The quick answer is yes, power washing can degrade a concrete surface. You can notice visible damage from water pressure at the level at which even light-duty power washers can operate. Therefore, if you aren't careful, you can cause irreversible damage to your driveway or patio.
Remove Concrete Stains Using Detergent
Simply apply Concrete Detergent, and wait for 5 to 10 minutes while it works into the concrete. Make sure to reapply soapy water to any areas that start to dry. Once the soap has had time to settle in, the dirt and oils should loosen from the concrete.
Powerful pressure washers with too much PSI will damage concrete when power washing. Most residential driveways require no more than 3000 to 3500 PSI for proper and thorough concrete washing. Heavy-duty commercial pressure washers and other power washing equipment are too strong for the average residential driveway!
You absolutely should. Concrete is a very porous material and sealing it makes all the difference when it comes to its maintenance and longevity. After pressure washing your concrete driveway, it is imperative that you wait until it is completely dry before sealing it. Applying the sealer itself couldn't be simpler.
Water blasting concrete to remove algae, moss and lichen growths will damage the surface by stripping away the cement and sand, leaving a rougher and more porous surface. Water blasting asphalt is even more destructive leaving deep gouges in the surface.
Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
You can use a medium-duty pressure washer for almost any surface. They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood. They work especially well for cleaning patios, sidings, roofs, decks, and fences.
There's no doubt that electric pressure washers from 1,300 to 2,300 psi can wash a concrete driveway, but it'll take longer. If you have a large driveway with lots of stains, you'll want more power to do the job faster.
For optimal performance, you should use a fan tip on a pressure washer that doesn't exceed 2,500 psi. Using hot water will also help to break up any dirt and debris on your concrete pavement.
Most stains on concrete floors can be removed quickly and easily, but a lot depends on how old the stain is and how porous the concrete surface is. Rust, oil, grease, paint or glue stains each have a recommended stain removal technique.
If you need to get rid of rust from concrete, your best bet is to use some WD-40 Multi-Use Product, and some elbow grease. WD-40 is specially formulated to be a penetrant, so when you spray it on a rusted surface, it gets to work right away by getting under the rust.
If you notice dark spots on concrete after pressure washing, it's likely that the surface is damaged and that the top layer is washed off. This type of damage is prevalent in slabs that are topped with a screed with a different color from the base concrete.
A sealant is particularly important if the driveway materials are colored or especially porous. Colors can fade while water seeping into materials can promote staining from lichen, mold, and moss.
If the batch is freshly mixed, you can simply add a small amount of dry concrete mix to even out the ratio. Stir the combined mixture around until it has reached the right consistency. Only use a little bit at a time or you might go from a mixture that is too wet to one that is too dry.
Repair Guidelines
Clean the damaged surface before beginning repair for light scaling. Use a pressure washer to spray away crumbling cement, dirt, plants and stains. Resurface the affected area with a finishing seal. Once dry, apply a waterproof coating to help prevent further degradation.
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
To get the job done right, you need a pressure washer rated at least 3,000 PSI with a flow rate of at least four gallons per minute (GPM).
Concrete cleaning calls for powerful pressure washers featuring high pressure levels of 3000 PSI. However, if you will be using the power cleaner to maintain a range of surfaces in addition to concrete, choose one with adjustable pressure levels and set it to about 3000 PSI when you need to clean concrete.
Concrete and asphalt require more cleaning power. You'll want to use the turbo nozzle on the 1600 PSI for hard-to-clean driveways, sidewalks, and patios as well as brick paving. For wood decks and painted surfaces, switch to the gentler 40-degree nozzle.
How often should you pressure wash your driveway? Generally, you'll want your concrete driveway pressure washed at least once a year. This lets you treat sunbaked dirt, grime buildup, and stubborn oil stains, making regular cleaning in between professional washes much more manageable.
A 4000 PSI pressure washer is capable of generating a pressure of 4000 PSI on the surface being cleaned. These are considered heavy-duty pressure washers and can be used to clean large areas quickly, remove stubborn deposits, patches of rust, or maintain greasy surfaces.
Corrosion of reinforcing steel and other embedded metals is the leading cause of deterioration in concrete. When steel corrodes, the resulting rust occupies a greater volume than the steel. This expan- sion creates tensile stresses in the concrete, which can eventually cause cracking, delamination, and spalling (Figs.
The curing process, if done correctly, typically takes around thirty days to properly dry and set to its full strength. An improper curing process, or the application of a concrete sealer before the concrete has set, can be disastrous to the longevity of the material.
Water damage in a foundation is often gradual, starting with small cracks allowing in small amounts of water. This weakens the foundation and lets in more water. This process can take months or even years to destroy your foundation.