[DC5202]

Hi all wondered if anybody might be able to help save my bacon.
Cleaning a customers gutters and fascia with water and a degreaser (Screwfix no nonsense diluted not neat  ) on a showery day like many I’ve done over the years .
Left job done with happy customers Only for them to contact later next day complaining  that the Black tarmac driveway (9mnths old has lots of spots on it  (some quite large where The degreaser has settled on it 😱
I’m absolutely gutted and have contacted the guys that did the driveway for some help as to how to (restore/ reseal/ spray ) the offending areas to match up with the rest of the drive , or roller the whole drive with a restorer ? Does anybody have any much welcomed (helpful) suggestions ? And why would a driveway spot / bleach like that ?
Thought it would be able to take a Chem that’s designed to remove oil spills ?
Many thanks DC

[Splash & dash]

We use virosol and have done for over 20 years never had that happen we evan use hypo and spray drives with it before cleaning and never have a problem , as far as Ime aware de greaser shouldn’t affect tarmac we do  generally rinse down any paths or drives if we get a spillage on it .have you tried a light scrub with a broom and water ?. Dint know what else to do , I doubt the customer will want a new drive painted with restorer as it won’t look very nice on a new drive way 😬😬😬😬

[DC5202]

Thanks for the reply
The irony is that I use No nonsense brand as it’s not coloured and found that Virasol would sometimes leave an orange tinge on road when disposing down the drain.
The contractor who did the driveway talked about spraying the patches with Simoniz spray paint ?? 
I did another fascia job yesterday and I’ve never washed down The surroundings  as much before and after ( freaking out it’s gonna happen again)
I wander if the crazy heat evaporating water and leaving previously diluted neat Degreaser to mark driveway! 
Still flummoxed as to how a hard wearing driveway would be affected like this .

[simon w]

Strong mix of no nonsense will do that to a tarmac drive I've seen it several times from personal experience. It's showing more because the drive is newish and clean without much dirt moss and algae to absorb the degreaser  as it settled.  I'd try pressure cleaning it with the pressure adjusted so it can't damage the tarmac and using a fan jet nozzle not a turbo. Ping this over to the general cleaning section as I'm sure there are other remedies for stains on  tarmac.  if you'd wetted down the tarmac and periodically rinsed with a hosepipe this wouldn't of happened. If you have a backpack full of surplus degreaser and mistakenly pour it away on a drive you'll notice the black dye in the tar getting washed out leaving a puddle of brownish colour mixture on the ground. To be fair after a light pressure wash I'd advise that the drive will weather in and you'll no longer see the stains .

[SB Cleaning]

Flat surface cleaner i would try.

[simon w]

It's where the dirt and possibly dye from the plastic and degreaser have mixed and landed on a hot drive and dried instantly causing a surface stain. I doubt that it's penetrated far from the surface and believe that a decent clean with water will get rid of it.

[Smudger]

There is a difference between TFR and de-greaser - by its nature de-greaser attacks and breaks down oil which is a key component in 'tarmac' - the problem arises the there are differing grades of tarmac/asphalt

You have been unlucky in the event that this is new and most likely has a high oil/tar/bitumen content and has not weathered in yet

either wash over with hot water and more de-greaser to blend in the spots but the customer may not accept the overall lighter condition or go over it with colour resorter/tarmac paint

Darran

[DC5202]

Much Appreciate the feedback all 👍🏻☹️🤦‍♂️
We live and learn.  May go back to Using Ubik 2000 for future cleans.
Would a Karcher T4  pressure washer be adequate to Reduce the stains do you think 🤔?

[Smudger]

Tarmac is soft so you won't t want anything too powerful

Darran

[jk999]

Looks like you had better load you van up with hundreds of tins of black spray paint wait till they are out n bingo black drive again,  ps dump afterwards 😇

[tom20001]

I've no solution for this but hope you get sorted soon, it's a nightmare scenario. I remember I got some hypo on cast garden furniture while back but thankfully it scrubbed off but nearly lost my life when I saw it. I thought my day was bad today  when a custie rang accusing me of scratching 2 veluxes ! Hope you get sorted soon and customers not too bad to deal with

[zesty]

I would try a fan jet and a light pressure wash first, looks like a bummer, but these things happen.

If all else fails, restore it with a colour restorer...

Google ‘ever build tarmac restorer’

[harleyman]

looks as if you've bleached the coulor out of it any attempt to clean may worsen it try a small patch  first if all else fails  contact your insurance company... keep us informed good luck.

[simon w]

I'd start with a decent low pressure clean with fan jet cover and sweep whole area being mindful not to blow asphalt out  allow to semi dry inspect and repeat process again.  This should be a starting point and I wouldn't be surprised if the customers will be happy with the result and expect no further action. Don't let the customer start suggesting you wave your fee for upvc clean either if you can put the drive right then payment for your work can be made and a lesson learn't by all.

