Brand new dirty dusty pavers
- Thread starter Chazz
- Start date
Paul Kassander
New member
Yes they can it should not damage them unless your pressure is way high. You will probably have to re apply the sand when you are done though.
Sirocco Jerry
Active member
On pavers..
use wide spray-angle nozzles, (25 or 40 degr.)
adjust pressure as needed,
go like heck.
but remember.. you're rinsing the dirt IN-to the sand..
If you don't have the vacuuming version,
you don't get to enjoy the "no Rinsing"
..and "No overspray" benefits
of an Instant Capture Cleaning System.
:{)
use wide spray-angle nozzles, (25 or 40 degr.)
adjust pressure as needed,
go like heck.
but remember.. you're rinsing the dirt IN-to the sand..
If you don't have the vacuuming version,
you don't get to enjoy the "no Rinsing"
..and "No overspray" benefits
of an Instant Capture Cleaning System.
:{)
jon chapman
New member
Chaz, If all they are is dusty, just rinse them off lightly. But as to your question about the surface cleaner, its very hard to damage pavers if they are made properly. they are not like concrete that has just been laid. they have had time to cure at the factory. There are some that are porous and can be damaged but rarely by a surface cleaner. I use 5 degree tips in the surface cleaner and We hit almost every paver job with turbo nozzles and get very close to the pavers. So you can see that normal pressure washing will not be damaging.
Larry Millette
Member
Same here. We pressure clean tons of pavers with a SC and never have a problem. Rinsing can be a bit of a pain though. I agree with Jon, if they are just dusty,save yourself the possible extra work of re-sanding and just give them a good rinse without high pressure.
Sea to Summit
New member
That dusty looking film on top of the pavers is most likely polymeric haze. When they sand the joints, they spread a polymeric sand out on the pavers and sweep it into the joints. Then they run a vibratory tamp over the top of the pavers to help settle the sand into the joints. All that sweeping and vibrating leaves a layer of dust on top of the pavers. The polymers in the sand sets up when it is exposed to water so water is sprayed on top of the pavers to set up the sand down in the joints. Unfortunately the poly dust sets up on top of the pavers leaving that dusty looking film.
The poly haze is easiest to remove with hot water.... I can't over emphasize the use of hot water on removing poly haze. As long as the polymeric sand has had time to fully set up, it shouldn't come out with a surface cleaner if you do like others have said and use at least 25 degree nozzles. One thing to remember about cleaning pavers. Don't go so fast that you leave swirl marks and make sure you clean every square inch evenly. When the pavers are wet it may be hard to tell if you have left any marks or not or missed any areas unless you look very close. Even when they dry you may not see any imperfections in your cleaning. However, if a sealer is applied to the pavers later, these swirl marks or missed spots will stand out like they have a red flag pointing at them.
Another thing to note about paver cleaning that I am running into these days. Just a few years ago, paver manufacturers made pavers like crazy and stock piled on their yards knowing they would be sold at some point. It was possible the pavers could sit on the yard for a year or more curing out. In today's economy, paver manufacturers are more or less making pavers to order and shipping them straight out to the job-site.
These new pavers don't not have the time to cure out like they used to and once they are put in place the efflorescence comes to the surface.
Dealing with efflorescence could be a whole new topic, but what you want to do is make the owner aware of it and that it would probably happen normally with rain anyway and that your cleaning may make it happen sooner. If after you clean the pavers and a few days later they start turning white primarily around the edges, you don't want the owner to freak out and say you ruined his pavers.
You might also tell the owner not to have them sealed for several months until it is sure the efflorescence will not be a problem.
Call me if you like if you have any more questions.
The poly haze is easiest to remove with hot water.... I can't over emphasize the use of hot water on removing poly haze. As long as the polymeric sand has had time to fully set up, it shouldn't come out with a surface cleaner if you do like others have said and use at least 25 degree nozzles. One thing to remember about cleaning pavers. Don't go so fast that you leave swirl marks and make sure you clean every square inch evenly. When the pavers are wet it may be hard to tell if you have left any marks or not or missed any areas unless you look very close. Even when they dry you may not see any imperfections in your cleaning. However, if a sealer is applied to the pavers later, these swirl marks or missed spots will stand out like they have a red flag pointing at them.
Another thing to note about paver cleaning that I am running into these days. Just a few years ago, paver manufacturers made pavers like crazy and stock piled on their yards knowing they would be sold at some point. It was possible the pavers could sit on the yard for a year or more curing out. In today's economy, paver manufacturers are more or less making pavers to order and shipping them straight out to the job-site.
These new pavers don't not have the time to cure out like they used to and once they are put in place the efflorescence comes to the surface.
Dealing with efflorescence could be a whole new topic, but what you want to do is make the owner aware of it and that it would probably happen normally with rain anyway and that your cleaning may make it happen sooner. If after you clean the pavers and a few days later they start turning white primarily around the edges, you don't want the owner to freak out and say you ruined his pavers.
You might also tell the owner not to have them sealed for several months until it is sure the efflorescence will not be a problem.
Call me if you like if you have any more questions.
Timwag2001
New member
anyone clean pavers and then re sand? what do you charge to resand and how do you do it? just sweep it across the surface or is it compacted in or something?
I love cleaning Pavers