Construction Contractors Community

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana

A surface cleaner is a great tool to have in your arsenal for cleaning concrete. It cleans a much larger path than a wand and gives a more uniformed cleaning.

It looks like a floor buffer that has a rotating arm under it that spins similar to a lawn mower blade. This bar normally has 2 nozzles on it at each end that spray a fan pattern of high pressure water. This surface cleaner gets attached to the end of your pressure hose and is operated with a trigger gun or a ball valve. It has a handle on it and is pushed back and forth cleaning the concrete in rows. Surface cleaners come in different styles, some have wheels or casters and have fixed or fold down handles. There is also hover style cleaners that don't have any wheels but rather ride on a stiff skirt. The friction and weight of the unit are reduced by the water pressure allowing the unit to be easily moved around almost like its hovering.

A lot of debate comes from how big of surface cleaner you can use. Surface cleaners come in sizes as small as 12" in diameter to 40" plus. What limits the size of surface cleaner you can use is the gallon per minute your pressure washer puts out. Too big a surface cleaner will mean you'll have to walk and clean at a snails pace. By moving too fast you may end up with swirl marks where areas of the surface weren't cleaned as much as others.

I have used a 30" surface cleaner with a 4 gpm unit but I had to walk extremely slow to get a clean uniform look. Once I switched to a smaller 19" surface cleaner I was able to walk faster and although the diameter is smaller, I am able to get the job done quicker and it looks better so it is important to match the diameter of the surface cleaner to the size of your machine. With a 5.5 gpm unit you can move up to a 28 or 30" cleaner and may be able to get away with a 36" cleaner. With an 8 gpm machine or larger you can easily use a 36" cleaner or larger.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

CleanTeam · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 6

I have been using cleaning concrete with just the wand. Thanks for the advice and the info on that tool for cleaning cement. I am off to the store to get one. Idea

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana

I recommend getting a Whisper Wash if your looking for a good dependable unit that will last for years. Bob at pressuretek.com sells them and his customer service is next to none.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

expertwasher · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Maryland

I bought my cleaning equipment from pressuretek.com and I agree with Barry, the service was great and the guys were very willing to help me choose the right equipment for cleaning concrete among other things.

FCPWLLC · Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Lexington, KY

Here's a video of a 28" Surfacer in use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SERKIbqaX5M

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana

Pretty cool Michael, nice boots too Laughing

Do you always go up and down the drive? Just wandering because I start at the top and wash from side to side working my way down. Wander if it makes a difference.

Jeannie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 82

I think for my own personal use, and for use with my rehabs, that this would be a great tool to have. It would allow me to be able to get the concrete looking as fresh and clean as possible. Is there a solution that should be used for oil stains.

Bryan C · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

I always clean from the top of the driveway to the road as well - let gravity wash away the soil and dirt.

My surface cleaner has an adjustable height - not sure if others are made that way, but it sure comes in handy when you are worried about applying too much pressure, especially to newer concrete.

FCPWLLC · Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Lexington, KY

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Indiana