Many of us have seen some of those very satisfying videos, in which a concrete surface is reborn, revitalised, or restored by a strong pressure washer. An ugly, stained, unkempt front yard, that looks about as welcoming as a graveyard at night, transformed into something that could easily feature in Australia’s ‘Houses’ magazine. It sure looks simple, right?
Well, yes and no. Effective concrete cleaning depends almost entirely on the quality of the tools used. In fact, concrete cleaning can be one of the most difficult DIY tasks to carry out if the equipment is in any way substandard.
“Why is it important to maintain concrete anyway?”, I imagine some of you are asking. Good question. There are five main reasons not to skip concrete cleaning:
- Aesthetics – this one seems obvious. We all prefer to live somewhere that looks nice. However, if you are trying to sell a property, aesthetics become essential. An unkempt concrete yard suggests that the owners may not have not invested much time and effort into maintaining the property, thus it becomes less of an attractive proposition.
- Safety – Unmaintained concrete can accumulate grease and algae, causing a slippery surface. Naturally, nobody wants a dangerous yard, but there is even less desire for litigation if a lack of maintenance causes injury to others.
- Health – in much the same way that uncleaned concrete can accumulate grease and algae, it can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria and mould, both harmful to those who are exposed to them.
- Damage – dirt and grime, if left over a long enough period of time result in stains and cracks in the surface. Once these cracks appear, they soon widen and allow water in, causing even wider cracks and so on, and so forth.
- Avoiding unnecessary attention – if the area in front of a property looks unmaintained, it can often be assumed that any security system in place might also be substandard. This could attract vandals or burglars to the property. Keeping the area maintained suggests an owner is properly looking after the property and it becomes less of a target.
Now knowing the importance of concrete cleaning, it becomes more pertinent to understand what factors need considering when arranging a cleaning:
- Efficiency – concrete cleaning will significantly reduce time and labour costs, and ensure that the concrete is cleaned in the right way.
- Effectiveness – different types of accumulation and stains require different cleaning products and equipment. A good cleaning company would understand this and prepare accordingly.
- Safety – the right level of professionalism, paired with tools that can adjust the pressure for appropriate stains and surfaces will ensure that there is no danger to personnel or property during the cleaning process.
- Preserving the concrete – incorrect cleaning methods and products can lead to further damage to the concrete surface, thus later compromising the longevity of the surface.
Overall, choosing the appropriate concrete cleaning company is essential for safe, thorough, and efficient cleaning without risk of further damage to the state, or aesthetics of a concrete surface, so choose well and enjoy your ‘magazine-worthy’ picturesque concrete area sooner, rather than later.