[JetVac Cleaning]

New to using hypo I had the ideal yellow patio slab job today full of black spots in the shaded areas. Mixed the hypo 3 to 1 mix and applied to the hole area with a brush on a pole . I then left for about 25 mins before returning to clean. I used my flat surface cleaner which didn't seem to shift it! I then tried the fan lance which was better but was taking a fair bit of time and still left faint spots. In the end I tried it neat which was better but still couldn't shift it in the worst areas. Am I expecting too much from this chemical or am I doing it wrong?

[Blast Away]

When did you buy the hypo?

[Roger Oakley]

And what strength % is it?

[JetVac Cleaning]

The hypo is new and sealed and is 14%

[Jettaway]

how long have the lichen been on the slabs for?

I had one the other day, took 2 treatments just to start to make an effect on the lichen. Gotta head back and do a few more applications, a right ball ache.

although i am questioning when the hypo was made, they could of had it in a warehouse for 3 months before i got it

[Roger Oakley]

14% is about as good as you'll get, so how did you go about using this Dave?
Straight on the surface or clean first so as to pre-wet?

[JetVac Cleaning]

I tried wetting the surface and then applying it and dwell for about 25 mins before starting to clean , then on another section I tried cleaning first then hypo then clean again but had similar results with both. Maybe further treatments were necessary but I ran out of time. I did make a massive difference and the customer was over the moon with the results but it's more me trying to find out if there is a better method. I think the patio has been there for about 15 years and never cleaned so the lichen may have been there for years and will never come off. Does hypo work better if scrubbed? The reason I ask this is I have a rotary for hard floors that I have a stiff brush set ? Will it help get the hypo into the surface more efficiently if worked in?

[Matt Gibson]

I tend to clean first then spray the hypo down and let it soak. Then re apply until they disappear.

[Roger Oakley]

David,
Sounds like you did things right, for me I clean the surface first which pre-wets and you can see what's left Lichen etc, then spray on a hypo mix depending how bad the staining is will determine the strength I mix up, dwell time can be anything from 10 mins to 30 mins or more really depends on how bad the pavers are. Would a rotary help, I would have said yes and maybe some honing powder, Kevin could advise more here though.

[Jettaway]

Matt, do you rinse off after each application or spray on over the top?

I tend to wet area down with hose, then apply a mix, pressure wash area then apply additional applications as necessary

[Kenny83]

Matt / roger... what sprayers do you guys use? I'm looking for a good sprayer
Thanks
 

[Matt Gibson]

I usually leave the hypo on and spray on more if needed.

Lee, ive been using a sprayer from B&Q. £20 and it usually lasts me 6 months.

[Kenny83]

How many litre is it matt? I find that small 6 - 10 litre ones aren't quite enough if I need to spray 80m2 of block paving caked in lichen (as I did the other day lol).
Also is the nozzle quite a wide fan / alrge droplets to minimise wind drift?...... Or am I overthinking it all :/
Thanks

[Matt Gibson]

Its a 6L sprayer mate. You can twist the nozzle to adjust the spray. Dont get me wrong, its basic, but decent quality. I only use it for hypo. Ive just built a pump box with a shurflo pump that i can hook up to some wfp hose and spray hypo through it for those bigger jobs. It feeds from a 30L  bucket but can be hooked up to a tank. Im using it for hypo/cladding etc..

[Kenny83]

sounds interesting matt, would like to see a picture?
I have had a similar idea, obviously running at 30lpm with 60m hose is out the question for a venturi, I do miss my venturi though 

[Matt Gibson]

Ill take a couple of pics and send them to you mate. Its quite handy as i can just drop one end in a big bucket of hypo/degreaser and ive made up a spray gun from an old trigger/lance or connect a wfp up to it and scrub cladding etc.

How are you getting on turning the wfp into an extendable jetwash pole? Ive been meaning to do one of mine cause im sick of using the big yellow one.

[Roger Oakley]

For hypo I just use hozelock pumps 8 lts, change tips /seals every couple of months, usually get 18 months of of one.
I have gone down the shuflo pump route, they work ok, you really do need to flush out after use, used to run up to 40 mts with no real problems, worst thing I had happen was running caustic through it and had a kink in the hose behind me, and the hose exploded, shooting a caustic mix everywhere, which wasn't nice, as this stuff burns, well at least the way i use it.

[Kenny83]

Matt- I'm just copying off Lee Blasaways method really, it's basically just running a high pressure hose up through it instead of the wfp hose, then going to rig some kind of connectioin up on the end, maybe mini quick release so I can use foam bottle if needed, not sure yet to be honest.
I already have a waterfed pole trolley with sureflow pump built in that takes 25ltr drum perfectly but it's just a bit bulky as ive downsized my van so looking for ideas to scale it down a bit, hence the reason to look at yours mate.

 Roger- I know what you mean by burning, we use it down the farm running it neat through the snow foam, the over spray goes all over us and burns, even as diluted as it is through the snow foam. Was your shurflow system run from your van?

Thanks

[Roger Oakley]

Kenny,

No not run from vehicle, I used to have a pull around trolley with pump, & battery mounted on it, suction hose dropped into 25 lt butt, when packing away everything fitted on the trolley, hose's lance pump etc.

[Kevin Miller]

I just use a watering can. Basic I know but I'm new to using hypo. Only used it on my own decking and patio at the moment but with great results