Just a few supplies and a bit of elbow grease are needed to clean a patio.
Psi to clean concrete patio.
Although higher pressures may be required to remove tough contaminants such as paint and heavy tire skid marks most power washing contractors agree that 3000 psi will do the trick for almost all.
One cannot buy or choose the perfect pressure washer without understanding the two basic concepts of the machine.
Psi is the unit of measurement of the water pressure at an output.
Psi stands for pounds per square inch.
Most electric pressure washers create 1300 1700 pounds per square inch of pressure psi with a water flow of 1 5 gallons per minute gpm but experienced contractors recommend between 2000 and 3000 psi and a flow of at least 2 5 gpm to clean dirty concrete effectively.
Now the psi that you re going to use for your concrete flooring will really depend on the thickness of the concrete slabs.
Once your paste is ready spread it on the stained areas allowing it to soak in for 15 30 minutes.
You ll be able to clean almost any brick or concrete with this range of pressure washer.
If the concrete is heavily stained you may wish to use a power washer and a commercial cleaner recommended for the washer.
Few people realize that you can damage your concrete driveway or patio by pressure washing.
Do not use a vinegar and baking soda mixture in a power washer.
The recommended minimum psi for cleaning concrete is 2200 psi however if you can afford it 3 000 psi will get the job done quicker.
To clean concrete effectively use a power washer with a pressure rating of at least 3000 psi and a flow rate of at least 4 gallons per minute gpm.
How does one measure the effectiveness of a pressure washer.
As concrete is much stronger than wood and your car you might need a stronger psi for cleaning.
Choose the tip with the widest angle that still gets the job done to prevent degrading the surface of the hardscape.
Then use a short scrub brush to loosen any grime or dirt that wasn t already lifted up by the cleaner.
Recommendations vary although 3000 psi is ideal for most concrete cleaning while 3 gpm is the minimum flow rate you should look for.
Usually concrete flooring would be around 8 inches so a psi 3500 to 4000 is good enough.
If you re planning to clean the outside of a building and don t want to damage the paint then rather start with a.
How to clean unsealed concrete patios.
A pressure washer with about 3 gpm and 3000 psi is ideal for most concrete and brick cleaning jobs.