[Alan McTernan]

Hi Guys,

One of my clients has had a builder in and they have left cement stains on there tarmac drive!!!!

Anyone know the best way to get rid of this?

Cheers
Alan

[BDCS]

Acid - as much as you want, its the one thing that brick acid is good at

[Alan McTernan]

Really? It won't damage the tarmac?

Cheers
Alan

[BDCS]

Go into the road and try it if you don't believe me then  :

[Alan McTernan]

Sorry to question you

Thanks for the reply Carl

[BDCS]

Your right to question if your not sure of the reply. I was called to Dover Grammer school who had the seven storey tower elevation re-rendered and the contractor never sheeted the fresh tarmac below - you can imagine the mess ! I had to go in on Sunday to clean up without even quoting so long as I was cheaper than re-laying the carpark. I used all the acid I had in the container and sent the missus out to buy most of the brick acid in East Kent. The school and the contractor were very pleased. Do your own trial so you go in confident of the result. Drain acid will also work

[drive surgeon]

you would think acid would damage tarmac but obviously not!

[BDCS]

You be careful in the road trig

[Kev Martin]

Sorry to disagree.  You need to be careful here!  You do not need anthing as strong as Builders Acid, Brick Acid, Hydrochloric Acid or Muriatic Acid or anything else you want to call it to remove concrete from tarmac.  It's a bit like taking a 14llb sledgehammer to tap a nail in a piece of wood.

A mild wash of diluted Phosphoric Acid will do it!  It's much safer, better for the environment, better to wash away afterwards and more than strong enough to remove it.

All this of course provided the cement was not modified with polymers when it was mixed because you may find then that it needs treating first with a Sealing & Coating remover  to break down the polymers.

Kev Martin
Marble Life Ltd

[Rick Ward]

Respect and all that Kev as you clearly know your stuff, but as acid is relatively cheap what is the downside of using it if it's effective. I'm all for the environment by the way so I accept that bit but are you saying that it (let's say brick acid) can damage the tarmac?

[Kev Martin]

Respect and all that Kev as you clearly know your stuff, but as acid is relatively cheap what is the downside of using it if it's effective. I'm all for the environment by the way so I accept that bit but are you saying that it (let's say brick acid) can damage the tarmac?

Rick

No I am not saying it will damage the Tarmac but there are dozens of other considerations like the environment to consider to name but one.  That acid has to washed away somewhere or vacuumed up and it will damage drain covers, or soak aways for example.  In addition if the fumes become airborne or splash by accident they will damage chrome on cars or any metal they come into contact with.  Also I understand here we are talking outside but if the fumes get sucked into an a/c system it will damage anything literally it comes into contact with.  So essentially what I am saying is why bother risking it?  You wouldn't buy a sledgehammer to tap nails into wood so why use an acid that is probably 50 times too strong to do something.   Phosphoric Acid Substitute by the way is £14.99 a gallon before discount I don't know how that compares to Brick Acid pricewise but I know which I prefer to use.

Kev Martin
Marble Life Ltd

[Rick Ward]

Fair point Kev....

[BDCS]

Brick acid is a fiver a gallon and you assume we are all incompetant. All of the things you mention would be covered in your RA & MS. Do you drink cola ? you would'nt if you saw the amount of acid that was used to soften the water and the phosphoric in the product. The enviromental impact in the acid is nowt to that of the tarmac. Why is every post weighted towards products you perhaps might hope to sell ?

[Kev Martin]

Brick acid is a fiver a gallon and you assume we are all incompetant. All of the things you mention would be covered in your RA & MS. Do you drink cola ? you would'nt if you saw the amount of acid that was used to soften the water and the phosphoric in the product. The enviromental impact in the acid is nowt to that of the tarmac. Why is every post weighted towards products you perhaps might hope to sell ?

That post was a direct reply to a question asked by Rick Ward.  Nobody said anything about anyone being incompetent.  I never assume either.  I also don't drink Coca Cola or any of it's generic relatives.  My concerns for the environment are genuine and the pitfalls I pointed out of just splashing brick acid everywhere were meant to help.  My posts are weighted towards products I know and fully understand and therefore am confident that they work.  Yes I do sell the products but if you think I am desperate to sell £14 quids worth of Acid think again.  Finally if my posts upset you this much don't read them!!!!

Kev Martin
Marble Life Ltd