New home construction dust on concrete?

[Russ T.]

I think I’ve asked before but it’s been a while.

I get these calls quite a bit with a fair amount of new construction going up around me.

I have an estimate tomorrow but told customer we’d be prepared to clean at that time.

Their socks are getting dirty when they go downstairs to the unfinished basement...

Can I get almost all dust off the floor with a pretreatment (Saiger Sauce) and scrub with CRB (what brushes?) with a fresh water rinse with the spinner?

I thought I might run the spinner at relatively low pressure, around 600 psi.

Would a 175 be better?

Thanks!

 

[Russ T.]

I wish I did duct cleaning because the dust just keeps coming for a while after a new home is built.

 

[Desk Jockey]

If dusty you should probably use a HEPA vacuum. If not it should be an easy scrub and rinse. Maybe they should consider sealing it after you clean it. ???

If it's an on going problem they might check into a high efficiency furnace filter and replace it as needed. Many furnaces come with low grade filters that do little more than act as rock catchers and let small particles pass through the system to be redistributed throughout the home. A better filter may slow down the dust problem by trapping it in the filter.

 

[hogjowl]

Good grief.
Just clean it.

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[Russ T.]

Good grief.
Just clean it.

I don’t want to do it twice.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I personally think a 175, or an RE with a pad driver would be better.

 

[Andy]

grout cleaner and spinner @ grout cleaning psi. crb and 175 will just push dust into concrete.

 

[Shane T]

Rinse and seal. Be prepared to replace the plastic ring on your spinner. Even though the concrete looks smooth it will wear the ring quickly. I used the same sealer used on green concrete from Home Depot.

 

[steve_64]

I use my 15 inch hydroforce spinner with brushes and the wheel kit. Follow up with the wand because the spinner leaves it gritty.

Nothing but water at about 800 psi.

Also carry a scraper for paint specs and adhesives. On some we use a scraper on a pole first. The glue is from the insulation on the walls and the floor joists.

Easy money.

The concrete is probably already sealed.

 

[Old Coastie]

Don’t forget your “Handy Phrase Manual for Describing Painters and Plasterers” available from Amazon.

And yes, take a scraper.

 

[Dolly Llama]

The concrete is probably already sealed.

in new construction residential basements?

.L.T.A.

 

[steve_64]

in new construction residential basements?

.L.T.A.

Yes. Garages too. At least our contactors do. I think they seal them shortly after pouring them but not really sure.

 

[steve_64]

We have removed hundreds of pounds of sand from the foundation sitting through winter and it's already sealed. This is after the house was built too.

Had to shovel and bucket it out first before shop vaccing and then as I described above.

 

[Andy]

very possible to already be sealed. some contractors put a sealer on to slow down the water evaporation and in the process the curing as well, makes for a stronger concrete.

 

[Russ T.]

It’s not sealed.

They had boxes everywhere this morning so I’ll see them on Tuesday.

I was planning on just pretreat and rinse with my spinner.

It’s pretty dirty down there. I had imagined it was really just dust.

 

[Desk Jockey]

On new construction its not uncommon to have mud, sand and sawdust in the cracks of the concrete. When I clean my garage floor lots of debris comes up where they made the crack cuts. Sheetrock dust along the edges too.

 

[steve_64]

I use this scraper. Keep it in my back pocket. It cleans the cracks and the vac slot on the wand and spinner too.

I just use a big shop vac first. Usually gotta clean the filter a couple times. I use the hard floor tool without the brush on the shop vac. Seems to work best. Keep it locked down and walk slowly backwards. Takes about an hour on our basements.
Don't skimp on this step if it's bad. Be meticulous it really pays off when you flush it. Debris will plug your spinner.
You don't need any cleaning detergents unless there is oil but I've never seen that.

Just spinning it won't get it all out but they may be ok with that. Our guys go around rubbing their hands across it checking for grit. But we go in at the end so it may be different but if it is getting sealed make sure its not left gritty.

 

[Desk Jockey]

What irony. You keep your crack cleaner in your back pocket.

Tell the pig to STFU I am grown up!

 

[steve_64]

We've tried smaller shop vac s but they all failed because the filter plugs up to fast.

 

[steve_64]

What irony. You keep your crack cleaner in your back pocket.

Tell the pig to STFU I am grown up!

That cleaner comes on a roll.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

W

grout cleaner and spinner @ grout cleaning psi. crb and 175 will just push dust into concrete.

What, crb might, but a 175 certainly would not. Not sure why you would use grout cleaner on cement.

 

[steve_64]

W

What, crb might, but a 175 certainly would not. Not sure why you would use grout cleaner on cement.

Run the scraper along the cracks and shop vac it up. Scrubbing is s waste of time. I've tried it. We did 22 new construction jobs last year.

 

[Andy]

Not sure why you would use grout cleaner on cement.

What is grout?

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Ok, I get it and grout cleaner and neutral cleaner is same thing too. Semantics, but not cost. Just saying. But you do whatever suites your fancy.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I guess if you fellows are doing residential, then I guess grout cleaner and spinners #whichIhave, and scrappers would be the way to go, but you get thousands sq. ft, it’s certainly not.

 

[hogjowl]

Ok
Carry on

 

[Kenny Hayes]

And I know the thread says new Home. You got me there.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Ok
Carry on

10-4 uncle