Hey everyone. I'm hoping some of you can shed some light on these marks that my surface cleaner leaves. At first I thought it was the nozzles on the spin bar (which were 25027) so I changed them out for some 25045. It is still leaving the marks. Does anyone else have this problem? What can I do to avoid these? None of my customers have seemed to mind but they absolutely drive me crazy.
Overlap marks?
- Thread starter Andy C
- Start date
Hey everyone. I'm hoping some of you can shed some light on these marks that my surface cleaner leaves. At first I thought it was the nozzles on the spin bar (which were 25027) so I changed them out for some 25045. It is still leaving the marks. Does anyone else have this problem? What can I do to avoid these? None of my customers have seemed to mind but they absolutely drive me crazy.Juan Juarez
New member
Use the famous circle technique
Christopher
Moderator
I have not ever seen 25027 nozzles, sure that is right?
I would not overlap as much, you are wasting time and labor, overlap an inch or two and you will finish faster.
That might be weak concrete, always do test spots to see how much pressure it can handle before starting, you don't want to damage concrete, even if it is weak concrete as they will blame you as it was not damaged before you washed it.
Craig's circle technique might be a good idea, I would call him and talk to him about it.
I would not overlap as much, you are wasting time and labor, overlap an inch or two and you will finish faster.
That might be weak concrete, always do test spots to see how much pressure it can handle before starting, you don't want to damage concrete, even if it is weak concrete as they will blame you as it was not damaged before you washed it.
Craig's circle technique might be a good idea, I would call him and talk to him about it.
Tiger Pressure Wash
New member
Share the video!!!
Ralph Q
New member
I believe you mean 15025. The five at the end represents a half really it should be 1502.5. Maybe you should switch to 25025's. Also it looks like, either you stripped the cream off of the concrete or your mix isn't strong enough, hence the clean spot in the overlap. What gpm and pressure are you using?, and what surface cleaner? What is your procedure and cleaning solution?
Ralph Q
New member
Hey Jeremy. I believe this is the one they are talking about. You must have seen it already.
WASH-IT H.B.
New member
Watched the video. Waited....Waited....Waited for the famous CCT to appear. What was I looking for?. All I saw was a guy with a surface cleaner going like the clappers. Was that it. Sorry I can be a bit thick at times.
Ralph Q
New member
That's the only driveway cleaning video I saw that Craig made, actually I think the name circle technique is talking more about the way he cleans a driveway without the hose ever getting in the way. He also goes over the driveway twice in different directions that helps with lap marks.
Oops, heres another one where he explains his technique. Pretty much the same one.
I'm getting the 15027 right off the nozzle. I'm running 5.6 gpm and around 2400 psi. The surface cleaner is a hydrotek ANT5V. The procedure were using is straight up and back, going slow up and a bit faster back. One thing I did notice with the sidewalk was that it was very uneven and my surface cleaner was catching on the concrete. The picture from the first post was from the uneven sidewalk.
Craig
Member
Nope, wrong one. This is of a relatively clean driveway and I am getting tiremarks, dirt, sand etc off of it in preparation for a treatment of F9 BARC Rust Remover. If there was oil I would go much slower over the stain. Give me a few minutes to look for the video of "Craig's Circle Technique" to remove lines and striping in concrete.
Craig
Member
I just uploaded it to YouTube for you guys. Please "like" the video while you are there.
Craig's Circle Technique: How to get striping, overlap lines and surface cleaner marks out of concrete:
Tips and Tricks by Craig Harrison at Front 9 Restoration
1-855-803-1133
Makers of the World's Best Rust Remover, F9 BARC and other Professional Restoration Chemicals.
www.Front9Restoration.com
This video shows power washing and restoration companies how to remove the dreaded "overlap" marks, also known as striping or surface cleaner lines.
Overlap marks can come from a variety of means:
Clogged tips (usually just one), bad tips, just too much pressure altogether, mis-aligned tip, uneven spray bar, going too fast, others.
