Pressure Washing Concrete: An Information Piece
Concrete is a very strong building material that is used very often. It is porous and can hold onto dirt for years. Pressure washing concrete is a priority.
For residential properties, a lower strength concrete is used than for commercial properties. This is because residential properties don't see a lot of traffic or deal with a lot of heavy machinery, so the lower strength capacity of the concrete is more cost effective.
Residential properties have concrete that is rated from 3,000 to 5,000 psi. It's enough to withstand vehicles and basic wear & tear. This means cleaning it works best with equipment that is rated within the same range. Newer concrete that is within 3 years old needs even lower psi to clean without damaging it.
How Should Concrete Be Cleaned?
Since concrete is porous, that means there is dirt that has settled deep into the pores usually 1/4" to 1/2" in. A pressure washer has the right setup to push water into the pores and force the dirt out.
Concrete can become covered with dirt, vegetation, and chemical stains. To clean it thoroughly, a pre-treatment of cleaning mixtures and surfactants is applied, sometimes scrubbed in, to start dissolving everything. This is followed by either a turbo nozzle or surface cleaner pressure washing treatment. Once everything is broken down and blasted out, the concrete is rinsed off. Following this, a post-treatment of sodium hypochlorite is applied to kill any remaining root structures or microscopic life and dissolve any of the remaining dirt or chlorophyll-based stains. It keeps acting to essentially brighten up the concrete, until it breaks down into salt and water.
For oil stains, degreasers are sprayed and scrubbed in to break the oil and grease molecules down, then rinsed off. For rust stains, acids are used to break down the ferric oxide molecules, then rinsed off as well. After thoroughly cleaning concrete, homeowners can see where the real problem areas are. They can save money from a deep pressure washing rather than having new concrete poured. Cleaning first also allows other contractors to repair the cracks in the concrete more effectively, sealing the cracks from moisture and further protecting the home.
Why Hire A Pressure Washing Business?
Pressure washing businesses have special equipment that allows them to effectively clean concrete more thoroughly than everyday residential equipment that homeowners typical use.
Equipment such as surface cleaners, chemical injectors, and special nozzles are used by pressure washing businesses to apply cleaning solutions more effectively and clean deeper into surfaces. The equipment costs thousands of dollars and is used very carefully to prevent damage to properties. A typical surface cleaner has a circular housing with a heavy-duty rod inside which spins at thousands of rotations per minute. The rod has special tips on each end that spray pressurized water at a certain angle to properly clean the concrete. A turbo nozzle has a 0-degree water angle, but it rotates extremely fast, creating a funnel shape. This penetrates deep into the concrete and is great for cutting down plant life and dissolving dirt. Tools like these are expensive, need regular maintenance, and are best handled in the hands of professionals. Having pressure washing businesses do the cleaning is a safer and cheaper alternative in the long run.
To book your concrete cleaning today, send your information to Queens Pressure Washing to start the estimating and scheduling process.
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