In cold and wet conditions and with the amount of rainfall we get annually in New Zealand, algae and mould can quickly build up on your garden path, driveway or deck, making for a slippery and unattractive feature at your place! To keep your outdoor areas looking as fresh and clean as possible, use a water blaster to clear the grime quickly and get back to enjoying your patio or path in no time.
Equipment you’ll need for the job
While you might be able to get away with simply using a brush and bucket, a water blaster is by far the best tool to use and will save you loads of time and effort (not to mention a sore back) so you can spend less time cleaning and more time relaxing. Not everyone has a water blaster at home, and they can be extremely expensive to buy! Luckily, Hirepool have a great range of water blasters available for hire at fantastic low hiring rates, so no matter how big or small your job, you won’t have to go to great lengths to get it done. Looking for an electric water blaster, a petrol water blaster, or a diesel water blaster? We’ve got it all at Hirepool!
Steps for water blasting path or patio
Step 1: Prepare the water blaster
Before you’re ready to blast off, you’ll want to ensure you’ve completed a few key safety steps.
Make sure you have the appropriate safety equipment, including eye protection goggles and gloves as dirt and debris can get ejected at high speed when you’re water blasting. Hearing protection and good non-slip footwear is also recommended.
You should thoroughly check the water blaster to make sure it’s working as efficiently as possible, ensuring that the fuel tank is full if using a petrol or diesel water blaster, that the engine oil is at the correct level and that there is adequate water supply available. If you’re hiring a water blaster from Hirepool, there’s no need to worry about this as the team will take care of this for you.
One attachment you won’t want to be without is the rotary surface cleaner whirlaway, which has rotating jets on it and comes in handy for cleaning a wider area in a single pass, saving you time and making it a much easier job. To change the water blaster attachments simply twist and pull the existing nozzle off in one motion and put the extension nozzle on along with the whirlaway. Don’t have any special attachments? Don’t sweat it - you can still clean your patio and path without it.
Step 2: Wash down the surface
When you’ve completed the necessary safety checks and got your safety equipment on, it’s time to turn on your water blaster.
For electric water blasters, you need to do the following:
- Connect your water blaster to the power supply or an in line RCD
- Connect the water blaster to to the water hose
- Connect the blast hose and gun to the water blaster
- Turn on the water supply and simply flick the switch on the back of the blaster and you’re ready to go.
If you’re using a petrol or diesel water blaster then you’ll want to do the following:
- First connect the water supply to the water blaster
- Turn on the water supply when you are ready to begin
- Turn on the fuel supply and engage the engine choke
- Turn on the ignition switch and firmly pull the starter cord until the engine starts.
Using the water blaster without the whirlaway attachment, first wash down your surface by aiming the nozzle at the area at a 45° angle, keeping the nozzle a few centimetres away from the surface you’re blasting and depress the trigger on the gun to release the jet of water. Start slowly with a low pressure, either by depressing the trigger slowly or by holding the wand further from the surface as the water blaster can have a bit of thrust and you’ll want to be sure the surface can handle high pressure. Aim to use this first pass with the water blaster to clear any leaves and loose dirt or debris that might get in the way when you use the whirlaway next.
Step 3: Use the whirlaway
Now that your surface is clear and washed down, you can use the Whirlaway. As mentioned earlier, attach the whirlaway to your water blaster and turn it on. Guide the whirlaway with two hands as you sweep back and forth, working methodically down your path or patio. As you keep going over the area you’re trying to clean, you’ll notice the difference in the colour of the washed area and that unwashed area. Use this as a guide as you sweep across, making sure to cover each area for an even and tidy result.
Step 4: Rinse down your path or patio
When you’re satisfied that the grime and build-up has been blasted off, go back to your water blaster and remove the whirlaway. Rinse down your entire surface using the water blaster at a generous distance fromthe surface to ensure a low pressure, making sure to get right into the corners to make it look spick and span. If you did not have a whirlaway available to carry out step 3, you can also use an outdoor cleaning solution to clear any of the excess dirt or grime left on the surface. On some water blasters, you’re able to put the solution into a detergent dispensing unit that is on the water blaster which will help dilute it for you, so ensure to follow cleaning product application instructions and water blaster manuals.
Feeling ready to spruce up your outdoor areas with a water blaster? Order online or get in touch with your local hirepool branch to have a chat about your water blasting aspirations, or check out our handy guide on choosing the right water blaster for your job. At Hirepool we’re equipment hire experts and would love to help you tackle any of your DIY projects.
