Bitumen is most commonly used for driveways and car parks.
Because it often carries a lot of vehicle traffic, bitumen needs to be cleaned regularly. This is to ensure a safe surface for vehicles, and pedestrians.
The dust, grease and oil which builds up can present a health and safety risk, so a consistent wash is simply a must.
However, it’s important not to compromise the surface by using the wrong cleaning methods, which is unfortunately, easy to do.
Here’s the ideal process for cleaning bitumen.
Sweep the Surface
The first step is to sweep the surface clear of dirt and dust.
Sweeping first means that when we begin to use chemicals and a pressure washer, the clean will be more thorough.
It’s best to use a broom or a leaf blower to remove dirt and leaves from the bitumen surface, as heavier machinery can damage the bitumen.
Chemicals
Grease and oil stains often build up on bitumen surfaces.
Therefore, it’s best to use eco-friendly chemicals to help remove these stains. These will often be degreasers or detergents, which make it much easier to lift stains off.
Moreover, the chemicals will help to loosen up any other dirt and debris that might be lodged in the asphalt surface.
It’s important to make sure that we are maintaining an eco-friendly approach, so that the chemicals we use don’t cause damage to the environment.
Pressure Wash
After the chemicals set in, we thoroughly pressure wash, with cold or hot water.
To remove tough stains and marks, hot water is required. This is especially the case if these stains are made up of grease or oil.
When using a pressure washer on an asphalt surface, it’s better to use a lower pressure setting, so that the jet doesn’t damage the integrity of the surface.
Once we’ve pressure washed your bitumen surface, it will be left gleaming, ready to impress customers and clients alike.
Sealant (optional)
Often, businesses opt to place a sealant on their bitumen driveways and paths.
After a clean, it can be a good idea to coat bitumen with a sealant, so that stains don’t take hold. That means it can be easier to remove grease and oil when required.
To schedule a wash for your bitumen surface, get in touch with Sydney Sweep and Scrub here.
