Tips For Properly Pressure Washing Your Driveway
Pressure Washing Done Right
Your driveway and other outdoor concrete surfaces in your home can accumulate dirt, salt, motor oil, grime and other stains over time. Regular maintenance is required to restore its original look. No matter where you live your driveway takes a lot of abuse. Over time, these stains mentioned earlier can weaken the bonding agents in concrete and brick causing early deterioration and frankly it just looks bad. The solution to this is regular pressure washing followed by a good re-sealing. In this article, we are going to mention a few tips for properly pressure washing your driveway.
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A medium to heavy duty pressure washer is ideal for this project. If you have a light duty unit you will need to keep the water stream closer to the surface. Power washers with a PSI of 2200 to 3000 should be held about eight to eighteen inches from the surface while washers with a PSI rating of over three thousand should be held twelve to thirty inches from the surface. Always set up your power washer according to the particular manufacturer’s instructions.
Now since you will be working with a lot of pressure it is very important you review the safety precautions of your power washing unit and wear the appropriate clothing, including closed toe shoes. Be sure to never point the sprayer at anyone. Now if you happen to be pressure washing brick, use your garden hose to water down the entire area first, however, for concrete this step is not necessary. Once watered down properly begin to pre-treat any problem areas. Although it’s not always possible to remove set in stains, a pressure washer approved multi-service cleaning detergent or a heavy degreaser might help. You can also use a spray on commercial grade cleaner.
Wearing rubber gloves and safety goggles, spray the area and let the cleaner soak in according to instructions then scrub it with a utility broom or your pressure washer’s brush attachments. On brick, a white discoloration commonly known as efflorescence should also be pre-treated this way. Fill your unit with a power washer specific detergent. These are usually typically biodegradable so they will not harm the vegetation around your driveway. It is vital that you do not use bleach due to the fact that it will not only harm your unit but the environment as well. Connect the power unit’s water supply to a garden hose no longer than fifty feet. Connect the spray gun, wand and low-pressure tip to the unit. Make sure to keep any safety latches on. Once all done you can turn on the water.
When trying to start the motor, if you find that the engine recoil is stiff, squeeze the spray gun trigger to release internal pump pressure then try starting the motor again. Press the spray trigger until soap is visible in the water stream. As with any cleaning product, it is best to test it in an inconspicuous spot first. Move the wand over the driveway slowly using wide even strokes. Keep your speed constant and the distance between your nozzle and the driveway consistent so you can avoid streaking or stripping.
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