Etching Concrete? Pressure washing...help?

[purduecrew]

Evening,

Coming here because I don't know who would know more!

Power washing concrete that was poured in August 2019. See the pictures. I am using a surface cleaner, no soap/solution. Water pressure turned down from max setting, which should be capable of 4000 psi.

It looks like im etching the pavement but:

1. Its way low pressure.
2. Theres still brown clay stains(second picture shows where I only washed the left most 3 feet or so).
3. The surface cleaner is matched for the pressure washer psi/volume.


Thoughts?? Is this defective concrete? How am I cutting concrete at such low settings? Its not my first power washing rodeo but this is overly sensitive it seems like.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Your tip is too narrow and/or you are holding it too close to the surface.
A rotating nozzle or surface cleaner makes it easier to avoid the "tracks".
Alos the concrete is still "soft", it will continue to harden for years.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Your tip is too narrow and/or you are holding it too close to the surface.
A rotating nozzle or surface cleaner makes it easier to avoid the "tracks".
Alos the concrete is still "soft", it will continue to harden for years.

He said he used a surface cleaner, not the hose set on a pinpoint setting. But that is a good point though.

To the OP, check to see if the rotating wand/spray attachment on the bottom of the surface cleaner is perhaps set too low to the ground. From the pictures you posted it looks like part of the rotating wand may be touching the ground, or maybe one of the spray nozzles has too sharp/point of a spray pattern.

Jim

 

[purduecrew]

He said he used a surface cleaner, not the hose set on a pinpoint setting. But that is a good point though.

To the OP, check to see if the rotating wand/spray attachment on the bottom of the surface cleaner is perhaps set too low to the ground. From the pictures you posted it looks like part of the rotating wand may be touching the ground, or maybe one of the spray nozzles has too sharp/point of a spray pattern.

Jim

Yes you are correct, I am using a surface cleaner. Like I say, Im no pro but its not my first pass at pressure washing.

As for the surface cleaner, its matched down to the brand/psi. Thats why Im struggling with the idea that Im abusing the concrete.

As far as being soft? Dang, if so thats crazy.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Nothing to add, but can you come etch my 60 year old garage floor so I can lay down some Epoxy...

 

[MarlynOC]

Check the nozzle numbers to be sure they are correct size. Not moving fast enough over surface. Whirlaway not turning fast enough-grease fitting? What is diameter of cleaner?

 

[BillK]

Nothing to add but just curious why you are even doing this ? The part that you have not "cleaned" looks perfectly fine to me ???

 

[purduecrew]

Nothing to add, but can you come etch my 60 year old garage floor so I can lay down some Epoxy...

Haha the next step is I call someone to do it! No time!!

 

[purduecrew]

Check the nozzle numbers to be sure they are correct size. Not moving fast enough over surface. Whirlaway not turning fast enough-grease fitting? What is diameter of cleaner?

Surface cleaner is brand new! 18" model. Goes behind 4K psi/3.5gpm pressure washer. I have it turned down to approximately 3K psi.

 

[purduecrew]

Nothing to add but just curious why you are even doing this ? The part that you have not "cleaned" looks perfectly fine to me ???

The dirt is actually a nasty layer of dried pond liner grade clay. The neighborhood is just getting done and so six months of daily tracking has made a nice layer that has soaked in and on dry days, tracks into the house int he form of a gritty dust. Im trying to get clean and push this nasty bit off the property so we can keep things looking as they should and make for less work inside too.