We’re certain you have many different concrete surfaces at your property. Your sidewalk, your driveway, your patio… all of these are potential examples. However, no matter what sort of concrete you have on your property, you will be frustrated if it becomes a breeding ground for mold. When mold appears on your concrete, it can create a wide range of problems. With Gorilla Exterior Cleaning, however, you can learn how to remove mold from concrete and restore beauty to your property!
Need professionals to do this work for you? If so, reach out to us! Our full-service team will be delighted to revitalize your property’s concrete—and for a fair price, too.
Why Mold Appears on Concrete
When mold appears on concrete, you’re bound to be annoyed. However, it’s worth shaking off that annoyance and considering where this mold comes from in the first place. Mold spores are a natural occurrence, and they are constantly drifting through the air, landing on surfaces, and growing if conditions are suitable. Once mold has a hold on your concrete, it will release even more spores, allowing it to spread further. This, of course, is bad news for you!
To prevent the mold on your concrete from spreading, we highly recommend taking action sooner rather than later. Concrete pressure washing is the key to eliminating mold. Let’s learn more about this process, as well as its benefits, below.
About Concrete Pressure Washing
One of the best ways to clean concrete is with concrete pressure washing. But what is pressure washing? It’s the process of restoring exterior surfaces with highly pressurized water. As this water is sprayed onto these surfaces, it strips away debris and brightens the area. Pressure washing your concrete is a surefire way to improve the overall appearance of your property, which you and your neighbors are sure to appreciate.
In addition to improving your property’s appearance, pressure washing can also help your concrete last longer by removing harmful surface debris. This is especially true in the case of mold. However, removing mold via pressure washing has a few caveats, which we’ll cover in the sections below.
Challenges of Concrete Mold Removal
It’s difficult to remove mold from concrete. Mold actually goes beyond growing on your concrete’s surface and goes deep inside its pores. The deeper mold has invaded your concrete, the tougher it will be to remove. Additionally, leaving any mold behind will increase the chance of its return, meaning you’ll want to be thorough during this work.
To learn how to remove mold from concrete, you will need the correct equipment, time, and patience. If you can’t get these things, then your best bet is reaching out to a team of professionals (such as the crew at Gorilla Exterior Cleaning).
What Equipment Will You Need?
If you want to learn how to remove mold from concrete, you’ll need the correct tools. Make sure you have all the following items:
- Push broom
- Stiff-bristle brush
- Pressure washer and attaching hose
- Protective gear (eyewear, gloves, full-length pants, respirator)
You will also need some sort of cleaning solution to kill mold. A sodium hypochlorite solution (one part bleach and ten parts water) works wonders. You can also use white vinegar, which is especially helpful because you might already have a bottle of it in your pantry.
Preparing the Concrete For Pressure Washing
Before anything else, you will want to prepare the surface for pressure washing. If there are any items on the surface, temporarily relocate them. This includes outdoor furniture, decorations, and parked vehicles. You may also want to cover nearby flower beds and gardens with tarps. This prevents your plants from being damaged.
You will also need to sweep your concrete before pressure washing it. This prevents large pieces of debris from getting in the way of your work (or even worse, launching everywhere when you spray it). It should only take a few minutes to get this preparatory sweeping out of the way, and it will be time well spent.
Apply Your Cleaning Solution
Now, you will want to apply your cleaning solution of choice to the moldy concrete. Simply spray a thin layer of it across the afflicted area. Then, wait ten to fifteen minutes for it to break down mold. Not only will the cleaning solution weaken the mold, but it will also kill it, preventing it from releasing any spores and spreading any further.
It is not uncommon for a second treatment to be necessary. If you move along this process and find that mold is still putting up a fight, try using another round of cleaning solutions.
Removing the Mold
Once enough time has passed for your cleaning solutions to work, it’s time to advance to the next stage of the process: using the stiff-bristle brush. By doing so, you will loosen the mold’s hold on your concrete even more, especially in your concrete surfaces’ pores.
Finally, you will want to pressure wash the concrete to eliminate mold for good. Since concrete is so durable, you can clean it with a higher amount of water pressure (e.g., 3,000 to 3,500 PSI). Be sure to wash the concrete in a thorough, row-by-row pattern. That way, you ensure that no mold is left behind.
Oh, and here’s a helpful side effect of removing mold with concrete pressure washing: you’ll remove all sorts of other debris, too. This includes algae, moss, dirt, mud, tire tracks, and much, much more!
Consider Professional Concrete Services
Need help removing mold from your concrete? Don’t have the time or energy to do this work on your own? Don’t worry because you can reach out to Gorilla Exterior Cleaning for the help you need.
We are a locally owned and operated business, and it’s always our pleasure to serve the Orange County, CA community. We proudly restore concrete for our clients, and we’ll be happy to serve you next. Contact us online and let us know about your appointment needs today! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible with a free cost estimate.
