Hi all, I have a HO who brought me over to look at his back patio concrete because it is blotchy and discolored and he wanted to know if there is anything to be done. From talking with him I don't think it's a calcium buildup problem like from water run off or sprinkler overspray. The best I can figure is that the coloring seeped up through the concrete from something in the original concrete mix, but I honestly don't know. There are also some odd angular shapes in the coloring which is odd.
I'm hoping someone can take a look at the pictures and help me identify the cause of this so I know if there is anything I can do about it. My thoughts right now are either to use F9 Efflo or recommend he just paint or stain the concrete if he wants it to look uniform.
Thanks for the help!
-- Edited by Josh Agadoni on Thursday 14th of July 2016 03:34:59 PM
Most likely no way to clean that it is a bad concrete job. Those rectangle marks are from the knee pads the installer used when trowling the finish coat. If the top cream of the concrete looks like it glazed off due to being too wet at time of the pour.
Walk away from the cleaning aspecthe of it.
Chad Eneix said
Jul 14, 2016
+1 on John's post. It's the cream layer worn off in some areas and not in others. I would refer him to a good concrete contractor who may have some options to cover it up such as epoxy, etc. None of these options are going to be cheap.
Or, a relatively inexpensive option to cover it would be to get a painter to use a concrete "stain" which is essentially just a thin paint, not like an acid penetrating stain. Most of these options then become a maintenance item, requiring sealers or re staining once in a while.
Chad Eneix said
Jul 14, 2016
Also, let him know not to let anyone pressure wash it, it looks pretty new, and with a bad cream layer already, it most likely would etch.
Jeffrey Kirby said
Jul 15, 2016
What they said---but don't walk, run! The solution to their problem is not found in cleaning
Tim Teed said
Jul 16, 2016
Refer him to a guy that does decorative concrete. It would look real nice there.
Josh Agadoni said
Jul 17, 2016
This is great insight. Thank you, guys! I was figuring it was some issue with the concrete itself, and was 95% sure there was nothing I would be able to do to help him. I'm glad you guys confirmed that. Luckily I made no promises to him, I just told him I'd look into it and see what I could do to help guide him toward a solution.
Thanks for helping me look like a pro when I speak with him again!
AC Lockyer said
Jul 27, 2016
Jeffrey Kirby wrote:
What they said---but don't walk, run! The solution to their problem is not found in cleaning
Hi all, I have a HO who brought me over to look at his back patio concrete because it is blotchy and discolored and he wanted to know if there is anything to be done. From talking with him I don't think it's a calcium buildup problem like from water run off or sprinkler overspray. The best I can figure is that the coloring seeped up through the concrete from something in the original concrete mix, but I honestly don't know. There are also some odd angular shapes in the coloring which is odd.
I'm hoping someone can take a look at the pictures and help me identify the cause of this so I know if there is anything I can do about it. My thoughts right now are either to use F9 Efflo or recommend he just paint or stain the concrete if he wants it to look uniform.
Thanks for the help!
-- Edited by Josh Agadoni on Thursday 14th of July 2016 03:34:59 PM
Josh
Most likely no way to clean that it is a bad concrete job. Those rectangle marks are from the knee pads the installer used when trowling the finish coat. If the top cream of the concrete looks like it glazed off due to being too wet at time of the pour.
Walk away from the cleaning aspecthe of it.
Or, a relatively inexpensive option to cover it would be to get a painter to use a concrete "stain" which is essentially just a thin paint, not like an acid penetrating stain. Most of these options then become a maintenance item, requiring sealers or re staining once in a while.
What they said---but don't walk, run! The solution to their problem is not found in cleaning
Thanks for helping me look like a pro when I speak with him again!
lol........RUN!
AC