Do you have concrete somewhere on your Riverview, FL property? It’s almost certain that the answer to this question is yes. Concrete is a highly durable material, and because of this, it’s used to create a wide variety of everyday structures. This includes sidewalks, driveways, back patios, retaining walls, and more! However, as durable as concrete is, it still requires maintenance. That’s because concrete will eventually accumulate surface debris—and if you don’t remove this debris, there will be trouble.
In this blog, you’ll discover how to pressure wash concrete, as well as the associated benefits. We are Revive Paver Restoration, and as your community’s professional concrete pressure washers, we know what we’re talking about! Need full-service assistance? Then just give us a call. We would love to lend you a helping hand.
Why Does Concrete Need to Be Cleaned?
Why should you learn how to pressure wash concrete? Because concrete is constantly accumulating debris, and if you don’t get rid of it, your property will suffer real consequences! Over time, various unwanted substances will appear on your concrete, including dirt, moss, mold, algae, bird droppings, dead insects, pollen, etc. As this debris adds up, it subtracts from your concrete’s beauty. The dirtier your concrete is, the darker and duller it will be, too. This steals away your home or business’s curb appeal.
Surface debris has another serious consequence: it increases the risk of damage to your property. Dirtier concrete is more likely to deteriorate. This is because particles of debris grind against the concrete and gradually erode it. Additionally, organic growths such as moss, mold, and algae store water and cause moisture damage to concrete.
We highly recommend that you have your concrete pressure washed once per year to keep it in clean, beautiful condition. Has it already been a year since your concrete was last cleaned? If so, it will be best if you learn how to pressure wash concrete sooner rather than later.
Necessary Tools For Concrete Cleaning
To learn how to pressure wash concrete, you’ll need to make sure you have the correct equipment. The single most important tool for the work is the pressure washer. A pressure washer is a machine that highly pressurizes water, making it strong enough to eliminate even the most stubborn debris on your concrete. The resulting jet of water can have as much as 3,500 PSI of pressure, allowing it to carve away tough stains with ease.
What else will you need for successful concrete cleaning? We have included a bulleted list of other necessary items below, so be sure to review them all:
- Hose/Nozzle. You won’t be able to spray your surfaces clean without a hose and nozzle. Remember, pressurized water isn’t something to play with. Only aim your hose at surfaces you intend to wash and never at yourself.
- Detergent/Cleaning Solutions. Sometimes, it takes more than water to get rid of debris. You can add specially marked detergents to your pressure washer’s soap tank to make the process easier. We also recommend sodium hypochlorite.
- Safety Equipment. Protecting yourself during pressure washing projects is always a wise idea. Be sure to cover your sensitive skin with gloves, closed-toe shoes, full-length pants, and eye protection.
Clearing Off Concrete Surfaces
You won’t be able to learn how to pressure wash concrete if your concrete surfaces are covered with obstacles. For example, your concrete patio might be filled with furniture, decorations, and barbecue grills. Alternatively, your concrete driveway might have a few cars parked on it. Before any pressure washing can begin, please move these objects out of the way. That way, they don’t block you from cleaning any concrete. Plus, they’ll be safe from pressurized water this way!
It’s also a good idea to sweep concrete before pressure washing it. This lets you remove pebbles and other large particles ahead of time. This prevents them from being launched by pressurized water, protecting you and any nearby windows and windshields.
The Concrete Pressure Washing Process
Now that you’ve made all the correct preparations, it’s time to discover how to pressure wash concrete. First things first, you’ll want to select an appropriate amount of water pressure. (For concrete cleaning jobs, this is within the range of 3,000 to 3,500 PSI.)
Next, choose a starting point on the concrete surface—preferably one of the corners. Now, rinse the concrete from one side to another, successfully restoring “one row” of the area. You’ll be able to completely restore your concrete by washing it “row by row”. Just make sure you overlap each pass to ensure no surface area is accidentally left unwashed.
Using Cleaning Solutions to Defeat Tough Grime
What happens when you discover stubborn stains that you seemingly can’t wash off your concrete? When you find yourself in this situation, use cleaning solutions to save the day! If you don’t already have a pressure washing detergent in your soap tank, it may be worth a shot.
We highly recommend a sodium hypochlorite application when fighting against tough blemishes. Simply spray a thin layer of sodium hypochlorite onto the afflicted area. Then, wait fifteen minutes before spraying it clean. Finally, pressure wash the area again, and you will find that grime that was once too tough to remove vanishes in a flash.
Consider Professional Concrete Cleaning
If you don’t want to learn how to pressure wash concrete on your own, what’s the alternative? You can always reach out to Revive Paver Restoration for the full-service concrete cleaning services you need! We are a locally owned and operated business, and it’s always our pleasure to pressure wash concrete for our community clients. That way, they can use their time and energy in other ways while we do all the hard pressure washing work for them.
If you are interested in what we have to offer, don’t wait to contact us online today! We look forward to hearing from you and pressuring washing your concrete. That way, your property can be in the best possible condition again.
