Stubborn rust stain - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Stubborn rust stain

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Josh,

i woukd think that the concrete might have perminent damage and can be stains deep. Sounds like you went above and beyond. I looked at a job last year that another contractor tried to remove fertilizer stains from a concrete porch, and he failed. He used oxalic acid and he actually burned the concretes top layer, called the cream. you might want to call Craig at F9 just to be sure. Once concrete is burned it looks worse and cannot be reversed.

Eric Hemming · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Rust stains sometimes takes alot of light application. Sometimes it good to do a light pressure washing if the concrete has a think layer of rust and to open the concrete pores so the soaps can work better.

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Thank you John and Eric for the feedback.

Eric, we did do a pressure wash of all the concrete prior to the original treatment to prep the surface and open pores. I wonder if I'll need to do that again to retreat. I feel as though these spots that remain are not so much rust stains as they are actual "chunks" of metal that flaked off the umbrella stand and bonded with the concrete surface. So I don't know if it is still in the realm of what I can handle.

John, thank you for the cautionary tale. Other than continuing to apply BARC I'm definitely wary of bringing in other methods that I'm not familiar with.

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Josh,

no problem. But be careful even too many applications of F9 can burn concrete.

Chris Mozick · Junior Member

By chance did you try hot water

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

John, I hear you. I don't plan on doing anything more with the BARC. Will probably tell the client there is nothing more I can do without risking damage to the concrete.

Chris, if you're referring to a hot water pw, no I haven't. I don't own a hot water unit. Have you seen success with this type of thing using hot water?

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

Josh, if I'm looking at the right part of the image, they appear to be three dimensional. Have you tried a putty knife or similar tool and some gentle tapping? Or maybe a Dremel tool with some form of grinding wheel? There may be some minor scratches to the concrete afterwards, but it would look better than three dimensional rust. And from my OCD side, leaving that rusted metal on the concrete could leave a place to cut someone's foot while walking around this summer. A cut foot, rusty metal...is your tetanus shot up to date?

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Great thought, Troy. I may try the Dremel tool approach, as I have a similar OCD side that can't leave it the way it is. The spots at this point aren't elevated (3D) anymore, so I don't see them as potentially hazardous, but all the same, it would be nice to have them gone completely. I may have to take the Dremel over and see what it can do....carefully.

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

That's one of the things I love about these forums Josh, someone will almost always have past experience on some oddball issue, or an out of the box idea to get you thinking. I'm not ready to do a Marriott, but I loved reading all of the great ideas on that thread! Best of luck landing that job! Good pay, great experience, and great resume' builder for the future!

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

You said it, Troy! So I ended up going over and taking the Dremel and a mini grinding wheel to the rust spots to level them back to the original concrete. It didn't take more than 10-15 min to get the spots to all but disappear. I'm now happy with the results of the job. Client is happy, too. I may not normally have gone to these lengths, but this client has had us do a number of jobs for her, and has referred us to many friends and neighbors as well. Cultivate those good relationships, even if it means spending some time hunched over some tiny rust spots with a Dremel tool for a few minutes. It's those little things that reinforce the company image in the mind of your valued clients.

As for the Marriott job, I don't feel ready for that size job either. It scares the crap out of me. But with the help of the SoftWash family I know I can get it done and build on that success. The proposal has been submitted, I'll follow up in a couple days, and we'll see what happens.

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

Best of luck on that Marriott job Josh! If I was closer I'd give you a hand to help you out and make sure you had another set of OCD watching details, but if we were any further apart we'd be in the oceans.

Hopefully this customer was grateful enough to take some time out of their busy day and give you an amazing review for going above and beyond!

Chris Mozick · Junior Member

Sorry so late been really busy but yes I use hot water Pw and it helps extract the stains out easier

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

No worries, Chris! Thanks for the knowledge. I'll tuck it away for later. :)

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

Hey John,

Just following up...any word back on that Marriott job?

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Not yet, Troy. Thanks for asking. I made a follow-up call to the AGM (my main contact) three days after submitting the proposal, just to check in and see if they needed anything else. She said it would be a few weeks until the GM had a chance to review all the bids that came in. He was going to be out of town until this week.

If I don't hear anything by Friday I will make another call to the AGM to see what the status is. She mention in our last conversation that the GM glanced at my proposal before heading out of town and was surprised at how high the number was. I responded by briefly highlighting (once again) the differentiating features of SoftWash over PW and saying that safety and value-wise it is near impossible to compare the two. The proposal itself spends most of its time highlighting how we are different and the best choice as a company (SWS certified, Ask the Seal, Insurance, etc). I felt good about my pitch, but not sure how much of it will make it to the GMs ears.

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

Yeah, sounds like you may not have much chance if you don't get to speak to the GM directly unless he takes the time to dig into the details of the brochures and websites. Being a hotel and trying to offer customers a place of peace and quiet, a place to relax, a place they can have meetings and work and concentrate, hold conference calls, webinars, take advantage of their meeting halls, hold training classes, wedding parties or other gatherings...all this will be negatively effected by the constant noise of a pressure washer. A negative review about the noise online could easily cost them the difference, aside for your superior cleaning skills and abilities. :0)

Chris Mozick · Junior Member

F9 efflorescence might work on that too but ask Craig