Talking Pressure Cleaning and Concrete and Stone Sealing Solutions.

Can Mould Damage My Concrete and Pavers?

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 05:59:57 GMT

Why does mould grow on concrete and pavers?

Knowing the reasons why mould grows can help in taking steps towards removing it and slowing the re-growth. Mould is a natural, organic organism that spreads through spores and filaments and can settle and then spread on your exterior floors.

There are thousands of different types of mould species. Many are harmless to humans, however some can represent health risks. Typically these would be allergy symptoms, respiratory distress and some other forms of illness.

Certain conditions help mould grow and reproduce. Shade, moisture and organic materials are they keys. Concrete and pavers can provide nourishment and moisture for mould to trap and feed on organic matter, reproduce and spread to other areas.

Can mould cause permanent damage?

Mould filaments grow into the capillaries of masonry to extract moisture and even some filaments. The mould often releases acidic compounds which break down and weaken cementitious materials like the surface of your concrete and pavers. Long term exposure can result in permanent staining and eventually even pitting. Clay pavers and some dense stones are more resistant.

Can I fix the problem with sprays and chemicals?

Many retailers promote 'miracle' sprays like Wet & Forget and 30 seconds. Do they work? May be a little bit, but not anywhere near well enough to warrant the expense and time involved in applying them. Here are the key issues:

If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it isn't true.
We come across many customers who have tried these solutions and the common feedback has been .... it doesn't work.
These sprays kill and bleach some of the mould and moss, but don't actually remove them from the surface. This means the floor will still not look clean and as a result the rate of re-growth is likely to be significantly quicker compared with a professional clean and treatment.
Not only are these products not effective, they are also exceedingly expensive. Imagine having to buy enough to evenly treat your outdoor floors? And then possibly re-treating the areas where the mould is particularly stubborn..... only to find you are not happy with the outcome.

The professional solution

Jetclean has been successfully removing mould from concrete and pavers in Adelaide and Melbourne for many years.

Our process involves a thorough pressure clean of the area(s). This generally removes the vast bulk of the problem. Particular attention is paid to areas where mould is evident and often an additional cleaning effort is applied to get the right result.

Once the floors have been carefully cleaned and detailed the Jetclean operator will apply our in-house mould remover blend. The mix is often adjusted to suit the condition of the masonry and then applied via pump pack sprayers. After about 10-20 mins the mould remover has visibly killed and dissolved most, if not all of the mould that was present. In severe cases a re-application of our mould remover may be necessary to optimise the outcome.

Choosing A Sealer That's Right For You

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Film Forming Sealers vs. Penetrating Water Repellants

Choosing the right sealer seems simple enough… just ask which one is the best… right? That's the question every supplier hates to hear, because "best" is a relative term and there's no one product that is best for all people and all applications. In order to make a product recommendation, there are a few questions to ask:

What type of stone or concrete finish do you have? Concrete many different finishes; broom finished, smooth troweled, stamped, stenciled, sprayed, polished and exposed aggregate. Concrete pavers are also widely used and may people prefer to seal them. Stone pavers and tiles also come in different finishes: polished, honed, saw cut, etc...... Each of those finish types has unique considerations when choosing a sealer:

It really depends upon your personal preference and what your expectations are for cosmetic appearance.

Film forming sealers come in two varieties; water-based and solvent-based. Both have different performance and aesthetic qualities:

Water-Based Sealers

Low Gloss
Minimal darkening of concrete
Increased Chemical Resistance

Solvent-Based Sealers

High Gloss
Darkens concrete
Increased color development

On the other hand, penetrating water repellants will protect your concrete from water intrusion, deicing chemicals and freeze/thaw damage, but leave the appearance unchanged and provide little to no protection from staining.

Film forming sealers are often recommended for:

Pattern Pave
Stamped concrete
Exposed aggregate
Spray on paving
Stencil paving
Decorative concrete
Concrete
Concrete pavers
Some slate

Penetrating water repellants are often recommended for:

Smooth Troweled Concrete
Broom finished concrete
Natural or man made stone pavers and tiles
Concrete pavers

Your Environment Impacts On Sealer Choice

Is your concrete around a pool deck which might favour a penetrating sealer, simply because it is safer? Or surrounded by large trees, under the table and grill and in need of stain protection provided by film forming sealers? Always consider what elements and contaminants your concrete will be exposed to. Tree sap, oils, coolants, fertiliser, food and beverage spills and even lawn fertiliser can all stain unsealed concrete and stone.

