After much procrastinating our official Sydney Wide Pressure Cleaning forum is now open.
Here you will be able to post all questions relevant and specific to our industry.
So with introductions taken care of….
may we present to you the….
Pressure Cleaning Sydney Forum Now Open!
brick cleaning, cleaning pavers, concrete cleaner, concrete cleaning, concrete sealer, concrete sealing, driveway cleaning, graffiti removal, graffiti removal Sydney, high pressure cleaner, high pressure cleaning, High Pressure Cleaning Sydney, house washing, house washing Sydney, pressure cleaners, pressure cleaning, pressure cleaning Sydney, pressure washing, sealing pavers, Uncategorized
No Responses »
Dec 022011
There are a variety of methods that are implied in order to do concrete cleaning. The methods differ based on whether concrete sealing has been done on it using concrete sealer, and what kind of cleaning is required, among other criterion. But, generally, there are three main methods that are used. They are explained below -
Water Washing – Water washing simply consists of using a garden hose connected to a tank or any water source. Along with that detergent and cleansing chemicals have to be used. As the water here is used at a low pressure (about 15 to 30 psi) it is also known as low pressure water washing. To remove stains, scrubbers, brooms or mops might have to be used. A concrete sealer would of helped here preventing stains from penetrating.
Pressure Washing – Pressure washing includes using water at a higher pressure in order to force the stains to dislodge from their place. It uses about half of the water compared to water washing, but uses high pressure. The pressure used is 1,450 psi for domestic pressure washer machines, and ranges from 2000 to 6000 psi for professional or factory pressure washers. A fan nozzle is generally used to cover wide areas, while a point nozzle maybe used to concentrate on small areas with specific dirt spots. Usually water is enough to remove stains, since the high pressure does the work, but sometimes mild detergents have to be used. Care must be taken since a concrete sealer can be stripped here if too much force is exerted.
Steam Washing – It uses the highest amount of pressure amongst all the three methods. The high temperature that can be used with steam washing helps to clean off algae, fungi and bacterial accumulation, and is fit for hotels, hospitals and cafeterias where food is frequently cooked, and the cleanliness level has to be constantly maintained. To clean concrete surfaces only with steam cleaning, can be a slow process however, and is generally used along with pressure washing. Chemicals that are recommended by the manufacturer can be used to remove contamination. However, the surface must be rinsed with clean water after steam washing has been done.
Out of the three methods, Pressure washing is the best. It saves you time, energy as well as resource. As stated above, it requires half the amount of water compared to water washing. Even steam washing is not enough, and has to be used in conjugation with pressure cleaning. With Pressure washing, you do not have to scrub off the stains; the pressure of the water itself is enough. If a concrete sealer was originally applied then most of the times, there is no need for detergent or cleansers.
Although, if you want to use cleansers, go through the owner’s manual and make sure that your machine can handle it. If you do not clean regularly, and therefore are not sure whether to buy a pressure washer or not, you can always rent one. If you are comfortable, you can go ahead and buy. Whether you buy or rent, do adequate research before selecting a particular machine. If you feel you can’t handle the washer or have any difficulties in concrete cleaning, you can always call professionals to do the cleaning for you.
Concrete driveways and sidewalks look splendid. They add a well finished elegant look to your exterior décor. However concrete cleaning is by far the most difficult job you can encounter. A lot of physical labor is involved in concrete cleaning, especially driveways and sidewalks primarily because they are larger areas, and also they tend to accumulate large amounts of dust easily.
The porous nature of concrete makes it highly difficult to render it completely clean without professional help. While you can do it yourself, hiring a professional service is also an option. The most preferred cleaning method for this task is the use of pressure washers. Pressure washers will save your money and effort and give you an excellent final output. Even though this method is the easiest option to opt for to clean your concrete driveways and sidewalks, there are certain fundamentals that you must know before you set out to use pressure washers on concrete and particularly driveway cleaning.
Doing it yourself
Concrete driveway cleaning on your own is not going to be an easy task but is possible. All you need is a pressure cleaner, the prescribed chemicals, protective gear and a water source. First assess the area of concrete you need to clean. A basic household pressure cleaner that you can buy from a local hardware store can clean 1 square foot area in a minute’s time. So if you have a standard 18’ x 30’ driveway, you will be spending a good 9 hours on cleaning it! Is this too much of a time investment? Definitely, it is!
