Spring has sprung! It’s time to get the outside of your castle all spruced up.
Remember that first impressions are everything so let’s start with the driveway, walkway and patio.
Pressure washing will help remove all that dingy brown haze from surfaces like concrete, brick, and stone to revitalize them “like new” again. I will show you how to get results that will be very dramatic and well worth the effort.
First let’s talk about pressure washers:
You will need a machine that delivers at least 1500psi (keep in mind that the higher the psi - the more powerful the pressure will be). You can rent them for as little as $45 pr/day at most tool rental stores. I recommend purchasing one for yourself so that it is always available when you need it. The price range varies according to size and functionality starting around $100 and rising from there.
Cleaners and surface preparation:
Next you will want to use a cleaner to loosen up the dirt and grime that has settled over the surface of your concrete, brick, or stone. There are several products that work well for this purpose - here are a few of what I have used and have been very pleased with the end results. The powerful degreasers and mildew killing properties found in these products help prepare the surface for pressure washing. Saturate the surface with the cleaning solution (*Always read the label to find out the specifics on each product), wait a little while and then start power washing the dirt away.
Technique:
*Always wear protective eye glasses when power washing any surface to protect against any flying debris.
After setting up your pressure washer start by using a medium size tip like a 25° or 40° to clean the prepared surface.
Gently transition onto the surface and then off again with the high pressured water - using a side to side motion. This will prevent any lines from appearing while you are power scraping the surface (see video below). Make sure you start at the top of any inclines so that the water runs away from t any cleaned surfaces. Continue until with this process until you are finished.
Finish:
You may want to consider sealing your surface (after it has completely dried) with a finish that will enhance the look. This is especially true with materials such as brick and stone. There are several products that will seal and/or waterproof – but the ones that give a shiny “wet look” are the most appealing. These products can be applied with a brush and roller or even a pump up chemical sprayer.
