How would you clean this paving stone (pic)?

FoxCPM

FoxCPM

New member
Last night we were cleaning the patio of a restaurant. It was two color paving (dark brown and white stripes). It took us so much effort to try to make the white ones look better, but without much success. They just looked pretty much as before. This account is done on weekly basis, so I would like to hear from the experts, how do you guys clean these white stone bit**es, so we hopefully have better outcome next week?
Would some sort of chem pre-treatment do the job? We can't use anything that will smell bad next day.

Pics:

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Thank You!
 
I would pre- treat it with a butyl based sodium hydroxide first, then hit it with a surface cleaner and hot water and rinse.
 
Have you actually seen those clean? Are they sealed? It is possible that at some point in the past some dingbat sealed over dirt. You might want to try a hot stripper (in a VERY inconspicous spot) to see if they've been sealed. That would be one hell of a job to upsell but the difference will be quite nice :)
 
CarolinaProWash said:
Have you actually seen those clean? Are they sealed? It is possible that at some point in the past some dingbat sealed over dirt. You might want to try a hot stripper (in a VERY inconspicous spot) to see if they've been sealed. That would be one hell of a job to upsell but the difference will be quite nice :)
Click to expand...

The GM of the restaurant said they have not been sealed. When we hold the surface cleaner longer, little sand is starting to come out from the joints, so I assume its really not sealed.
We did a test on only one stone as we put strong concentrate of SH and soap and scrubbed it for at least 10 minutes with a brush. It definitely made a difference, but I wouldn't do each stone like that, it will take forever.
 
There is a possibility that they are colored somewhat like that - go look at tiles, often you will have darker colors in the low areas (where darker colors tend to settle in when being made) If you're taking out grout/mortar, well, you don't want to do that. You could try some specialty acid on it.
 
When you say SH do you mean Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine) or Sodium Hydroxide (caustic)?

Is it a restaurant that has greasy food? If it is grease, try the caustic (if you haven't already)... watch it turn the grease to soap (I like to use a deck brush to agitate it) . Be careful with caustic for your sake and the sake of all surrounding surfaces.
 
Here is a very dirty patio at a club in Ft Laderdale that we do every 3 month's, this was done with a Butyl Degreeser.


<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MstUvKhTDLo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MstUvKhTDLo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
 
FoxSweeping said:
Where can I find it and how do I use it? Whats the price?

Thanks!
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Pressure Washer Services actually makes a good Butyl Sodium Hydroxide called Stampede. I tried it a few weeks ago and was blown away by it. You will have to call Lori for the price. I know they ship within the state of Florida. Not sure if they ship Chems out of state. You should be good being in Florida.
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The Cleaner said:
Here is a very dirty patio at a club in Ft Laderdale that we do every 3 month's, this was done with a Butyl Degreeser.


<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MstUvKhTDLo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MstUvKhTDLo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
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Nice work Nick!!

Are those pavers sealed? What pressure/gpm/heat are you using there?
 
Larry Millette said:
Pressure Washer Services actually makes a good Butyl Sodium Hydroxide called Stampede. I tried it a few weeks ago and was blown away by it. You will have to call Lori for the price. I know they ship within the state of Florida. Not sure if they ship Chems out of state. You should be good being in Florida.

NEED IT FAST???? CALL OR EMAIL LORI :cool: <!-- / sig -->
Click to expand...

She gave me a price on it already. I need few more things from her, I'll call tomorrow.
 
I would just pre-treat too. and dont forget to re-pack the joints of the pavers with sand its a good up sell. I usually include this on the first cleaning because the sand will come out.
 
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