Cleaner/Brighter Concrete?

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vinnybop

New Member
We bought our gear (3700 psi Honda) and got our 1st job. It was the front apron and sidewalk of a dollar store. We pre-treated with "Gunk" something or other. A general agent recommended for concrete on the bottle bought at home depot. Due to some mishaps the treatment sat for over an hour before we pressure washed.

We used the 15 degree attachment and went at it. It was our 1st job as I said and it took a while before I felt like I was in a rhythm. When we followed up with the manager he said he was disappointed. He said the guy before us "scrubbed and used a hot water machine. You guys got rid of the dirt but it was still kind of gray. When the other guy did it it looked white".

Are there any tips we could follow to improve our performance short of buying a hot water machine which is probably not in our budget.
If not, what sort of jobs should we pursue in order to make use of the gear that we currently own?
Many Thanks for your comments.
 
M

M&C

New Member
i have been washing for 2 years now and dont have hot water yet. i learned from the get go that the key is the right chemicals . if you do another job rent a surface cleaner not only will it look more professional but you will increase your profit by cutting your work time in half.just make sure that you edge with a turbo tip on sides and grooves.
 
C

CCPC

New Member
vinnybop said:
We bought our gear (3700 psi Honda) and got our 1st job. It was the front apron and sidewalk of a dollar store. We pre-treated with "Gunk" something or other. A general agent recommended for concrete on the bottle bought at home depot. Due to some mishaps the treatment sat for over an hour before we pressure washed.

We used the 15 degree attachment and went at it. It was our 1st job as I said and it took a while before I felt like I was in a rhythm. When we followed up with the manager he said he was disappointed. He said the guy before us "scrubbed and used a hot water machine. You guys got rid of the dirt but it was still kind of gray. When the other guy did it it looked white".

Are there any tips we could follow to improve our performance short of buying a hot water machine which is probably not in our budget.
If not, what sort of jobs should we pursue in order to make use of the gear that we currently own?
Many Thanks for your comments.
Click to expand...

My first question would have been, if the other company did such a great job why did they hire someone else?
The simple answer to your question is, to compete cleaning commercial concrete you MUST have hot water. If you are insistant in trying it with cold, pick up a quality concrete cleaner (which you will not find at Home Depot). It can be done with cold water and a contractor grade cleaner, but it will still cost you far more time, and more chem cost then with hot.
 
V

vinnybop

New Member
Thanks a lot guys,

Couple of questions

1. "rent a surface cleaner" Is this a machine or a chemical?

2. "edge with a turbo tip on sides and grooves" That is a cosmetic technique?

3. Can anyone recommend a brand name for a contractor grade cleaner?

Thanks again!!!
 
PressurePros

PressurePros

New Member
Here's a tip for you to work with what you have (I agree you ned a hot water machine if you are going to pursue flatwork) After you use a cleaner containing a combination of sodium hydroxide and butyl (or sodium metasilicate and butyl) mix a back back sprayer full of oxallic acid and spray onto the concrete. If you get the mix right, you don't have to rinse.. and yes get yourself a smal surface cleaner. My first one was a used 16" I picked up for $100.
 
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vinnybop

New Member
Hot water

What is everyone's opinion concerning adding a seperate hot water tank for our 3700 psi Honda cold water washer? I know that there is a discharge in the pump when the water gets too hot. Is adding a heating tank actually feasible (as advertized) for these cold water machines?
 
S

steve r

Guest
hot water

vinnybop said:
What is everyone's opinion concerning adding a seperate hot water tank for our 3700 psi Honda cold water washer? I know that there is a discharge in the pump when the water gets too hot. Is adding a heating tank actually feasible (as advertized) for these cold water machines?
Click to expand...
i think you mean hot box .not tank
 
D

Douglas Hicks

New Member
You did your first paying job.
1. You do not know the name of the chemical used.
2. the chemical is not professional grade, and did not come from a professional source. Because you did not use a professional source, you cannot get professional advice from your supplier.
3. it may have sat on the concrete too long because you did not know what you were doing.
4. your customer did not like the job, noting it was "kind of gray"
5. you do not have professional equipment.
6. You do not know what jobs you are qualified for with your lack of professional equipment and lack of professioanl supplies.
7. You do not know what you need to do a professional job.