However if you are up for a long weekend driveway cleanup plan, this is a good economical option. Post the cleaning, it takes 48 hours for the concrete to dry up completely. After the concrete is completely dry, a concrete sealer can be spread on the surface to keep the pathway intact. Over all, doing it yourself will be a time consuming affair.
Hire a professional concrete sealer service
Hiring a professional concrete sealer is the easiest option you can look at. Why? Professional services will be well equipped with the right tools and cleaning agents that will be required. It saves you the time of figuring out the things you need before you can prepare the surface. More importantly it saves you the effort.
As mentioned earlier, doing it your self would be a good 9 hours of work. Even with a professional service we are looking at not less than 5 hours of hard strenuous physical labor. Hiring a concrete sealer service in fact turns out to be cheaper as you will not be investing money on tools and equipment.
Concrete cleaning is a difficult job, no doubt about it. It you plan on having a concrete driveway or sidewalk, prepare yourself for some intense cleaning. Today, having concrete paths in pristine condition is a lot easier than before with the various services available to take care of them.
Pressure washing is a very effective way of cleaning dirt and stains from concrete surfaces. They need to be cleaned and maintained regularly because it is very difficult to achieve spotless driveways and garages because the stains just refuse to go. Driveway cleaning is required every now and then due to the spilling of oil from the engines of the vehicles. As far as concrete cleaning is concerned, simple scrubbing does not work. What is required is pressure washing because it is highly useful in dislodging the most adamant stains. The mechanism of pressure cleaning involves water under high pressure. Cleaning can either be done with hot or cold water. Both have their pros and cons and this article will have a comparative study of the two.
Hot water cleaning – As far as impervious surfaces are concerned like concrete, hot water cleaning is the best option because it can easily dislodge oil stains as well as stains left behind by chewing gums. Rubbing and scrubbing are not required and hot water cleans without causing any damage to the surface. There are many stain removing solutions which are available in the market and it is best to use them with hot water for the maximum effect.
Cleaning with hot water is a must for driveway cleaning and concrete cleaning and is widely used in commercial institutions. Hot water cleans faster than cold water thereby saving a lot of time and can be truly termed as power cleaning. Though it is more expensive than the cold water cleaning, the low labor cost involved somewhat balances the expenses. That is the major reason why hot water cleaning is so popular amongst the power washing contractors.
Cold water cleaning – Power washing done with the help of cold water is a huge favorite for domestic cleaning. Cold water power washers are cheaper than the hot water ones and are light weight too. Due to their weight or the lack of it, they can be carried from one place to the other with a lot of ease. They are also easier to operate than the hot water washers. If they are combined with the proper cleaning solutions and soaps, they can prove to be very effective as well.
Cold water cleaning is mostly used for sidings such as drivit, aluminum and stucco. It can also be a useful cleaning agent for porches, driveways and pavers if there are no tough stains to be dealt with. Normal driveway cleaning and concrete cleaning is possible with cold water provided oil and chewing gum stains are not involved.
Whether you will require hot water or cold water for pressure cleaning is totally dependent upon the kind of stain you need to remove. You can also choose the medium based on whether you have to clean your domestic premises or an industrial or commercial set up. In case you were previously confused about the benefits of each of the above process, the information which has been provided to you will guide you to take the best decision.
Concrete cleaning is a task that you could do yourself or have a professional cleaning services company to help you complete the task. While there are abundant choices to make if you choose the latter, identifying one that is most suitable for you is not as easy as it is perceived to be. This is largely because there are several aspects to be considered in making the final decision. These factors are covered in this article in order to help you make an easy and quick decision when it comes to finding a cleaning service.
Most concrete cleaning companies employ pressure washing techniques to clean your concrete floors. They are an effective and quick means to cleaning and removing stains. They promise and guarantee to remove any kind of stain however hard they may be. However, the question is whether everyone can handle the task. When stains are tough and the area is taking away the look of your home, it is but essential for you to hire one cleaning service company that can complete the task for you in an effective manner.
The help of a good cleaning service is important especially when you do not have the time to spare and also want to ensure that your home stays in pristine condition. Concrete cleaning using a pressure washer helps in removing almost any kind of stain that could have resulted due to grease, oil, algae, mass, deposits, mildew, mold or any kind of debris. Tough stains like graffiti are also removed by these service cleaning companies. While you are assured about the benefits offered by cleaning service, the next big question is on how to find a suitable one.
