15 replies to this topic

[edi57]

This weekend I was doing an engine swap on a mini with two friends.

As the weather was nice we were doing the swap behind my garage, which backs onto what used to be a dirt track which is now a tarmac road as there are some new houses being built along this track.

The mini and all our tools and equipment were on a concrete area which is our land, but when moving things about etc we were on the new road at times and unfortunately some coolant got spilt in several areas.

On Sunday we were finishing off the job when the guy who lives in one of the new houses, who is doing the building work and laid the road came over and said some pretty harsh words about the stains on the tarmac.

One of his points was that oil will damage the tarmac, then I told him that it wasn't oil, it was gylcerol based coolant and that I had planned clean it with detergent. He walked away in a huff saying that detergent will damage the tarmac too.

Question 1: Does oil damage tarmac? I think it doesn't because surely tarmac is oil based???

Question 2: Will coolant damage tarmac? It seems unlikely to me, this stuff must get spilt all over roads in the country. It would seem silly to make roads out of stuff that can't take a bit of spilt coolant?

Question 3: Will detergent damage tarmac? I was going to get some special garage floor cleaner stuff.

Overall he just really made me angry. Obviously we didn't intend to make a mess of the road. I don't want the road looking bad either and I fully intended to clean it all thoroughly. Also, this guy has been really friendly over the 6 months or so that I have known him. Always stopping to have a chat whenever I'm working on the garage... and on Sunday he just came over with no tact whatsoever. Idiot.

[shorty]

get the pressure washer out (on the road that is)

i wouldnt of though detergent damages the road :S

[chappy]

yeah oil does damage tarmac... it corrodes it...not like instantly, it takes time and has to be left, but it will leave marks...


coolant? don't think so, although it will make a nasty mess of your cars paintwork... so it MIGHT, but never heard of it... if its been in the car a while, it won't be so powerful, and obviously watered down too...

[Twincam]

A pressure washer should do the job, you may get a little dark stain left by the oil but other than that it shouldn't have a great effect (put some cheap bleach on it and leave it to soak... then go with the washer)

[chappy]

just thought, Gunk also sell a driveway cleaner if he gets a bit pissy about it.

[rosco454]

If the houses are still being built,theres a good chance that its not the wearing couse (top layer) of the tarmac.You should be able to tell as it will look smooth in most cases and the aggregate will be of a fairly uniform size.

If its just the base course - it a bit rougher,larger aggregate and should be a bit lower than any kerbs in place - tell him to jog on as it will be covered by the wearing course anyway.

If its the finished surface then oil will damage very slightly over time,not certain about coolant.

Edited by rosco454, 20 April 2009 - 04:15 PM.

[mike.]

Don't use driveway cleaner on tarmac, it'll corrode it too.

It says on the back of them all 'Not for use on tarmac'

[mymini007]

If the houses are still being built,theres a good chance that its not the wearing couse (top layer) of the tarmac.You should be able to tell as it will look smooth in most cases and the aggregate will be of a fairly uniform size.

If its just the base course - it a bit rougher,larger aggregate and should be a bit lower than any kerbs in place - tell him to jog on as it will be covered by the wearing course anyway.

If its the finished surface then oil will damage very slightly over time,not certain about coolant.

Are you an Engineer too rosco by any chance, or maybe a site agent?
But yes rosco is right if the road is not finished there will be another layer on the top. and yes oil will cause damage. The coolant shouldnt, but to keep the neighbours happy jet wash it anyway.

[edi57]

From what's been described, the road hasn't had its final finish yet. So it looks like I should be telling him to jog on.

Anyway... i bought some of this from Halfords today. It looks ok to use on Tarmac...




...can anyone recommend a good pressure washer? I've never really looked into them and I don't know what kind of wattage or other features I should be looking for. I'm looking to pay as little as possible but want to spend enough to get me a pressure washer that will do everything that you'd hope a pressure washer can do.

[rosco454]

mymini007 - Im an engineer by title but do a lot of survey work as well and also tend to get roped into lots of design and calculation work.Basically anything remotely technical gets thrown my way

I take it your in construction in some way as well?

Edited by rosco454, 20 April 2009 - 09:29 PM.

[Dan]

Perhaps you should consider not telling this guy to 'jog on' if he was being friendly to you in the past and only got upset when he saw that you had defaced his fresh Tarmac in a new development that he has to try and sell. Bearing in mind that if the surface is damaged the council may refuse to adopt the road and force him to re-lay it. Perhaps something in the line of an apology and some humility is more in order, your mistake has damaged his property. A mistake and an accident maybe but still your responsibility. Just an opinion.

[rosco454]

I didnt mean literally tell him to jog on,im not that blunt!

I did say that it wouldnt be so much of an issue if the tarmac was not the finished road surface.

If it is however then you have a good point.Especially if the road in question is adoptable.

[Dan]

No but the OP seems to be taking you rather seriously and being quite arrogant and beligerant about this. I just think maybe he should consider pulling his neck in a little.

[rosco454]

Ok then.

edi57 - do not take me at my word and tell him to jog on (although i suspect you may have worded it more tactfully anyway),explain that you will do your utmost to resolve the matter,(judging by the fact you are willing to incur a cost to sort this out the i guess you are keen to sort it out with minimum upset).

If it is not the finished surface and he is still not happy with the cleanup efforts you have made then feel free to point out the surface is unfinished.

Unless it has marked a kerbstone,the mark will not be visable when the road is finished and it shouldnt prevent the surface course from adhering properly.

If it is the finished road then try to resolve the matter as best you can with the guy.

EDIT - Just make clear that im not trying to start an argument with you dan so dont take this the wrong way.

Edited by rosco454, 21 April 2009 - 04:13 PM.

[edi57]

Thanks for all the concern guys, you're all providing me with really useful advice.

No need to worry about me using the phrase 'jog on'. As much as I love it, it's not really something i'd ever say to anyone. Not my style!

I'll clean up the road tomorrow and have a chat with him the next time he passes by. I'll tell him that I was in the wrong to make a few puddles on the road and I'll let him know that i'll supervise my friends more carefully in future! For me, most importantly i'll let him know what I thought of his approach but also let him know that I don't want any hard feelings. Love your neighbour!