help with dirty driveways?

[ryanlee]

When ever I clean a more dirty than normal driveway my surface cleaner always seems to leave lines on the outside of the surface cleaner (where the tips are located). How do I fix this issue? I know it is not because I go to fast or that the tips are old.

I also have problems with driveways that have a heavy build-up of alge. Even after first soaking the driveway in chemicals then going over it with a surface cleaner the mold is still there, even though it looks better it still looks bad. I try to kill the mold by spraying it with straight chlorine from a pump spray. The problem is that this can be very time consuming. Are there any methods anybody knows of that can speed this process?

 

[MPW]

Are you using hot water? What is your gpm? What surface cleaner are you using?

 

[John Orr]

It is not unusual to have overlap marks when using a surface cleaner. Think of them this way: you just cleaned that strip of concrete twice.

Here are a few tips: follow the "grain" of the concrete, any streaks will be less noticeable; don't overlap any more than needed; clean the drive first, THEN apply chlorine (try downstreaming 12.5%, it works for me); Hot water (about 140 or so) REALLY helps; sometimes, there is rust on the drive from sprinklers - this will make it harder to blend. I have good results with downstreaming a strong mix (diluted when downstreamed) if the rust is even and light. I use a backpack sprayer (or a sureflo set-up for larger jobs) to treat heavy concentrations. Hope this helps.

John Orr

 

[Russ Spence]

Ryan ,once in every 100 or so drives i find myself with that problem and i will just go back accross the grain the other way.Our units are 5.5gpm @3500psi and hot water so i rarely have any problem with that.What size tips are you using?Most come with a factory installed 25 degree tip,try going to a 40,it gives a wider spray path and may help cover more ground area.