remove - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Samuel Alan · Sophmore Member

remove

Brandon Vaughn · SoftWash Systems Pro Staff

Samuel, not to be negative, but removing sealers on concrete is one of the most miserable jobs ever. And unpredictable. There are a large variety of types and materials, and is an art in and of itself.

If it were me, I'd pass on it. You have to draw a line on your specialties somewhere - customers will always ask you to do more services than is in your flyers. This is a service I'd find someone who is an expert and refer them the work. Maybe even get a referral fee ;)

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Yes if it is a penetrating sealer it wont come off or out.

AC

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

I would pass on it also. The strippers are very expensive and time consuming.

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Pass off to a concrete restoration contractor and develop a referral relationship with him. Most of those guys have a client list of very wealthy homeowners and businesses.

Samuel Alan · Sophmore Member

There's no one around here. the concrete people don't even want to try don't have time. the home owner said there's a thing called TSP wants me to try it. like I said before nobody around here wants to do anything

Brandon Vaughn · SoftWash Systems Pro Staff

Then tell the customer that they may pay you and the results might be unsatisfactory. If you really want to tackle it, you could be left with a very unhappy customer - speaking from experience here.

TSP typically is used for prepping walls for paint. I would highly doubt that it could remove sealer. Whatever product you use, make sure you don't let any product go down the storm drain, or you will face heavy fines from the EPA. You will also easily burn landscaping, so you have to spend a great deal with masking. Once you lossen it up, you have to contain the sludge, and vacuum it up with a wet vac.

-- Edited by Brandon Vaughn on Monday 23rd of November 2015 01:29:20 PM

Chad Eneix · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

I'm throwing my two cents in for passing on this, also speaking from experience. Removing sealer is a nightmare. There is a reason none of the concrete guys want to do this.

If you do it, which I again advise you do not, charge A LOT. Draw up a very detailed contract. Figure out how much time you think it will take and double it, and double the product as well. Make sure they know it may not work. Have them be there the day you start, and do a demo to let them know what the results will be, then have them sign again based on the demo. Take photos.

I also don't think TSP will remove sealer. If it is an acrylic sealer, or if it sits on top of the concrete, Xylene will remove it. Xylene is very flammable, and will melt lots of rubber and plastic things like the soles of your shoes and many types of rubber gloves. Don't get it on anything but the driveway, it will kill plants, damage siding and paint, and even stain the asphalt street. Then you have semi-liquid acrylic sitting on the driveway and you have to scrape/wipe/pressure wash it off, then pick up all the mess, and dispose of it. There are other ways, like very expensive different media blasting equipment, but contractors are few and far between.

Sorry, not trying to be discouraging, but I have done this, only because I screwed up a sealer job and had to fix it. I turned a 2 hour job in to a 4 day disaster, and that was only a 15' x 25' patio.