Procedure to find a good concrete cleaning company
(1) Your local newspaper or the internet can give you loads of information on the companies available in and around your locality. Make a note of their contact details and make sure to consult them before hiring their services.
(2) The longer a company has been in business, the higher is their credibility. The rationale is that their survival could have primarily been due to the quality in their service.
(3) Find out if cleaning is their exclusive line of business or if it is only a tertiary area. You may want to hire someone who offers a focused service and has the experience and expertise to handle any kind of cleaning operation.
(4) You may also opt for new kids on the block since they deserve to be checked out. In such cases, gather sufficient authentic references that would direct you to availing their services.
(5) You have to necessarily obtain a work proposal in black and white. Make sure that the agreement is clear. It is suggested to pay by the job and not on an hourly basis. Do not pay any advance. The company your hire should have insurance backup so that recovery of any possible damages can be done.
Concrete cleaning can be handled with finesse with a cleaning service. However, keep track of some pointers in order to avoid being duped.
Pressure cleaners are useful tools for cleaning all sorts of surfaces – including those of your house siding, driveway, patio, bar-be-cue grill and even your car. A handy tool in every household now a day, this machine should be used with utmost caution as it converts the water coming out from a faucet to a pressure of 1500 to 3000 pounds per square inch (psi), enough to tear your skin if you are a bit careless.
Whenever grime settles down on the surface of your siding, patio, driveway concrete cleaning or that bar-be-cue lying in your plush green garden, you have three alternatives of getting rid of it –
01. Take a good quality detergent, a brush and rub away the grime using your hands – this most often leads to injuries.
02. If you find that the detergent is not effective, you can buy some chemical from the hardware store, read the instructions of DIY and try to clean the surface with scrubbers. Chemicals may prove harmful to you or you may turn out to be allergic to them.
03. Wash away the grime in an eco-friendly and safe way and keep yourself healthy by using pressure cleaners.
A pressure washer, when attached to a faucet takes low pressure water and boosts the pressure way up with the help of a special pump, which is either powered by a gasoline engine or an electric motor. The spraying end of a pressure cleaning machine contains a spray wand which spreads out a high pressure stream of water. A Spray wand can be attached with several different tips, where each tip has a different function to perform.
The basic principle of pressure cleaners is to clean the surface by pressure – which is increased or decreased with the help of different nozzles (colored as per their usage) and the variation is done according to the denseness of the grime. A thin, narrow stream of water jet is used to break away the grime from the surface and a thick, wide stream is used for cleaning the surface.
However, care must be taken to inspect the surface for any cracks or peeled-off paint, as the pressure of the narrow stream of water jet can further increase the damaged area. You should take extra care of the attachments on the windows and doors, as they are more vulnerable to high pressure jet stream of water.
Pressure cleaners also come with heaters attached just before the pressure boosting pump or motor (as the case may be) for heating the water before it is sprayed. Hot water pressure wash is more effective in cleaning the grime as hot water helps the detergents to break up the molecules faster.
Some safety features are mandatory for the pressure cleaners, like – the hose should conform to the standards laid down by the Safety Agency – the machine being a deadly combination of water and electricity (where electric motor is used), proper current breakers should be provided in case of a short circuit.
Sep 252010
You might be living in the most beautiful house in the neighborhood, but is your driveway clean enough to reflect the grandeur of the house? Most people neglect to include the exterior in their house-cleaning routine, but ironically the exterior is what visitors notice first and by the time they are in the judgment is long passed. The exterior — driveway, sidewalk, walkway, the roof — being mostly concrete, demanding a rather complex cleaning technique, you might need some tips before rolling your sleeves for the job. Concrete cleaning calls for machineries and chemicals you need to be aware of.
Three basic methods can be used for concrete cleaning — water washing, pressure washing and steam cleaning.
Water washing: Water washing simply implies to flushing dirt from the concrete surface by using bucket or garden hose. In this method—since the water pressure would not be high enough to perform a thorough cleaning—you might be required to scrub the surface with stiff-bristled brush or broom to loosen stubborn deposits. This method is time consuming and is not advisable for cleaning a large area.