Clogged tips and bad tips are the #1 reasons in my opinion this happens. Concrete that is not up to spec happens a lot too. If concrete is weak it's easier to etch. Once in a while your spray bar will not be level because either it's worn, bad bearings, worn tires, not equal psi in the tires, etc.
Here are three ways to fix it:
1) Make sure tips are good and properly aligned. Pw it in the opposite direction, SLOWLY. Unfortunately this may only work sometimes because concrete may be etched too bad. But, it will look better, only it will leave light etch marks the other way and look like a cross cross. ..may or may not work. You'll have to try and see.
2) Use a surface cleaner and do SLOW CIRCLES left to right all the way across and then right to left, making sure to overlap at about 50% of the surface cleaner width. This is what this video shows. The technique will work better than the cross-cross and work MOST of the time. If concrete is etched too bad, you will have to go with #3 below.
3) F9 Efflorescence and Calcium Remover by Front 9 Restoration. This WILL take them out. Use F9 Efflo, spray on at 8:1 and broom surface until the foaming stops. Surface clean using the circle technique on the whole thing. Rinse off.
Craig's Circle Technique: How to get striping, overlap lines and surface cleaner marks out of concrete:
Tips and Tricks by Craig Harrison at Front 9 Restoration
1-855-803-1133
Makers of the World's Best Rust Remover, F9 BARC and other Professional Restoration Chemicals.
www.Front9Restoration.com
This video shows power washing and restoration companies how to remove the dreaded "overlap" marks, also known as striping or surface cleaner lines.
Overlap marks can come from a variety of means:
Clogged tips (usually just one), bad tips, just too much pressure altogether, mis-aligned tip, uneven spray bar, going too fast, others.
Clogged tips and bad tips are the #1 reasons in my opinion this happens. Concrete that is not up to spec happens a lot too. If concrete is weak it's easier to etch. Once in a while your spray bar will not be level because either it's worn, bad bearings, worn tires, not equal psi in the tires, etc.
Here are three ways to fix it:
1) Make sure tips are good and properly aligned. Pw it in the opposite direction, SLOWLY. Unfortunately this may only work sometimes because concrete may be etched too bad. But, it will look better, only it will leave light etch marks the other way and look like a cross cross. ..may or may not work. You'll have to try and see.
2) Use a surface cleaner and do SLOW CIRCLES left to right all the way across and then right to left, making sure to overlap at about 50% of the surface cleaner width. This is what this video shows. The technique will work better than the cross-cross and work MOST of the time. If concrete is etched too bad, you will have to go with #3 below.
3) F9 Efflorescence and Calcium Remover by Front 9 Restoration. This WILL take them out. Use F9 Efflo, spray on at 8:1 and broom surface until the foaming stops. Surface clean using the circle technique on the whole thing. Rinse off.
Ralph Q
New member
Yeah sorry I looked that up and it is a 15027. Have you put a pressure gauge on it with those tips in?
2400 with hot water should not have taken the cream off. I go straight up and down too, only because everyone else goes from side to side and they always leave marks. The first thing I do is point that out to the customer so they don't think I did it. In that pic it the overlap looks like a clean spot, maybe up your mix or increase dwell time. Have you tried post treating? That's how I fixed my lap marks when I was using a hammerhead.
Ya I don't think I'm taking off the cream. I haven't tried a pressure gauge with those tips in, but I have recently with my wand with a 15065 nozzle. That's where I'm getting the 2400 psi. I'm scheduled to clean that location again in November and I'm going to make sure to treat the sidewalks with my mix before I take the surface cleaner to it. Hopefully that will take care if it. If not you guys will be the first to know lol.
Pat Norman
New member
I would definitely switch from 15 degree tips to 25 degree tips for sure. If the concrete is soft go to a 45 degree tip or a larger orifice too. The 15 usually does not clean a wide enough path between passes as you go forward but tends to be too powerful and over clean the sides but not the middle as you go forward.