New surface cleaner

J

Joseph Floyd

New member
Can anyone look at the to attached pics and tell me what maybe going on?

I'm wondering if one problem is that I should have moved faster and probably removed more surface than totally neccessary. However I am also perplexed by the second pic which shows a section washed on the left and untouched to the right. At the top of that pic I'm trying to figure out what caused the swirls on both sections. And don't fear I tested on my concrete not on a customer's. I'd rather I have to live with my mistakes than one of my customers have too.

Just for info I have a 4.3 gal/min, 3000 psi hot water machine. I was using the Hydrotek ATZ3 surface cleaner which I believe has a 19" path and has two number 2 fifteen degree tips. And I used no chemicals, only hot water.
 

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Did I post this in the wrong section maybe? I know it isn't "large commercial flatwork", however the guys that do that would know best. It looks like I'm moving about as fast a "The Cleaner" from the looks of his video clip. I just want to make sure that what I'm seeing is a defect in my concrete and not something I did. I'd like advice on what to look for at customer locations too. Or better yet tips on how to approach customers when I know it may look like this afterwards due to whatever.
 
cajun cleanin said:
How old is the concrete?

It looks like your taking the top off of it to me but iI dont see any exposed aggregate either.
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I was gonna ask the same thing, looks like it was to new to clean , is it new construction ? If so call your insurance or get out your checkbook
 
Not new at all. I've had this place for over 5 years now. I saw a few drives in a new subdivision that looked similar on the sides.

So what is the best guess, I'm moving to slow for the machine? I just don't get the swirl on the right side of pic 2. I only put the surface cleaner on the left side of the line. And thank you both for responding, it is greatly appreciated.
 
I would agree you are taking off the top layer. Are your tips adjusted correctly (angle). This could be a factor. New concrete is very prone to this happening as well. Im glad this didnt happen to your customer
 
Yeah well how about we all just agree now, not to ever tell my wife that I made a little mess on "her" driveway.

I will have to check the tips in the morning. What am I looking for exactly? And is a number 2 tip OK? I've read everying thing from a 15 degree to 40 degree.
 
As far as it not being a customer, I'm glad too. I thought it best I try everything one myself before the general public. You only get once chance at most customers and I'd like to make a run at this business. I don't think it will happen if I'm learning at the expense of customers though.
 
I would have to agree with everyone else...... It looks like you are taking off the top layer..... After the concrete was poured some comcrete companys throw down lime to help it set up faster and give it the bright white concrete look..... What it appears to me is you are removing some of this lime..... I would go over it again and maybe use a little bit of SH on it...... I had a job once where a customer spilled paint on his new driveway. I got all of the paint up no problem, but when the oncrete dried it look similiar to what you have..... I explained to him about the lime and new concrete (about 1 year old driveway) and he was fine with it.... I ended up going over the whole driveway "blending" it all to make it look good..... hope this helps....
 
I also think that if its that old it was probably 2500 psi mix concrete some builders use the cheap stuff for the driveways and sidewalks and it will come up pretty easy.

Your tips could be to small or not sized for the machine your runing it with.I personally think you cant just buy one off the shelf and start using it. It needs to be tuned up so to speak.
 
Cajun you are so right about the cheap driveway. We worked for a homebuilder that was notorious for those. My house now is a custom built home and I can tell a huge difference in the concrete quality compared to our old cookie cutter house!!! God knows we all test stuff on our driveways before customers....we have yet to damage this one at all.
 
I cleaned my driveway just cause it needed it, and have the same problem. I got long red clay streaks and swirls, down part of my driveway, and my sidewalk. I had cheaper surface cleaner, and it had 0 degree tips :eek:. I changed them for 15's and am still trying to get the courage to try it again and hope it doesnt happen more. ill post pictures tomorrow if I can.
 
Joseph Floyd said:
As far as it not being a customer, I'm glad too. I thought it best I try everything one myself before the general public. You only get once chance at most customers and I'd like to make a run at this business. I don't think it will happen if I'm learning at the expense of customers though.
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You may want to give veseal a call and see which one of their concrete sealers would help protect that concrete.
 
Thanks everyone. I'll check the direction of the tips today. As far as the tip number that is what was recommended and the 15 degree is what I chose after reading some old posts. I suppose now I've got to figure out how to even out the damage. At least I have a few more sections of concrete to test on.
 
Ok here are two pics of the under belly of my cleaner. And I was wrong before the tips are 15 degree 2.5's. Which is right for my machine if I'm ready the chart and dividing by 2 correctly. :)

Steven Button is this what you mean by horizontal? And Nicole is that the right angle? I'm honestly not sure how to judge that part.
 

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hey joseph

that is what I meant by horizontal... my problem was my own fault - changed my tips and went to use surface cleaner - SWIRLS!!! I realized that they were facing into the cleaning path rather than across it... yours look fine there.

Let us all know how you get one with changing the spray angle.
 
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