What can specialized concrete cleaning do for you? Driveways, sidewalks, and patios, oh my! If there’s concrete on your property, you know it’s an incredibly durable surface capable of standing up to years of exposure to the elements. You also know it can quickly become a magnet for microbial growth, organic debris, and a vast array of stains, discoloration, and damage. Cleaning concrete should be easy, though, right? Actually, it requires a bit more specialized attention than you might realize. Before you pick up the pressure washer and start going to town, consider the benefits of a more specialized approach to the task.
Why Concrete Cleaning is a Specialized Job
When concrete is dirty, stained, or discolored, the first thing most people reach for is a pressure washing machine. Concrete is so hard and durable that it seems as if it should be more than capable of standing up to concrete cleaning with a pressure washer, but pressure watching can do serious damage.
With just a few passes at the wrong setting or using the wrong nozzle, a pressure washer can cause irreversible surface etching. Joints can also be damaged during the concrete cleaning process as mortar and sand are washed away. While there’s definitely something satisfying about peeling years of built-up gunk and grime from concrete driveways, sidewalks, and patios, even a tiny slip-up can be devastating.
Pressure washers generate a surprisingly brutal amount of force. So much, you can be seriously injured by direct contact with the pressurized water. Something as simple as choosing the wrong nozzle can lead to irreparable damage. Paver pathways are a particularly poor candidate for pressure washing, as the sheer force of the water can often dislodge the mortar between pavers. The best-case scenario in this situation is an explosion in weed and plant growth between pavers to fill that empty space. Worst case scenario? One or more pavers need to be replaced, and the whole walkway needs new mortar. This is why you need specialized concrete cleaning.
Power Washing: The Gentler, More Effective Alternative to Pressure Washing
Now you know it’s best to step away from the pressure washer, but how are you supposed to get all those concrete surfaces sparkling like new again? Power washing is the specialized concrete cleaning method that just might be the answer. It may sound similar to pressure washing, but there are several crucial differences between the two cleaning methods.
Where pressure washing relies on blasting away debris and discoloration with nothing but sheer force, power washing takes a different approach. This system relies upon knowledge of the appropriate detergents, cleansers, and protectant products, treating each area with the care and attention required to get old concrete looking like new again. Higher volumes of far less aggressive water flow aid in the process, as do specialized scrubbing and cleaning machines. This means even relatively delicate concrete statuary, furniture, and other accents can be safely and effectively cleaned.
Expert attention means you never have to worry about the effects of cleansers and surfactants on your landscaping, lawn, and plant life, either. Using the right products for the job restores the look of your concrete surfaces without assuming the risk of irreversible damage. The same cannot always be said for cleaning with a pressure washer.
More power isn’t always what you’re looking for, especially when it comes to cleaning exterior surfaces. If you’re ready to take back your concrete surfaces from creeping lichen, organic debris, staining, and discoloration, Carolina Power Wash can help. With expert knowledge regarding the many cleansers, degreasers, and detergents on their side, they don’t have to resort to peeling away debris and everything beneath it.