Rust Removal

On any metal surface that even has the chance of being exposed to water, you expect rust. However, it is somewhat less expected to show up on your concrete, but it can and if the right conditions are met, it will.

So how does that big orange rust stain show up on your concrete when it isn’t a metal surface? There are a few culprits. Most commonly, you will find rust stains on concrete from metal ornaments or lawn furniture. You will typically find smaller rust stains where the metal had contact with the surface. However, if you have a larger rust stain, you will want look to nearby irrigation systems. Some water has trace amount of iron inside and when iron meets water, it creates rust. Thus if your sprinkler system is overflowing onto your concrete, it is likely to blame for that ugly orange stain.

Now that you know where the rust probably came from, what can you do about it? Scrubbing concrete with a cleaner formulated for rust can help to dull the stain, but it doesn’t completely remove it. The real issue is that concrete has pores, and like with dirt, once rust gets into those pores, you need to go in and clean them. The best way to do this is with power washing. The high pressure water penetrates and cleans concrete better than any scrub brush ever could.

By contacting a skilled power washing company, they can save you several afternoons of scrubbing by cleaning that ugly stain away in just a few minutes. By pre-treating with a rust remover and then giving it the power washing treatment, that stain is gone. However, it isn’t gone for good if the cause isn’t treated.

If you have rust stains or even just dirty exteriors that need cleaned, contact us today.

Rust says a lot about a property, and it doesn’t say anything good. Some rust is unavoidable, and it seems like it reappears as soon as you remove. Sometimes rust is even part of the decor if your building has a rustic feel and you’ve controlled the patina on some iron decorative elements.

But the rest of the time, rust makes people think the building isn’t being maintained. Rusty sidewalks imply the landscaping is low budget or nonexistent and it decreases the property’s curb appeal. If there’s rust on the building itself, that’s even worse. Here are three ways to get rid of the rust:

1. Galvanize the exposed metal.

You can’t keep water off of your property. So you need to make sure the metal elements are as protected as possible from rain, irrigation, and humidity. Identify the most common rust areas and look into the most cost-effective ways to solve the problem long-term. If you have rusty plumbing fixtures or vents along the building’s exterior, replace them with galvanized counterparts. If your wrought iron fence is coated in rust, clean it and have a protective seal applied.

2. Pressure wash the property.

But before you start protecting your building against future rust, you have to remove the current coat. Using chemicals to remove the rust can be dangerous: not only can they etch through the metal, they will stain the surrounding surfaces.

A pressure washing surface will use the right cleaners and water pressure for every surface, including sidewalks, siding, and metal fixtures.

3. Schedule regular washes.

You can’t galvanize or seal everything, and that means the rust is going to come back. If you have multiple investment properties or your schedule is too hectic to keep scheduling pressure washing appointments, set a schedule for routine service. Pressure washing works best every six months to a year because that stops the corrosion from setting in for too long.

Call 214 Pressure Washing here to schedule an estimate today!