Exposed Aggregate: Three Tips To Pressure Wash Your Concrete Driveway

Your driveway is one of the areas most exposed to dirt from foot traffic and vehicles. For this reason, simply sweeping the driveway and occasionally applying a detergent does not keep your concrete driveway in pristine condition. A pressure washer is, therefore, a great recommendation to keep your driveway clean. However, when done in the wrong way or using excess pressure, you can etch the exposed aggregate. Here are three tips through which you can pressure wash your driveway without causing any more damage.

Prepare the Driveway Area

Before you start leveraging your pressure washer to clean your concrete, you need to prepare the area you intend to clean. Use a brush, preferably a stiff bristled brush, to remove any debris, dust and dirt. You also need to ensure that you get rid of all unnecessary items such as the vehicles and other simple items like planters and dustbins. Additionally, use plastic tarp or sheeting to cover doors and windows to protect them from any loose debris when cleaning.

Prepare the Pressure Washer

The first step when cleaning your exposed aggregate using a pressure washer should be reading the manual. Understand what is expected of you to evade any problems. Simply put, connect the spray wand to a washer and the washer to a water source. You can then wash your surface without wreaking havoc to the appeal of your driveway.

Wash the Driveway

When the pressure washer and the area to be cleaned are ready, you can now start your cleaning. Wear safety gloves and old clothing and apply detergent on the driveway. Ensure that you hold you washer several inches off the concrete and maintain a consistent distance. Leave the detergent for several minutes and then start pressure washing. Use the high-pressure nozzle and follow a systematic pattern to clean your driveway.

A dirty driveway is not only a damaging agent for the exposed aggregate but also anunsightlyscene to see every time you get home. For this reason, you need to create time and clean the driveway to increase its curb appeal. Consider the tips above to know how to use a pressure washer and give your driveway a fresh and clean look.

Concrete Company: Three Benefits of Concrete Waterproofing

 Water is a valuable ingredient in the making of concrete. However, when too much of it is used, it ends up causing more harm than good, especially if this happens once the concrete has already been cured. For this reason, waterproofing concrete is considered as a vital step of construction and mostly for a high-rise building. Inadequate waterproofing of concrete not only poses a risk to the property but also a safety hazard to the users of the building. Here are three benefits of contacting a concrete company for concrete waterproofing.

Makes the Concrete Stronger

After long exposures to water, concrete surfaces tend to deteriorate in terms of structural integrity. By waterproofing your concrete, you limit the ways through which water and moisture can seep into walls, floor or ceiling. If protected from water, the surfaces can steer away from damages such as corrosion, rust or rotting. This makes the concrete stronger and thus it lasts longer.

Reduce Maintenance Cost

Hiring a concrete company for concrete waterproofing is affordable and cost-effective. Additionally, when you waterproof your concrete, you evade most concrete problems thus reducing repair costs. This is most beneficial after winter or big-storms when water causes the most damage to concrete due to the cooling temperature. Waterproofing prevents the freezing and thawing water from adding pressure to the concrete which could lead to cracks.

Prevents Mold

When moisture and water build up in walls and ceilings, it eventually leads to the growth of mildew or fungi. Such microorganisms pose a significant danger of exposure to asthma, allergies and may generally weaken your immune system. By waterproofing your concrete, you avoid exposure of several structures from water thus no mold or fungi. This way, your concrete will boast structural integrity without being a health hazard.

Whether you have a concrete floor, cinder block wall or concrete walls, reducing the amount of water sipping into the concrete is the first step towards enhancing its longevity. However, the materials and process followed when waterproofing the concrete determines their overall productivity. Therefore, ensure that you pick the right concrete company for the job to enjoy the above and more benefits of concrete waterproofing.