[A Foster]

Hi.

I have been asked if I can sort out an imprinted driveway, which is looking faded and patchy.

She said it was never right, even when they installed it, the sealer started to bubble when they applied it. They fobbed her off and left her with it.

End of Last year another company had a go at it, to clean and re-seal it. she said that it again didn't look right. They promised to return this spring and sort it out. She now can't get hold of them.

I don't do many PIC drives, but have been on a course, so know a little about them.

The driveway is patchy and looks like the colour has faded, although I think it's mostly just where the sealer has flaked off. The sealer is flaking all over the drive.

I did the test of putting xyene in an area and rubbing to see if I could figure which sealer had been used. The xylene didn't go tacky or bubble, just gradually dried out.

She did say that when they sealed the drive, there was a really strong smell of solvent.

I cleaned a small area and applied acrylic sealer to see if it would stay. You an still see the flaking sealer underneath, so my solvent sealer did not melt it.

What are the options for getting the driveway looking good? or should I just avoid it, because there's no telling who has done this job, and what they've used on it.

Any help or guidance appreciated.

[dan hughes]

Avoid.

[Kenny83]

probaby something like this... polyurethane cheap varnich sealewr for pic? PU isn't suitable for PIC but these guys say other wise, it's all over ebay
http://www.drive-reviveuk.co.uk/heavy-duty-imprinted-concrete-sealer-gloss-finish-20-litre-2-p.asp

And heres another....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20ltr-Premium-Quality-Indian-Stone-Driveway-Sealer-Sealant-/111055984458?pt=UK_Paving_Decking&hash=item19db73d74a

With a quote ' suitable for indian stone, block paving, conrete and patios'

Bollox
It's impossible to have one sealer that covers all those surfaces
You can see on the tins that it is made by a paint firm

And another

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/indian-stone-sealant-patio-sealer-20l-wet-look-/260820376880?pt=UK_Paving_Decking&hash=item3cba1b1d30

This ones suitable for indian stone AND pattern imprinted concrete? 

[A Foster]

You can see the one where i've put sealer on top to see what happens.

I did think that it was probably a poly sealer.

I certainly don't want to start sanding or grinding it all off.

[Matt Gibson]

Wont a paint stripper that poly sealer off? Would be a messy job..

[Kenny83]

looks like the installers never washed the job off properly in the first place and left the release / antique powder (dust) on the surface, then probably used the cheap sealer as seen on the links.... The best thing to do is offer to strip the whole job, it's messy and horrible but the money is good, and then reseal with clear acrylic, something like creative impressions or smart seal will do it. 2 maybe 3 coats, you need to get the drive back to bare concrete first though
Explain to the customer that any sealer you put down without stripping will only be going over the top of what the s@@t that is down already.. it needs to be stripped... or wlk away

[A Foster]

What is the process for stripping off the old sealer (assuming it's cheap poly)?

I might go and do 1 test area for her and clarify that she's happy with the result. I don't want to spend my time stripping, cleaning and sealing to find that the probably Gippo's that did it, have made it impossible to achieve a good result.

[Kenny83]

Using a paint stripper, either a DCM based one, (cheap and quick but very messy!) or an eco/water based stripper, (longer to work but a little less mess, although still messy).

[A Foster]

Will paint stripper affect the colour? or is the colour pigment actually in the concrete?

[BDCS]

It should have coloured concrete but from the photo it looks like as Lee has said that thre may be installation issues under the sealer. You need to qualify the customer in writing before you attempt any works start as you may need to recolour after stripping. This job all depends on how much you want to attempt it as you may be opening a can of worms. I had a bit of an error in my early days with a resealing job and ended up soda blasting all the sealer off - a stripper may have been the easier route but I was never going to win as the customer just wanted a new drive anyway. I got paid as I was just a subbie. May be prudant to walk unless the customer wants to accept the risk

[chris scott]

Strip it all of or walk away from it. £25 sqm for strip and reseal.

[A Foster]

Thanks for the replies.

She's made it clear to me that she's considering ripping it all up and having it block paved, because it's
"never been right"

I know from listening to her that the problem lies with her just going for the cheapest price. She told me what
it cost when it was installed 6 years ago and it seemed really really low to me. By the sound of it, she's then had
cowboys in to clean and re-seal it.

I'll give her a price to strip and re-seal and if she accepts, I'll then do a test area and make sure she's happy with the result, before I do the whole lot. May even ask for payment up front as a guarantee I don't get stiffed.

Considering it's going to cost her about £6k to have it ripped up and block paved, I won't be doing it cheap.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Could you not offer to strip and seal a small test area, say in a corner somewhere for a nominal fee. That way you will the have confidence to do the rest if it looks right. You then could give the customer the price and she would be far more likely to pay the going rate if she is happy with the test patch you have carried out.

[A Foster]

Yes.

That's pretty much what I plan on doing.

She's not bothered about making it look any worse so i'll do 1 small area, make sure she's happy with
the results achievable, give her a price and go from there.