Cleaning a surface, whether porous or not, is a primary step before repainting or recovering an object. High pressure water jetting for surface preparation is a clean, economical way to prepare any surface. It is a form of hydro-cleaning - which means shooting water at a high pressure and concentrating its direction at the surface to be cleaned.

Loose particles, dust, and contaminants must be taken off first otherwise it will greatly impact the new application negatively. The new coating either won't adhere at all or it will have a short lifespan by easily peeling, chipping or wearing off far more quickly than normal. All of this can be avoided by taking a few minutes prior to the application.

Rather than sand-blasting or using chemical solvents, very high pressure water jets using the appropriate equipment for the right amount of force is a professional favourite of many to avoid unnecessary dust and mess with liquid strippers. It is also a safer way for the worker who has the task of removing the old surface. Chemicals require more safety precautions and can pose health risks. Some sand-blasting material can also be very environmentally unfriendly.

Using water forced through jets can remove old paint or other sealants from concrete to metals. The amount of pressure used can go as high as 2,800 bars and even higher, depending on the job. Commercial use can go even higher, as much as 3,800 bars, which is called ultra-high pressure water jetting.

Necessary equipment for high pressure water jetting for surface preparation ranges from tool-sized for use by a worker to machinery meant to perform the work without a human guiding it. It is an accepted way to prepare surfaces worldwide.

For surfaces which are porous, high pressure water jetting is the preferred way to remove old coatings. This is because the water jets can reach inside and clean out the old material and contaminants that are inside the microscopic pores without harming the surface itself. No damage is done which can easily happen with too much pressure from wire stripping or sand-blasting. Chemical solvents are also harder to gauge as to what strength and time they would need to be applied.

Asphalt is another surface that high pressure water jetting is commonly used to prepare. For airport runways, the amount of friction that comes into contact between an aeroplane and the asphalt surface is crucial. If there is too much tire rubber build-up on the surface, it becomes less resistant and more slippery, especially when wet. This causes aeroplanes to require more distance to take off and land.

There are many parts to a high pressure water jet for surface preparation. This includes a pump, valves, jets and a spray-bar, all which come in a variety of sizes for easy and tough alike. Some are rotary powered and some use hydraulic power.

Overall, for environmentally safe and powerful removal of unwanted coatings from tar to paint and other adherents, high pressure water jetting for surface preparation is the hydro-cleaning removal system chosen by professionals around the world.