Film forming sealers are often recommended for:

General stain protection
Prevention of oil and coolant penetration
Chemical protection - including many alkaline and acidic spills

Tip: Use Slip Stop additive in film forming sealers for applications around pool decks and other potential slip & fall environments. But keep in mind this will reduce the longevity of your sealer.

Penetrating water repellants are often recommended for:

Areas where excessive moisture may be present in ground (salt damp around home or pavers is an indicator)
General stain protection without making surfaces slippery (ie around pool areas or sloped surfaces)
Prevention of oil and coolant penetration
Very modest chemical protection - alkaline and acidic liquids can damage sealers

Appearance

There are many elements that impact appearance, including darkening of concrete, color development of colored concrete, gloss level, penetration, etc. In each case, solvent-based film forming sealers will do so more than water-based versions, while penetrating water-repellants will generally not change the cosmetic appearance at all.

Film forming sealers are often recommended for:

Pattern Pave
Stamped concrete
Exposed aggregate
Spray on paving
Stencil paving
Decorative concrete
Concrete
Some pavers
Some slate

Penetrating water repellants are often recommended for:

Concrete
Exposed aggregate
Stone and concrete pavers
Some tiles

Color Enhancement

Some versions of stained or coloured concrete may look dull and dusty prior to application of the right sealer. At other times it's preferable to maintain the original appearance of a substrate.

Solvent-based film forming sealers enhance colour development.

Penetrating liquid repellant sealers are often used when the owner prefers to maintain the original substrate appearance. These sealers retain a natural finish and NO CHANGE IN APPEARANCE and hence are often recommended for:

Concrete
Natural or man made stone
Some pavers
Some tiles

Solvent-based film forming sealers can darken the appearance of concrete, enhance colour development, develop a high gloss "wet look" appearance, and wet out antiquing release agents. As a result, film forming sealers are often recommended for:Stamped concrete

Pattern Pave
Stamped concrete
Exposed aggregate
Spray on paving
Stencil paving
Decorative concrete
Concrete
Some pavers
Some slate

Having some expectations about what you want your exterior floors to look like and what you want to protect it from will better enable you to choose a sealer you'll be happy with today and for years to come.

Driveway and Concrete Cleaning

Sat, 26 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Find out how Jetclean technicians clean concrete driveways.

If you have ever wondered how Jetclean technicians get concrete driveways looking so good .... here is how we do it.

Firstly, every driveway is different and the cleaning method is adjusted to suit. Plains concrete may be cleaned slightly differently to coloured concrete, stamped concrete, spray paving or exposed aggregate. Driveways with paint drops, oil stains, mould and algae all get a tailored cleaning process for the best outcome.

If the driveway is being cleaned because the concrete is to be sealed or even coloured, the process may even involve acid etching.

Jetclean technicians have pressure cleaning tools and a range of cleaning agents and treatments to optimise the cleaning outcome for all these situations.

PRESSURE CLEANING
We use very powerful equipment which is mounted on the back of a service vehicle. These machines are too heavy to lift or wheel around. We then roll a rubber coated, highpressure hose to the driveway area and attach the various pressure cleaning tools. If we have applied stain removal treatments we will probably use a guenrey or turbo nozzle to strip those areas back first. Then the entire area is cleaned with a rotary-jet hard surface cleaner - it is slowly moved over the the surface, much like a lawn mower over lawn. Once done, a gurney is used for a final wash of the area.

MOULD AND ALGAE REMOVAL
The most commonly found problem is that concrete driveways are not cleaned on a regular basis resulting in a build up of dark winter grime, mould, mildew, and algae stains with some oil staining also commonly found. When mould and algae affected areas become wet they can get slippery and become hazardous. While the pressure or steam cleaning removes many of these organic contaminants, the results can be far from perfect. Which is why at Jetclean we apply a mould removal treatment to any areas that may still need it. The results are simply excellent.

Don't let an unclean driveway detract from the street appeal of your home. Call the professional and Jetclean it.

DRIVEWAY SURFACES: Concrete, coloured concrete, decorative concrete, stamped concrete, pattern pave, stencil pave, spray on paving, concrete pavers, stone pavers
EQUIPMENT: Pressure cleaners, steam cleaners, rotary-jet hard surface cleaners, pressure cleaner gurney, vortex style turbo nozzle,