The Brew Cabin

Hi there,

Firstly, thanks for all the first class info on the site. I began driveway cleaning about 18 months ago. Your site has increased my knowledge considerably. But not enough...

...to remember where I read your discussion re the best solution for curing the problem of ants undermining the blocks. I know there is a product called something like "Borax" involved, but can't remember more than that. Can you please let me know that correct product name and what it is mixed with AND

I have a problem with some block paving that I've sealed with a resin rich acrylic sealant. Since the area was sealed, the householder has had a fence errected at the side of the block paving. The fencing contractors have left white-ish scuff marks on the blocks which I think is cement. Is there a product availabe that will enable me to remove the marks without also removing the sealant? My customer has tried a number of domestic cleaning agents with zero success.

I look forward to your reply.

Paul Smith :confused:

you say there is a resin left and it was an acrylic product. acrylic means water based, and resins are not usually left with water based compounds as they are usually soaked well into the paving and it is the oil based compounds that usually leave a film, what product was used do you know ?

Borax is a simple 'Laundry Aid' sold by some chemists. Time was you could buy it in every corner shop, but in these days of enzyme-aided biological washing powders, good old borax is becoming rarer and rarer.

It comes as a white powder, and you simply mix a teaspoonful with syrup or jam, leave it somewhere that the ants won't be able to miss it, and voila, as les Francais say - the dutiful ants cart it back to 'er indoors whereupon it gives her a severe attack of the squits and kills off the colony.

Moving on to the suspected cement stains. An acid wash is the usual way to remove cement, but I'm not sure how the acid will react with this allegedly "resin rich acrylic sealant" (sounds like dubious marketing twaddle to me), so you need to be very, very careful, as you could end up doing more harm than good.

Thanks for your replies. The product is Tecseal from Tech-Clean in Doncaster. To quote from their website "A high quality acrylic sealer which has a resin content of 24%, this is one of the highest on the market." Re the comment about the acid wash. Won't this destroy the sealant?

I've tracked down a supplier for Borax. It's The Green Shop (http://a5.zencatalog.com/TheGreenShop/ tel 01452 770629). They sell Borax in 500g and 1kg bags at £2.50 plus £1.75 p & p and £5.00 + £3.50 p&p. I understand that mixing it with icing sugar works pretty well too.

I've just had a look in the High Tech Research Facility at the bottom of me garden, and tucked in besides the half-used cans of paint and jars filled with screws, is my 250kg box of Borax that cost me 41p about 3 years ago from the local Co-Op chemists.

As for the sealant, I'm not familar with that brand, so iIcan't comment on the resin content (most manufacturers refer to 'solids content', rather than 'resin content') and I can't say whether it will react with the acid or not.

The market is becoming flooded with so-called specialist paving sealants, and far too many forms are making ridiculous claims that their particular jollop is better than anything else, and/or suitable for every known type of paving, or that it is the answer to Third World Debt. Try as I might, I can't monitor all of the selants that are available, but I do keep my eye on what's available and have my own personal list of favourites for specific applications.

The only people able to confirm whether the sealant you've used is compatible with a acid-based cleaner are the folk that sold it to you - ask them! :)

Tony,

Thank you once again for your (usual) comprehensive reply