Cleaning a patio with a pressure washer is very effective for removing all kinds of slime, debris, and vegetation such as moss, lichen, and algae, even those that have had time to settle in. You can clean any kind of patio including concrete, brick, paving, and wood, to name a few. Using hot or cold water and the high-velocity jets of the power washer, you can get rid of the grime in an eco-friendly process and have the patio cleaned quickly with very little effort. Eliminate the need for tedious scrubbing and hosing that may or may not get the best results that pressure cleaning can give. Read ahead and find out how.
Equipment Needed
Choosing the appropriate equipment can help you get rid of the grime quickly. Here’s what you’ll need.
- Power Washing Machine: Pick out a machine that can give you forces of 1,500 to 2,000 PSI. It works perfectly well on patios, decks, flagstones, patio furniture, and even umbrellas. If you can find one that has a detergent container on board, that can prove very handy. Also, look for one that has wheels so you can move it as you work.
- Rotary Cleaning Head: Since you’re cleaning a horizontal area, the rotary cleaning headcan help you cover a larger section with every sweep. It also keeps the water jet angled so that the jointing between the patio pavings is not dislodged with the force of the water. If you can get the one that has a hood on it, you can prevent the possibility of the debris flying onto the surrounding areas.
- Detergent: Choose the detergent according to the type of paving you’re cleaning such as wood, brick, stone, or concrete. Typically, cold and hot water work perfectly, but sometimes, you might have to deal with stubborn oil and other stains for which you need soap and detergent. It is always preferable to avoid cleaning agents that contain acid. These cleaners work by etching away a very thin layer of the surface of the paving stone and can damage it with repeated washing.
- Hose: Your hose should be half an inch thick with a length of at least 7 ½ meters.
- Other items: You’ll need a broom or specialized vacuum cleaner for outdoor surfaces, garden hose, and water broom attachment for the nozzle. In case the area has oil spills, get clay-based oil absorbing litter. You’ll also need two universal connectors and a tap adaptor, and if you’re not using a rotary cleaning head, get the right sized lance.
- Nozzles: Have different sized nozzles handy to clean various areas around the worksite. You could also carry a variable jet nozzle instead and make adjustments as you go along.
- Safety Gear: Make sure you have safety glasses, and gloves. If you think you’ll sweep up lots of detritus before getting started, bring a dust mask also.
Prepping the Area
Before beginning the pressure cleaning of the patio, prep the area carefully to avoid damage and make the cleaning process easier.
- Use a stiff brush to clear away loose debris on the surface of the worksite that can potentially get propelled by the high speed of the water and hurt people or cause damage to surrounding areas. Avoid the possibility of smashing the glass of windows, or chipping at paintwork. Also, clear away loose leaves, twigs, and other rubbish.
- Cover light fixtures and fragile items like plants with a visqueen or builder’s polythene. If they can be moved, shift them to safe areas.
- If there is a car parked nearby, move it to a safe distance.
- Check the area for ceramic or earthenware garden ornaments, umbrellas, lawn furniture, and potted plants; and remove them from the worksite.
- Make sure there are no kids or pets around.
- If you see oil spills, scatter the litter clay and give it time to soak up all the oil and liquids. Use the broom or vacuum cleaner to clear it away.
- You can deal with weeds by using a wire brush with a long handle. If your clients are okay with using chemical weed killers, you can use a compound that prevents the weeds from growing for a while afterwards.
Checking the Patio Surface
Examine the worksite carefully and check with the client for any terms and conditions pertaining to the paving used to cover the patio. Many manufacturers may void a warranty if they have specifically stated that pressure cleaning should not be used to clean them. Certain kinds of paving have low-cement content and cannot withstand high-pressure jets of water. Wet-cast decorating stone, soft natural stones like sandstones, and delaminated stones may also not take pressure washing very well. However, if the patio has block paving, pcc flags, pressed paving, and clay pavers, you can safely go ahead with the power washing. Also, check for the joints between the pavings. If it is too loose, you may want to proceed with caution.
Pressure Washing Procedure
Using a systematic procedure, you can have your worksite cleaned effectively.
- Connect the hose to the water source using the two universal connectors and a tap adaptor. Check that the water is running without any snags and make sure that the hose has no kinks in it. Letting it flow through the machine will remove any possible air locks. Also, check that the connectors are firmly fixed and that there are no leaks.
- If your power washer has a detergent chamber, fill it with the detergent that is compatible with the machine you’re using and the surfaces you’re cleaning. Alternatively, spread the detergent on the patio if needed and give it 10 minutes to work.
- Start up the machine and spray a small area to check for effectiveness and possible damage. Having assured yourself that the pressure cleaning will work as it should, begin spraying the worksite. If you’re using a lance, use a nozzle that emits a fan of water. Hold it at a shallow angle at an about 30° angle to prevent the possibility of the jointing getting loosened or dislodging completely. Hold the lance at 150 to 300mm from the surface.
- Move the lance or the rotary head from side to side in horizontal constant sweeps, letting the jets of water clean off the dirt and debris. If the jointing is loose, don’t spray directly
on it. Check for any chipped or broken paving and avoid hitting it with the pressure washer. - Switch between nozzles depending on the surface being cleaned. Typically completing a pressure cleaning job should take you around 3 to 5 minutes per square meter. Also, give yourself 10 to 20 minutes to set up and test your equipment and another 20 to 30 minutes to pack up your gear and clean up the worksite.
- At the end of the pressure cleaning job, check the jointing for integrity and work with your clients for its replacement. You can also offer to apply high quality sealants on the patio paving to inhibit the future growth of algae.
Pressure cleaning is possibly the best kind of cleaning for the maintenance of patios and can leave them clean. To prevent the risk of slipping and falling on the lichen and algae covered patio stones, it is advisable to have them cleaned from time to time. Clean patios also add to the curb appeal of any property and pressure washing can make it happen.
References:
1.“How to Pressure Wash a Patio or Decking.”Homebase. n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2016.
2. Pearson, Victoria. “Cleaning your Patio with a Pressure Washer.” Which? n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2016.
3. Gordon, Lisa Kaplan. “The Easy, Fun Way to Spring Clean Your Deck or Patio.”Houselogic. n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2016.
4.“How to Clean a Patio with a Pressure Washer.”SFGate. n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2016.
5.“Using Power Washers.”Pavingexpert .comn.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2016.