seen that ts2021 run with a 13 hp motor so i dont know why a 15 hp would be a problem? cat pumps are nice but buy one and rebuild it one time and you will have spent enuff money to by 4 ts2021 pumps brand new. cats are over rated and over priced. But thats my landa dealer talking.

 

[Bill B]

Ron, of course HP required is based on gpm and psi. I have a 2021 on a 5gpm/4000 psi machine, and am looking to switch to a 5 gpm/3500 via pulley changes. In either case I am probably running at the limit of the 18 HP engine I have.