
Front 9 Restoration
Concrete Cleaners & Sealers
By Craig Harrison, Senior Technical Adviser of
Front 9 Restoration, Inc. and F9 University,
www.Front9Restoration.com
Rust comes in various forms, such as
iron oxide, iron hydroxide (II & III), and
green rust. It can form on any surface,
even under water. The more porous a surface
is, the more difficult it can be to remove the
rust stain because it penetrates deeply into the
surface.
Types of “Rust”
Simple rust, such as iron oxide that results from sprinklers, can normally be taken care of with a healthy
dose of oxalic acid. But as rust goes through
different stages it can get tougher to remove.
Some rust is what we could call a “combination
rust stain,” where you have iron oxide (thin and
watery) and metallic, corrosive, flaky rust (iron
hydroxide) that forms a concentrated stain and
builds up.
Then there are other “rust” stains that are not actually rust at all. Battery stains
from electric vehicles – especially in golf cart
communities – form an orange flash acid burn
from the sulfuric battery acid that can continue
to grow in depth and length. These stains look almost identical to rust but are much different.
Hydrochloric acid spills can produce the same type of orange acid burn. Fertilizer rust
stains and battery acid burn from golf carts are
among the toughest forms of rust and burn to
remove.
Removing Rust
The problem with traditional rust removers
currently on the market is that they contain
acids that “eat” the concrete. They strip
the concrete of its cement paste and can
create a micro-aggregate or “etched” surface
surrounding the rust or orange acid burn.
When these cleaners eat the cement, they
only take a minimal amount of the stain with
it and cause deep, permanent damage to the
concrete. Almost all concrete rust removers
formulated to remove rust can discolor the
concrete, turn it white or, in some cases, even
turn it more orange. Now your problem is two-
or three-fold and your customer has sustained
permanent damage to their concrete. Not good.
This is where F9 comes in handy in its
ability to tackle all forms of rust and orange acid burn and give the user
predictable results on a wide
variety of surfaces without
damage or etching. F9
performs beautifully on both
of these types of stains.
We are currently in the process of creating
other remarkable cleaners to help with issues
of efflorescence, calcified efflorescence, calcium
carbonate, hard water stains and more. We
are also working on a “green” line of synthetic
cleaners.
We also have made it easy and rewarding for contractors to use. Our F9
Authorized Applicator Program and www.
Front9Restoration.com website is a lead
generator for our Authorized Applicators,
turning homeowners and property managers
into prospects. In the last 12 months alone,
we have generated over $250,000 in work for
our Authorized Applicators from Internet leads
across the U.S.
Finally, I just want to add that like most of
you reading this, I am a pressure washing and
restoration contractor myself. Our number one
goal is to get the customers who call us or visit
our site the best work possible. Damage to
concrete doesn’t need to happen if you have the
right restoration chemical and solid knowledge
on how to get it done. We provide this and take
great satisfaction knowing we are helping our
industry as a whole, helping your business and
getting the best work done as possible to the
people who need it.
F9 is much more than just a product; it is
literally a business for some. When a pressure
washing contractor or restoration professional
knows with confidence that he can remove
certain stains where other contractors have
failed, this is a powerful place to be. A niche
like rust removal can be used to grow your
business and up sell the rest of your services.
Craig Harrison is the Senior Technical
Adviser of Front 9 Restoration, Inc., in Palm
Desert, California, and an associate member
of the UAMCC. For more information on F9 or
our Authorized Applicator Program, visit www.
Front9Restoration.com and “F9 University” or
call us direct at 855-803-1133.
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