Surface Cleaning: A Short Guidebook
All the surfaces around the outside of your home will always get dirty. Having them surface cleaned is one of the best ways to maintain them.
Houses have all kinds of exterior surface installations from concrete to asphalt to pavers. They have to face the elements of nature head on and get hit with dirt, pollen, algae, scratches, oil, rust, and weathering. The grime that homeowners see isn't just a thin top film. Exterior surfaces have varying levels of porosity and the grime can get deep into the pores up to a half an inch into the surface. Scrubbing and rinsing off the top isn't enough in these cases. Chemical treatment with heavy pressure and high flow water are required to really get a proper clean, sometimes heat is necessary as well.
If the layout is mainly flat, then surface cleaning is the best method for cleaning. Surface cleaners sizes are a function of the flow rate and psi of the pressure washing unit they are attached to. These cleaners have a sturdy circular housing with a high performance bar inside which spins at thousands of rotations per minute, pushing out gallons of water at high pressure. As surface cleaners travel over concrete, for example, they dissolve the dirt and push it out of the pores. Afterwards the concrete is rinsed off, and sometimes a post-treatment of chemicals is applied to further eradicate any vegetation or organisms.
What Size Surface Cleaner Is Necessary?
The rule of thumb for surface cleaners is 4x the GPM output. It's best to hire a professional to survey your property and provide you with the pressure washing service.
A surface cleaner can't exceed the 4x rule otherwise it won't output the correct amount of flow and pressure to properly clean the surface. It will leave streaks, swirl marks, and dirt & debris behind. A 2 GPM (Gallons Per Minute) machine needs an 8 inch surface cleaner to work properly. Being as this is a very small size to work with, professional contractors use larger surface cleaners going up to 20 inches, and over 30 inches for commercial businesses. Based on the 4x rule, a 4 GPM machine needs a 16 inch surface cleaner and a 5 GPM machine needs a 20 inch surface cleaner. Going an inch under or an inch over for these larger machines isn't an issue, and can even help improve performance. For smaller machines, it's best to stick to the 4x rule.
To Be A Little More Specific
Some surface cleaners come with wheels and others without. Having wheels, or castors, on a surface cleaner depends on the preference of the pressure washing technician and what the surface cleaner is being used for. Castors help to move the surface cleaner in various directions and reduce the physical demands of the operator. That being said, the surface cleaner tends to run about half an inch above the surface as it travels due to the high pressure output pushing the tool upwards.
Choosing the correct handle and gun assembly can also make an impact on the performance of the surface cleaner. Many of these tools come with straight handles which are operated with heavy usage of the forearms and shoulders. The forward bend that is required can result in a quicker stamina drain and may result in injuries in the future. The best surface cleaners have a bend at the handle which allows them to be used in a more comfortable position. A comfortable wrist position on a surface cleaner allows for more versatility and helps prevent wrist and shoulder injuries in the future.
Surface cleaners are outstanding tools which greatly increase the output of pressure washing technicians, sometimes up to 10 times. When used properly they can clean very deeply and can also help prevent injuries which occur when using other tools and processes.
To get your home surface cleaned, reach out to Queens Pressure Washing today for a free estimate and consultation.
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