Saturday, April 23, 2016

Concrete Cleaning made easy

Concrete cleaning has always been a male doninated industry. With the invention of great tools and even better chemistry, cleaning concrete has been made easier than ever and more female business owners have taken notice. One such owner had made it her bread and butter in Salem Oregon. The owner of Fast Finish in Salem Oregon is female. Although she shares the business with her husband and partner she is the genius behind the curtain with innovation in concrete cleaning. 
Although the business is usually booked out two to three weeks, residents and business  alike are willing to wait for the cleaning service that Fast Finish delivers

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Fast Finish Oregon: Best Roof Cleaning in Salem Oregon

Fast Finish Oregon: Best Roof Cleaning in Salem Oregon: When you drive around Salem have you ever noticed the heavy moss, mold, and lichen, on the roofs in your neighborhood? Some look like carpet...

Sealers - what you need to know

It is that time of year once again! Pressure wash that driveway, patio and sidewalk. But dont stop there, and forget to seal it afterwards. Why go through all the work then leave that clean exposed aggregate or concrete unprotected? That exposed surface is now more-vulnerable than when the oil and dirt were on it. But what sealer is best?  There are a couple things to consider. Looks and longevity are usually at the top of the list. What most people dont know is that most who want that nice shiny sheen on their exposed  aggregate sacrifice longevity. There is no way around it. In order to get that look, acrylics are used in the mixture. Acrylics are not sealers! Acrylics are coatings. The Difference between a coating and a sealer is the penetration they have to the surface. Acrylics have either a water or solvent base as a carrier. The thinner the mix or percentage of acrylic to the carrier the more penetration it has. Acrylics need a build up on the surface to create the sheen. 25-30% acrylic is typically standard to achieve that desired result. So everything is coated and looks great, but the catch is coming. In Oregon and high moisture, rain fall or humidity states, moisture gets trapped underneath these coatings. Coatings do not breath and trap thst moisture. The result is white haze, premature failure, flaking an chipping in some extreme cases. The fixes are only temporary at best. The coatings also need to be re freshed every couple years to maintain the desired shine as well. This is evident by areas that are less exposed to the elements under the eves and shaded areas.
Sealers on the other hand, penetrate into the pores and create a vapor type barrier but allows moisture to escape, depending on the carrier types. You can even attain a moderate sheen but nothing like acrylic coatings. The sealers also come solvent and water based as well and have a much longer wear life if they are not just topical in nature. Coatings and sealers both have their place. It is good to understand the pros and cons of each before making a decision...