At the fire station we had a saying, He's so ignorant, he don't know how ignorant he is. So far the only thing you have done right is to come to where the professionals are and ask questions. before accepting another job, go to all the boards. Start at the beginning, take notes and read every post. Contact the real suppliers, ask for borchures, sales literature, save their web sites in your favorites. Practice on your own home, do a couple of jobs when it is cold, wet, windy. See if this is what you really want to do. And DO NOT LOW BALL. read Cody's words, at least 3 times. Guys like you hurt what is an honest job, you just gave all of the other PW guys in your area a bad name.

You do have required lisences, liability insurance, performance bond?

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
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squirtgun

New Member
Douglas,
I applaud your honesty with vinnybop. To some it may seem harsh,but the reality is clueless people hurt our trade.

vinnybop,
It's clear that you haven't done any research into this business and don't need to have your hands anywhere near a pressure washer until you do.
On top of license,insurance etc. You live in an area that strongly enforces the CWA(Clean water Act) if you are caught letting waste water go down the storm drain you'll be through before you get started. The fines are steep to say the very least.
Thank you for putting a blemish on the industry the rest of us have worked hard to promote in a positive light to the general public.
 
Aplus

Aplus

New Member
I would reccomend at the very least to use the search function of this board and do some serious research on your own. Then, if you have questions, ask away.

Most people here don't mind helping out, but we'd at least like to see someone put forth a little upfront effort to educate themselves.
 
J

jandjsales

New Member
we all had to start somewhere.

to answer your questions.

1. most people in my area won't talk to you about cleaning their concrete unless you have hot water. it is worth the $2 to 2500.00 additional expense for cleaning oil and grease and worth its weight in gold on gum. with hot water you can also clean heavy equipment and trucks, again these people prefer hot water.
2. Go ahead and buy a good surface cleaner,24 or 30", steel eagle, alkota, BE. then when you do get a hot water machine you won't have to upgrade. the cheaper ones are only good for 185 degrees, you need one rated for over 200 degrees with a good hot water machine. the cost of a cheap one is around 4 to 500.00, the best ones are 750.00 to 1100.00. you will be amazed at how much faster it is with a surface cleaner.
3. you should have a local PW equipment sales and repair shop nearby, find one that also sells industrial strength chemicals.
4. do keep in mind, oil soaks deep into concrete, you can cut the top layer, but the stain will be there, try a butyl or sodium hydroxide chemical to aid in releasing the oil for deeper cleaning.I have even used easy off oven cleaner on small spots but the concrete needs to be dry. for all other concrete i have a acid product that will whiten the concrete and remove red clay stains which is a problem here in georgia.
5. i would also be concerned about environmental issues with the water going down storm drains, it would be very expensive if you are caught.
 
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Mathew Johnson

New Member
Vinny

Keep asking questions... Get insurance if you hadn't done so yet... You will need it if you dont use your resources listed by these pros in this thread and do your own research.

You need to do research end educate yourself to be able to educate your client and sell the jobs. GOOD LUCK!
 
S

steve r

Guest
bernt said:
What chemicals do you use to clean and brighten concrete? Thanks
Click to expand...
clean with hot water and brighten with oxcallic acid .the only thing with oxcallic is you have to do the whole thing.depending on how bad the concret is determines what to use sometimes.most of my concrete is very little drives and entry ways .
 
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MPW

Guest
I hope you take what Douglas Hicks said to heart. You got the job because you were much cheaper than the other guy. Now we have all witnessed first hand what happens when someone hires a lowballer. I'm glad you came here for advise, but you should have came here b4 you did the job. Now that you are here, read, read, read.
Best of luck to you.
 
M

MPW

Guest
Oh, now I get it. You thought I was talking to Bernt when in fact, I was talking to Vinnybop.
 
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bernt

New Member
Thanks STEVE R I am using cold water and a surface cleaner... I get the concrete clean I am playing around with how many pounds per 5gal using oxalic acid? I also am putting it on with the xjet..I started with 2 maybe I should go to 4ponds per 5gal. Thanks for the quick response.... I love pwn!
 
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