Any advice for pressure washer ?

[stargazr]

I know Ill get flamed for this but I bought the Pacific Hydrostar from Harbor Freight for about $80 with a coupon and its still going strong. Ran 3 long days straight when I first bought it to clean the driveway, curbs and whole house before painting. That alone paid for it and now does cars and whatever. It has mixed reviews but has been a good purchase for me.

I borrowed one of Harbor Freight's washers for my pool and thought it worked pretty good. I'm thinking about buying one. Never tried a gas one though.

 

[BoomerD]

Well damn...that was easy.

One of my neighbors was having a friend and son pressure wash his driveway...I went over and talked to them. $100 for them to pressure wash my driveway, carport, patio, and sidewalks.

It would have cost me between $55 and $75 just to rent a pressure washer at Home Depot...
<phew> That was close. I ALMOST had to do some work! :biggrin:

 

[rsutoratosu]

lucky you i definitely need to get a heavy duty one for an initial clean and just electric one to do maintainence

 

[spidey07]

I bought a nice 3000 PSI, something like 2.4 gpm thinking I wouldn't need the commercial stuff for 400 bucks. It's nice, does a good job. But I really wish I would have bit the bullet and paid 7-800 for a commercial version with 4+ gpm.

It's to the point that I want to find a big one used. The difference in the amount of work they can do per unit time is amazing. PSI is only part of the equation, how much water it moves is more important.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-31...Y80940/203615829?N=5yc1vZbxdjZ1z0yjrgZ1z0zy8v

Pressure isn't a problem, I just want more water flow because I have to move slowly with it. I have a shit ton of concrete and pool decking to clean. Just the pool deck takes 4 hours to clean because I have to move so slowly.

 

[BoomerD]

lucky you i definitely need to get a heavy duty one for an initial clean and just electric one to do maintainence

They guy showed up with a heavy-duty commercial unit. 5 gpm, up to 5500 psi...

The thing really moves some water and crud. I tried pouring bleach on some of my concrete to see if it would cut the crud...no luck. left a whiter spot...but did not do much.
Our winters here are rainy and cool. Mold, mildew, and mossy substances grow every-fucking-where. Concrete turns black.

My driveway now looks like concrete instead of crappy asphalt.

 

[spidey07]

They guy showed up with a heavy-duty commercial unit. 5 gpm, up to 5500 psi...

The thing really moves some water and crud. I tried pouring bleach on some of my concrete to see if it would cut the crud...no luck. left a whiter spot...but did not do much.
Our winters here are rainy and cool. Mold, mildew, and mossy substances grow every-fucking-where. Concrete turns black.

My driveway now looks like concrete instead of crappy asphalt.

And what will you be sealing it with?

 

[DrPizza]

They guy showed up with a heavy-duty commercial unit. 5 gpm, up to 5500 psi...

The thing really moves some water and crud. I tried pouring bleach on some of my concrete to see if it would cut the crud...no luck. left a whiter spot...but did not do much.
Our winters here are rainy and cool. Mold, mildew, and mossy substances grow every-fucking-where. Concrete turns black.

My driveway now looks like concrete instead of crappy asphalt.

Uh, why not get a few gallons of muriatic acid. Screw the directions and only dilute it 50/50, if that. Spray it all over your driveway, let it set for half an hour, and rinse with a hose. Did that with our garage floors, and they looked brand new when done.


Oh wait... you're in California. It's probably a felony there to use concrete cleaner.

 

[spidey07]

Uh, why not get a few gallons of muriatic acid. Screw the directions and only dilute it 50/50, if that. Spray it all over your driveway, let it set for half an hour, and rinse with a hose. Did that with our garage floors, and they looked brand new when done.


Oh wait... you're in California. It's probably a felony there to use concrete cleaner.

I work with the 30% shit at home for pool stuff. It's dangerous as are the fumes. I thought it would eat concrete if it was on the surface that long?

 

[DrPizza]

I work with the 30% shit at home for pool stuff. It's dangerous as are the fumes. I thought it would eat concrete if it was on the surface that long?

Fumes aren't an issue outdoors; provided a tiny bit of breeze, plus working into the wind. Yep, it eats away at the concrete a bit; hence you have a new surface. That's why it looks brand new. If the concrete is 6" thick, it'll be 5.99" thick when you're done.

 

[BoomerD]

Uh, why not get a few gallons of muriatic acid. Screw the directions and only dilute it 50/50, if that. Spray it all over your driveway, let it set for half an hour, and rinse with a hose. Did that with our garage floors, and they looked brand new when done.


Oh wait... you're in California. It's probably a felony there to use concrete cleaner.

Left California about 18 months ago...I'm in the PNW though...almost as bad as CA on regulations.