we have a concrete pool deck...should we buy a power washer or hire someone? i hear a power washer in the wrong hands can really be a bad bad thing.....

We use a product from surecretedesign.com called SCR
Clean concrete really good, can be diluted with water so it won't over etch the concrete, eco friendly, safe around plants and lawn.

We use a pressure washer to clean all of our concrete. Never any problems.

@nnigrt, to hire someone you will probably pay anywhere from $250 and up depending on the area.

Being a Homeowner, you probably better off to purchase one, you can get one for about $300 like Generac model # 6922 which is 2,800 PSI and you can find it on Amazon and that should be more than enough for home use and they have pretty good rating. Also if you be using the power washer on sidewalks, patio and around pool area you will need something like 15" EZ Clean Surface Cleaner attachment, you can also find that on amazon or local HD (probably will be cheaper), they started selling them. Using that will speed up the cleaning process and you will have everything cleaned in no time. You can also use it to clean gutters, they have attachments for that, washing cars, etc.

You can also rent one, a gas powered one will probably run you $80 a day plus surface cleaner attachment for another $30 a day.

It's fairly easy to use them as soon as you get a hang of it, the most important part is to hold the power washer gun tight, because each time you squeeze the trigger you get a nice kick back because the engine models can put out some good power, other than that it's very easy to use, but like any other tool you have to pay attention and follow safety instructions.

Good luck

thanks so much for the info!

we have a handyman who is pretty darn cheap and we do like to throw work his way whenever possible, but honestly i think my husband would love a power washer of his own for father's day....

: )

some great tips, thanks! Can someone help me out? I have a concrete pool which is in great shape, however the decking around it is concrete and over the years it has been painted; first turquoise ! then dark grey, then light grey. Now it's starting to bubble and peel off in places all around the pool. Do you have any advice for me? Will a pressure washer work, or just make more of a mess! thanks in advance for any help.

cheers

Bleach and a corn husk broom has always worked for me.

@Ellis Creek Kitchen
We've had great results using Blue Bear coating remover.

http://www.franmar.com/blue-bear/coating-removers

Thank you! I will give it a try.

We power wash at least once per week!

I use diluted bleach and a wide broom, like Deborahjoseph. We have also tried a power washer, but it takes too long to get everything clean. Our concrete patio is from 1990 and is only now starting to show a little wear. It only gets bleach cleaned about twice a year and it does not bother my landscaping around the area.

I used Olympic outdoor deck cleaner from lowes, really worked well.

I powerwash with a 2000 psi pressure washer. I can feel little bits of sand/concrete being knocked off, so over time I wonder if over time this is degrading the concrete and wearing it down, so I only do it once every year or two. Sometimes I throw down some bleach to let it soak in and to get rid of green algae mold.

Ellis Creek Kitchens I have a huge concrete poured deck around my patio plus a sidewalk. The sidewalk was painted using concrete paint and it is peeling and a mess which I am slowly getting off with a pressure washer. But the concrete deck was done with Behr concrete stain applied over clean concrete in a colour like concrete ( kind of light beige grey although you can use any colour you like). It turned out beautifully, and has lasted a very long time and where it does come off it just wears off like any stain. Not big chunks of paint. I have done my entire patio twice in 10 years and I love it. It just rolls on with a regular roller and was done in a day

sorry. meant to say poured around my pool

We use detergent and oxyclean and a strong broom around the pool deck. Usually only need to do it in the spring after we take the cover off. Occasionally the power washer, but it can be too strong in the wrong hands!

I have owned and used a pressure washer for years. Next spring I plan to have the driveway replaced using exposed aggregate. My pressure washer is pretty powerful so I wonder if I'll be able to clean the new driveway without damaging it. Living in the Pacific Northwest we get a lot of moss growing on anything concrete. I've used 30 Second Cleaner for light cleaning; what do you all suggest for the annual driveway cleaning?

If you use a pressure washer, get what is called a surface cleaner. A surface cleaner will give you a very consistent clean with no streaks. Also, it cuts water and time by 2/3. A pressure washer and surface cleaner can be rented for about $100/day. A small surface cleaner can be purchased for $70. The photo is of 25+ year old sidewalks that have never been cleaned.

