I’m looking for a good surface cleaner for pressure washing concrete driveways and sidewalks. There are many different sizes and brands available, so I wanted to ask what people here are using regularly.
Do larger surface cleaners really save that much time, and which models hold up the best for everyday work? I’d appreciate any recommendations or advice before buying one.
I should just say to use the search, but I’m feeling nice this morning. What size pressure washer do you have? General rule is 4" per GPM, so if you have a 4 GPM unit, get a 16" surface cleaner. What’s your budget and how much use will it be getting? Are you out cleaning concrete for hours every day, or just a couple hours a week?
I’m a part time guy and most of my work is houses, so I clean maybe 1 or 2 a week. I have a 4 GPM unit and have an 18" GP Hammerhead surface cleaner. I’ve had it now for 5 years and it’s been perfect, no complaints at all. I added the wheel kit, so total I probably have $450 in it. That’s about middle to upper middle pricing for surface cleaners. You can spend $100 or you can spend $1500.
Thanks for the advice. I’m currently using a 4 GPM machine, so the 16" to 18" range seems like the right fit based on what you mentioned.
The GP Hammerhead is one I’ve seen recommended quite a few times, so it’s good to hear it has held up well for you over several years. I’ve also been looking at the BE Whirl-A-Way and Steel Eagle surface cleaners since they seem popular among contractors who do a lot of driveway and concrete cleaning.
For those doing driveways regularly, have you noticed a big difference in cleaning speed or durability between the GP Hammerhead and some of the higher-end models? I’m mainly looking for something reliable that will last and save time on larger concrete jobs.
Appreciate all the feedback so far.
I’ll probably get flamed for this, but IMO a surface cleaner is just a spinning bar with nozzles. I have no idea how some claim the expensive ones clean better. It’s the size, spray angle and distance from the concrete that’s important. More expensive ones should have better rotary unions that last longer, but that’s it. The rest is just a round cover and handles.
I still have my first ever surface cleaner, a SurfacePro Maxx 15" that I bought from Lowe’s 7 years ago and it’s still working great. I have larger nozzles in it that only put out about 1200 psi. I use it on epoxy garage floors, stamped patios, and even some Trex decks.
