Paver Driveway Clean & Seal

Driveway Cleaning & Sealing a photo by ACME POWERWASH on Flickr.

Check out these photos from a recent project in the Phoenix area where we cleaned and sealed a custom 3-car paver driveway, walkways, and patio/BBQ area. These pavers were sealed with an industrial high-solids sealer after being cleaned and prepped with industrial, skid-mounted pressure washers (300°F steam/water @ 300 psi).

You can learn more about our paver cleaning and sealing services on our floor coatings page.

Project of the Week: Construction Cleaning in Phoenix, AZ

Construction Cleaning a photo by ACME POWERWASH on Flickr.

A team of ACME Powerwash technicians use industrial pressure washers to steam-clean a 6,000 sq ft concrete slab at this new construction project in Phoenix, Arizona. Each machines forces out steam and hot-water up to 300°F and 3500 psi. The concrete was covered in dirt, debris and other construction stains and ACME Powerwash cleaned the surface in preparation for sealer application. Learn more about construction cleaning at Pressure Washing Phoenix.

Copyright 2012 ACME Powerwash

Construction Cleaning: Hot-Water Pressure Washing Is a Necessity

Construction and remodeling can be a messy business, and that is why having a hot-water pressure washer is a necessity. Paint overspray, drips, and spills are a common occurrence at construction job sites. You also may find oil stains from vehicles and equipment, caulk, liquid nails, drywall mud and dust, chalk lines, tire marks from tractors or other vehicles, and a whole lot of plain old dirt. Here are four great reasons why you should be pressure washing your project with hot water.

1. Pressure washing is non-abrasive. Using floor scrubbers or scrapers may scratch and damage the surface you are trying to clean. Scratches and gouges in your concrete or pavers is less attractive than the stain you were trying to clean -- and more permanent!

2. Cold water pressure washers can cause damage too! Avoid pressure washing with cold water and 0° tips, as they can cause irreparable damage in the form of pitted out concrete and "snail trails". Hot-water pressure washing uses steam and intense heat to help breakdown the chemical composition of paint, oil and other stains without affecting hard flatwork surfaces. Less pressure is then required to lift off the stain. Use a "fan" tip or other tip designed to spread out the force of the water over a wider area. This not only speeds up the job, but reduces the risk of etching lines into concrete and other hard surfaces.

3. Multitask with a pressure washer. A pressure washer is a versatile tool that can be used for many purposes around the jobsite. Pressure washing can be used to dust off the exterior of a building to ensure a dirt-free surface for painting. A hot-water machine can be used on concrete to remove grime and help open up concrete pores in preparation for the application of epoxy, stains, and sealers. A hot-water pressure washer is also ideal for cleaning accumulated grease and debris from tools, trucks, heavy equipment and other construction vehicles. In the event of an unexpected paint spill or oil leak emergency, a hot water pressure washer will be a welcome addition in your arsenal of tools.

4. Clean to impress! A clean jobsite at any stage of the construction process is vital to impressing your customer, and a necessity at the end as the project nears completion. Pressure washing with hot water is an easy way to add value to any construction project by increasing customer satisfaction. The first impression a customer has is the exterior of their project as they approach. A filthy mess outside would instantly detract from all the hard work put into the entire project. Alternatively, a clean appearance is inviting and makes a strong statement about the quality of service they can expect from the overall project.

If you are going to tackle hot-water pressure washing by yourself, be sure to become familiar with the tools and techniques necessary to perform the task properly. Follow good safety practices to avoid common pressure washing injuries. Consider hiring a professional pressure washing company that uses top-of-the-line equipment and has many years of experience in the construction cleaning industry.

Happy New Year! (& Happy Birthday!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Join us in celebrating not only the New Year, but our 16th Birthday! That's right, ACME Powerwash is celebrating its 16th year in business! We are anticipating a busy year, so we have celebrated by hiring 2 new employees and making improvements to our already top-of-the-line pressure washers. Here's hoping 2012 is a great year for everybody!

THANK YOU!
We wouldn't be here without the support of our customers. We genuinely appreciate your business or interest in our power washing services over the past 16 years. If you are not an active customer, we invite you to check out our websites below to learn more about us and as always, we offer free estimates! Just call 602-373-1515 or email us at info@acmepowerwash.com.

From our families to yours, we wish you a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

The Team at ACME Powerwash
http://www.acmepowerwash.com
http://www.phoenixpaversealing.com
http://www.phoenixdrivewaycleaning.com
http://www.phoenix-pressure-washing.com

Paint Clean Up & Removal - The Trifecta for Stripping Paint from Hard Surfaces

Removing paint from concrete, pavers and other hard surfaces can be a daunting task. While the old adage is true (and a little disturbing) that there is "more than one way to skin a cat", we have found that the following method has proven successful time and time again for paint removal. There are three elements required to achieve the best results: PRESSURE, HEAT, and CHEMICALS.

1. PRESSURE. Anyone that has ever used a paint scraper to scrape old paint off a concrete floor knows the amount of "pressure" required to remove old paint. A pressure washer with the right tip can make the job much easier and requires much less elbow grease. A pressure washer in the 3,000 - 4,000 psi range should do the trick. Avoid 0° nozzles and opt for a "fan" tip which will spread the pressure out over a greater area. These tips will help lift off the paint without pitting out the concrete surface or causing the "snail trails" caused by 0° tips.