We used oxyclean or Sodium Percarbonate, which is the bulk version to clean out multiple surfaces. It works great in a garden sprayer and doesn't harm plants or animals. We let that sit for a few minutes and then blasted it with a pressure washer to remove as much of the bubbled and loose paint as possible.

Our company has a concrete stain/sealer product that can be custom colored to whatever you would like and soaks deep into the concrete to protect it better than standard concrete paints. It's also water-based, so no harsh odors or chemical residues.

Connect with us for more information! www.amscoat.com

Use pressure washer.

Should the concrete be resealed after power washing?

It's always good to get a sealer on concrete after it's blasted clean. Once it's really clean, it's more susceptible to mold and fungus as well as dirt and residue getting deeper into the pores.

Unless you had more fun cleaning it. :)

A A

There are some good points noted. When dealing with oil and hydraulic fluid, after you have quickly absorbed the liquid; mixing a dryish patch of plaster and putting over the spot will suck the fluid out of the concrete. It usually takes at least a week with it in place, before you see results

Power washing is dangerous to concrete especially if you live in a freeze-thaw zone. There are safer methods that require more physical labor.

http://www.cement.org/for-concrete-books-learning/concrete-technology/concrete-design-production/perils-of-power-washing

Have a driveway that has epoxy coating on it, it's been years and has lasted well, I would like to re coat but not sure if the new product would adhere well to the already coated surface, what should I do, any ideas ??? Tony

Akers Landscapes

When cleaning concrete, you should really know what type of concrete surface your trying to clean. There's various finishes done today ie: broomed, exposed, acid etched, sand blasted, colored and stamped are some of the common ones today. Also it's helpful to know what type of stain or discoloration your trying to remove. Is it just normal weathered concrete were talking about which most of the time can be corrected with a simple pressure washer and a 15-30 degree tip. Also remember to be consistent in slightly overlapping as you go back and forth otherwise you may experience some streaks where you missed. Try not to hold the tip to close with a 3000 psi machine, 12" away should be fine. Take your time as you go for best results, be thorough and if it's a large project break it up into segments or you may experience some back issues. Now if there's some hard stains/oil stains a simple over the counter concrete cleaner can be added to the equation, or applied directly to the effected area, (always read the directions as some need to be deleted before application). I wouldn't recommend any of the stronger acid type cleaners for the average "do it yourself homeowners". leave this to a professional concrete finish personnel that's experienced in cleaning concrete. Otherwise you may destroy what your trying to clean and it can happen fast with acid cleaners. One other tip, if your cleaning a stamped or other colored surface, never use any major cleaning products on this. The color is simply etched into the upper 1/8" of the concrete surface. simply use some soap and water, with a light bristle scrub brush and rinse. Or you can use a pressure washer but very lightly and remember to use a good sealer to protect this color finish afterword's. you can contact your local concrete company for suggestions on products, there application and other helpful cleaning tips.
Good luck guys! andy

I know this sounds too simple, but when my basement & garage floors and sidewalks were poured back in '84, the contractor actually gave me a container of Dawn dishwashing liquid.....no specific mixing formula was given other than "a cup or so for a couple gallons of water"---he said wet the concrete first then just spray the mix on, let it set awhile and then use a pressure washer!

I've been doing that every 2 to 4 years on unpainted concrete floors & walks, and it all still looks good....for oil spills, I apply Dawn right on the spots and rub it in with a small stiff brush; and pressure wash....

AND FWIW, moving on to blacktop---same Dawn application & brush it a bit has taken care of occasional delivery vehicle oil drips----but I back off more with the pressure washer. (A quality seal coating withstands my 3000 psi pressure wash easily.)

Setting up my plastic sheeting to keep basement and garage finished walls dry is harder than the actual cleaning!

;-) J

VB)/Zac mzjxkñk

simplest fix, yes, blue Dawn dish soap

worked for us on driveway with oil and even harsher transfer case oil drippings

drizzle on, cover stain etc, leave for 5 or 10 mins then give scrub with wire or stiff brush and hard jet spray with hose... have a power washer but didn't even need it.

No need for chemicals or $$$ products

As others have mentioned, a power washer that can heat water is the most efficient method! No chemicals usually are necessary. Our team at Vallejo Power Washing handle these jobs all the time! Just remember to be environmentally friendly when you have a large oil spill to avoid flushing it down the storm drains.