[simon w]

looks as if you've bleached the coulor out of it any attempt to clean may worsen it try a small patch  first if all else fails  contact your insurance company... keep us informed good luck.

Ever the optimist 

[DC5202]

Thanks all for your replies Guys much appreciated.
Much to consider and go with now.
Fortunately they are decent customers I’m gutted for them  as much as I’m gutted.
Let u know how it goes 😅

[simon w]

Personally I wouldn't let it sit on there any longer than it needs to and would try low pressure cleaning (as high as it'll take without causing damage) asap. I would  have got on and done this the same day it happened.

Let us know how you get on

[brianbarber]

Kevin Martin on the hard floor cleaning section is your man for the answers here.

Mr B

[Kev Martin]

Just put a water based enhancing sealer on it!  Let me know the M2 involved and I will work out how much you need  to sort it.

Kevin

[Stoots]

Too late now but may be worth getting them to sign a waiver in future when using chemicals.

No waiver no favour

[DC5202]

Thanks Kev will  try and pop around tomorrow To get some measurements.
What brand would you recommend and would U still try power washing before applying ?
Regards Dave

[davids3511]

Too late now but may be worth getting them to sign a waiver in future when using chemicals.

No waiver no favour

Or maybe just know what you're doing with the chemicals. Seems cowboyish to use a signed waiver to protect against incorrect use of chemicals.

[DC5202]

Kev measured the driveway and it’s 52.5 m2
Spoke to the customer explained what I hoped to achieve and he seems reasonable and happy for me to proceed.
Will do a small spot test First
Are there sealant brands that give a more Matt / satin finish From your experience ?

[davids3511]

Kev measured the driveway and it’s 52.5 m2
Spoke to the customer explained what I hoped to achieve and he seems reasonable and happy for me to proceed.
Will do a small spot test First
Are there sealant brands that give a more Matt / satin finish From your experience ?

Did you try a powerwash? It could just be soap residue.

[DC5202]

Not yet .. I will still try a jet wash before I try anything & be careful not to damage the surface.

[NWH]

If you’ve removed the oil from that part of the tarmac that’ll take ages to weather in,I have never had this happen with a degreaser but I don’t think I’ll use it again I’ve got 5 litres of no nonsense degreaser in the van just used it to clean a slate roof didn’t have any problems.

[davids3511]

Not yet .. I will still try a jet wash before I try anything & be careful not to damage the surface.

Just keep about a foot off the ground to start with, if it's soap residue it shouldn't need high pressure to get it off. I'd be surprised if you've damaged it, looks more like dried on residue to me.

[DC5202]

It’s certainly kicked my confidence into touch using it. That said I used it again the next week and just went overkill with drenching everything before and rinsing puddles away and no problems. Certainly Not good on newish tarmac drives & settling on It for to long 
Thanks again for the advice on the jet washing I’m abit of a novice on that front so much appreciated.

[Kev Martin]

Kev measured the driveway and it’s 52.5 m2
Spoke to the customer explained what I hoped to achieve and he seems reasonable and happy for me to proceed.
Will do a small spot test First
Are there sealant brands that give a more Matt / satin finish From your experience ?

It's not soap residue!


There are two enhancing sealers I would suggest

To do the total area one of them is £94.48 + Vat and the better one is £126.68 + VAT.  The end price is inclusive of VAT and postage after a discount is £114 for the cheaper one and £148 for the better one.  I can send you samples of both to try FOC so you will see the difference but you will have to pay the postage for the samples which is £4.95 + VAT.  This is the fastest and easiest method to sort it.

Kev

[davids3511]

Any updates on this, did you reseal or find another solution?

[DC5202]

Forgot to reply back on this nightmare I had using no nonsense degreaser on a fascia wash that dripped  onto a new tarmac drive spotting it badly  🤦‍♂️😭😭 the sealant / stain seems to work covered the satins , scrubbing and jetting wasn’t going to solve. adequately. Thanks to Kevin on flooring forum big help 👏🏻Customer really happy and so patient , he even paid me alittle something for doing it and wouldnt accept the money back even when I said I can’t take it what a legend.
Still an Expensive and laborious mistake so be careful when using degreaser anywhere near a newish tarmac drive . This forum helped me a lot so wanted to pop back and give my findings thanks people’s .

[Smudger]

did you use that brush for the entire drive 

anyway good job - what did you use in the end

Darran

[DC5202]

 I knew somebody would spot the mini  roller . I used a slightly larger masonry type brush, the roller soaked up the precious and expensive stain I was using and it was pants as well.  It’s was a shocker 

[Stoots]

Block them and deny all knowledge 

[DC5202]

😂🤭 never crossed my mind 🙄🤥 plus I’ve got all the neighbours as customers. 👍🏻