2. HEAT. Pressure washing with hot water is essential for paint removal. Industrial pressure washers are capable of generating hot water and steam up to 330°F. Cleaning just about anything is easier with heat, and paint is no exception. As old, dried paint starts to heat up, it physically changes as the chemical bonds holding it together begin to breakdown. Heat makes paint expand and loosen up, which makes it easier to remove with PRESSURE.

3. CHEMICALS. For many paint removal projects, high-pressure steam and hot water may not be enough to adequately remove all paint. Chemical strippers can be employed to help break down the chemical elements of paints. Paint strippers and graffiti removers are available at local hardware shops and industrial supply stores. They are available in both liquid and gel formulations for application to horizontal and vertical surfaces. There are even soy-based, eco-friendly strippers available for "green" projects. One of the biggest drawbacks to using chemicals is that they can be expensive. However, they can save valuable time and energy when used properly making it even easier to remove paint with PRESSURE and HEAT!

It may be possible to remove paint without each item in this trifecta, but where you lack in one element you will need to increase another. For instance, many homeowners don't have the luxury of a hot-water pressure washer so they will need to use more (expensive) chemicals to achieve better results. Increasing the pressure too much may lead to costly damage and should be avoided. If in doubt, consider hiring a local, professional power washing service to complete your paint removal project. Just verify that they are using PRESSURE, HEAT, and CHEMICALS!

ACME Powerwash is a mobile pressure washing company serving residents and businesses in the Phoenix Metro area and all of Central Arizona. Visit them online at http://www.acmepowerwash.com for more information about power washing services.

Parking Lot Cleaning - 4 Reasons Why Cleaning Your Parking Area is a Good Idea

Parking Lot Cleaning in Arizona a photo by ACME POWERWASH on Flickr.

We are in the business of parking lot cleaning, so you may already be skeptical about the information you are about to read in this blog. The fact is our company would not be in the business of parking lot cleaning if the following facts weren't true. While they might not all apply to your personal situation, something may strike a chord. When it does, don't hesitate to call us for a hassle-free, no-cost, no obligation quote to clean your parking lot.

1. Image is Everything. People prefer a business with a clean image. Like it or not, the exterior of your property creates a first impression before a customer even sets foot through the front door. The accumulated dirt and trash in your parking lot could adversely affect the image a potential customer has of your products and services. I visited a local restaurant once (once being the operative word) that had a scum-covered front entry. The soles of my shoes stuck to the layer of grime on the concrete. Gross. I will not be back. What message is your parking lot sending about your business?

2. Dirt = Damage. Dirt, sand, pebbles, and other small debris are abrasive. These materials can result in costly damage to your parking lot as they slowly break down the asphalt surface. Customer traffic and weather, among other activities play a role in the constant grinding down of your parking lot. As it begins to deteriorate, it creates even more damaging materials including small pebbles and loose aggregate. Repairing and resurfacing a parking lot is much more expensive than a recurring sweeping service. Would cleaning your parking lot now be worth the time and money saved in the long run?

3. Cleanliness Begets Cleanliness. Cleaning your parking lot can work the same as removing graffiti from your walls to prevent further graffiti. People are more likely to treat a clean environment with more respect than a dirty one. If there isn't a scrap of trash to be seen, a litterer may think twice. Whereas if there are tens of thousands of cigarette butts in your parking lot, what is one more, right?

4. Pride and Professionalism. Take pride in property ownership. Don't own? That's okay, then take pride in your place of business. It will show your community of customers and other business owners that you take your business seriously and value it enough to keep it well maintained. A clean parking lot is inviting and welcoming to a customer. Trashy parking areas make people wonder if they should just keep on driving. Which one is your parking lot?

Learn more about our parking lot cleaning services by visiting us on the Internet at http://www.acmepowerwash.com or calling us at 602-373-1515. We offer sweeping services using versatile and powerful Tymco vacuum street sweepers. To get your parking lot really clean and free from fine dust and larger aggregate we use our large fleet of industrial, skid-mounted power washers and 500-gallon water trailers.

Pressure Washing Houses in Phoenix, Arizona

Back east, pressure washing is typically associated with cleaning wooden decks or siding (mold/algae). Here in the desert we don't see a whole lot of mold or wooden decks.

As an Arizona resident, consider an all-inclusive, whole house cleaning. Powerwash services include the use of a 3500 psi and hot water to clean off exterior walls, eaves, columns, stairs, fountains, courtyards, sidewalks, patios, driveways, etc. Our expert powerwash technicians are the best at cleaning off spider webs, bird droppings, and months (or years) of built up dirt & grime from summer dust storms.

Hard to reach places? No problem! We have extension wands to get to all the high nooks & crannies. Our industrial pressure washers are great for cleaning up ALL areas around your home.

We pressure wash all surfaces including concrete, pavers, travertine, flagstone, stucco, asphalt, exposed aggregate, stone, brick, block, etc.

We are available 24/7/365 and serve the entire Phoenix Metro area and most of Central Arizona. Call 602-373-1515 to schedule a cleaning or get a free estimate!