Pressure washing: Pressure washing is the most popular among the three because of its time efficiency and thoroughness. Most professionals prefer this method because of its reliability. In this method electric or petrol driven pumps are used to increase the water pressure high enough to force-break the bond between dirt and concrete. With this method there is no need for scrubbing by brush and, therefore, saves time and energy. One man using pressure washing method can do the job of five men with the other two methods. The equipments come with water pressure of about 1000kPa for domestic models and about 1400kPa to 1800kPa for larger commercial models. It also comes with fan nozzles which allow you to adjust the width of contact to your preference and thereby allowing a thorough, best possible concrete cleaning job.
Steam cleaning: Steam cleaning is the third method of cleaning concrete. This method use high temperature steam to melt stubborn substances like chewing gum and grease. It is efficient in cleaning sticky substances but the process is painfully slow and, therefore, most professionals do not subscribe to this method.
With all the above three methods you will also be required to use certain chemicals and detergents. Initially, you can try using household detergents and soaps. If the dirt is too thick for household detergents you can go for specific chemicals that are available in the market for concrete cleaning. These chemicals are highly alkaline solutions, some are sodium-based and some are acidic. Use caution while applying chemicals because some of the chemicals (diluted hydrochloric acid, chlorine bleach, etc.) can be hazardous to your health. If there is colored design on the concrete use caution while applying acidic chemicals because acid can burn the color and disfigure the design.
If you want a sparkling clean driveway it is advisable that you hire professional cleaners. It will not cost you a fortune if you hire pressure cleaning companies because pressure cleaning takes less time and labor when compared with steam cleaning or water washing. The job is fast and efficient. Another reason for hiring a professional is that you might not know the step-one about using the various chemicals and you might end up harming yourself and your property.
A sparkling-clean driveway would surely add grandeur to your house. So, promise yourself to keep your driveway and sidewalk clean (now that you have learned a lot about concrete cleaning), and prepare yourself for the extra flow of visitors.
Would you like to know as much as possible about concrete cleaning? The wisest thing to do is to start searching for a pressure cleaner on the net since it is filled with interesting information regarding this topic as well as many other pressure washing related topics.
The Internet will most likely inform you about the fact that the best thing you can do if you would like to perform concrete cleaning is to buy or hire yourself a pressure cleaner. There are many types of pressure cleaners to choose between but if you manage to choose the right one you’ll be very satisfied with the decision.
As soon as you start looking for a good pressure cleaner you’ll discover that there are more than five different types to choose between. You can buy a gas pressure cleaner, an ultra high pressure cleaner, a high pressure steam cleaner or some of the other machines available in the shops. You will most likely get a much better price if you choose to buy one on the net compared to if you buy one in a common shop. The price is usually lower online and it’s always good to save some money.
There are differences between the available pressure washers on the market. You can detergent in some of them while other ones are only made for water. A chemical injector is used in the washers where detergent can be used. There are two types of injectors to choose between if you would like to buy a washer like this.
Concrete cleaning is performed in industrial buildings and it can be used on vehicles and roads as well. It might sound complicated to perform concrete cleaning but it’s actually not difficult at all, you just need to use the right tools to get the perfect result.
If you’re interested in learning more about concrete cleaning and equipment that can be used for this purpose you should definitely start searching for a good site online where you can find information about this topic and various products. You should try to compare prices, product information and other things that might be important when it’s time to choose a machine. It won’t be hard to find all the information you need since it’s all out there. Another thing to keep in mind is that great quality is more important than a low price since you will be able to use the right pressure washer for a very long time. Don’t forget to look into accessories like concrete cleaning rotary heads!
Concrete gives a wonderful look to your exterior, be it your walls, garages, patios, side walks, parking lots or commercial buildings. In fact, owing to the aesthetic look that it imparts, it is also found in the interiors of many houses. Many people have their walls and floors made of concrete. However, regular concrete cleaning is a must, otherwise the surface of concrete may deteriorate and in worse cases, there may be cracks which may even be visible. Grease, stains, dirt and other harmful pollutants accumulate over a period of time, giving a worn out look. And in many a cases, concrete walls etc are visibly faded. In all these cases, considering a pressure cleaner is very important.
Concrete surfaces form a good breeding ground for mosses, mildew, algae, mould and other contaminants, and cleaning them manually is a task. That is why hiring a pressure cleaner is recommended. Today, sophisticated equipment are available for pressure cleaning, but neither the pressure is good, nor is the job well done by home owners. Concrete cleaning is a job that needs proper handling and attention, because a job incorrectly done, or done by a novice can mean damage to your property calling for expensive repair.
A pressure cleaner using detergent and/or chemicals along with high pressure water, unlike sand or soda blasting is environment friendly. This is what your concrete needs. However, using a high pressure cleaner to blast a surfaces top layer allows micro-spores to re-infest the cleaned area and take root! That is why, when professionals with thorough experience handle the job, they not only restore the exteriors, they also ensure that the cleanliness is preserved for a long time to come. There are a number of pressure cleaner companies that give comprehensive services using quality products for improving the appearance of your property.
Special concrete cleaning techniques devised by professionals involves application of biodegradable cleaning solution to break the bond between the surface of your property and grease, dirt, moss, mould, etc. This is followed by agitating the solution, before finally spraying with a high pressure cleaner. The entire process of a pressure cleaner ensures that your property looks as good as new. Simply using excessive water pressure and blasting a surface’s top layer only harms the property calling for extensive repair.
Professional pressure washing companies generally keep various things in their mind before delving into cleaning. They inspect your property, along with the surroundings, and analyse what is the extent of work that is required, what kind of chemicals to use, whether high or low pressure cleaning is suited, and so on! Generally pressure-washing concrete surfaces of homes calls for varying degrees of water pressure to clean the surface. Professional concrete cleaning is advisable every 12 to 18 months, depending on the environment, and various other factors.
If you are considering painting your home then, it is better to first get rid of mold, algae, mosses, mildew, grease, stains, grime, mud, and dirt, and improve on the quality of paint job, thereby extending the life of your property. Concrete cleaning not only makes your property clean but makes it attractive and thus inviting to potential patrons.
Walls, roof, flooring, etc made of concrete have become a necessary part of our houses, as concrete improves the aesthetic appeal of our homes tremendously. And concrete cleaning has become almost equally unavoidable, as concrete surface, like any other surface, when exposed to dirt, water, and weather hardships, is prone to damage. Cleaning your concrete frequently, is just as important as cleaning your house interiors. And your driveway, walkway, patio, roof, etc are equally important as they also tend to deteriorate by contaminate attacks and harmful molds that can even cause allergic reactions.
Pressure washers go to the houses and make the house as well as your garage; driveway, patio, etc look new again. Though high pressure cleaning involves using of pressure washing machine, detergents or chemicals, a hose, and a connection to your homes water source, it rids your house of years and piles of contaminates that have reduced the visual appeal of your home, and the perceived value of it. Concrete cleaning improves your home by adding value to it and leaves it as sparkling as new.
how to decide which company would do a good job?
Needless to say the first thing that a company should have is experience in concrete cleaning, as manhandling can mean that the concrete surface may chip off. Don’t think twice before asking a high pressure cleaner direct questions regarding experience as it is your property that is at stake, and shouldn’t be left in the hands of a novice. Make sure that the washer has experience, along with proper know-how of the job, correct equipment, and cleaning agents and detergents.
Also it is important to see if the pressure cleaning company has insurance and bonding. These things are very important for a high pressure cleaning job, as these factors take care of damages that may occur, as there is always room for some accidents.
How to search for a good pressure washer?
Generally directories or white pages can be searched to find good concrete cleaning companies. Discussing with friends and family may also get you good referrals. It is also possible that you may find a roadside sign for high pressure cleaning, with a guy claiming to do the job cheap, but then there is a high possibility that the job is poorly done, or the property is harmed (calling for costly repair), and in some situations something is stolen.
What services can Be expected from pressure washing companies?
Stain and graffiti removal, restoration of all exteriors (including driveway, pathway, patio, garage, roof, walls, and more), applying sealers to fill any open area (so as to reduce future attacks by mosses, mould, etc), and to repair the minor damages that may have been caused by concrete cleaning. Since washers use water, there is a possibility that moisture may ruin other things, and a good washer knows this. That is why, they clean, restore, and apply sealers to save the property from damage.
Simple and easy measures coupled with good understanding of concrete cleaning can help restore and protect your home, and give you satisfaction that is unparalleled.