Page 1 of 1
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:13 am
by mickavalon
I have a client who seems to like causing me no end of strife. We laid a Patio, approx 70m2 back in August, with Black Limestone, 560x870 mm,calibrated, off London Stone. We had a small issue with effloresence, which we sorted.
Now her Husband, while giving the Lawn a Autumn Feed, got some of the Feed on the Patio, randomley about 12 Units. This went bright white, like emulsion paint, but cleaned off, leaving Brown rust like marks. They searched on-line, instead of calling me, and found info telling them to use Lemon Juice.
This has managed to make things much worse, with bloom like marks over the effected areas, and also over a much larger area, from where they were cutting up the lemons, and where they have walked the juice across the rest of the Patio. I had told them not to use any acid based cleaners on the Stone, and had left them a safe cleaner, just in case (Grimex by LTP)
The Feed contained Ferious Sulphate, Phospherous Pentoxide, and Pottasium Oxide. The Grimex seems to move this, all be it with a lot of elbow, and not diluted, but what about the Lemon Juice!!
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:52 am
by Carberry
Your eejit client obviously never did chemistry in high school :laugh:
Acid doesn't go well with the alkaline limestone. Wouldn't be surprised if the fertilizer and lemon juice have etched it. Their best solution is probably relaying them.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:38 pm
by local patios and driveway
What is wrong with people? They believe everything that other plonkas write on the internet.
Blind leading the blind. 
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:10 pm
by lutonlagerlout
so obviously you were the last port of call 
it sounds like they have damaged it themselves and increased the damage
maybe roger might be able to help ,but i would say cut out and relay,and we all know what a pain that is
alternative is leave it till spring and see then
LLL
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:30 pm
by London Stone Paving
This just keeps coming up. We tell very customer who buys black limestone of the dangers of using chemicals.
We have also included some very specific information on our website to try and alert people about using chemicals on black limestone
http://www.londonstone.com/Exterio....-Paving
to quote LLL "Roger is your friend in these situations"
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:14 am
by mickavalon
This is the same client who complained that the Paving was ruined by the effloresense Steve, but thats become very minimal now, especially since they Acid etched the rest of the Paving. I've got them some Grimex, but told them to fear the worts and we can cut out and relay. I think they expect me to get on it right away, she was a bit miffed when I told her my cost for scrubbing, nad decided to have a go herself, and the wait and see. The saga continues.:p
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:19 pm
by RAPressureWashing
Mick,
The lemon juice will have slighty ecthed the surface, so no way back other then doing a complete acid wash to flaten the whole surface, then seal the Limestone with a colour enhancer, but a bit late to seal now, to damp and temps are going to be dropping soon. Re-lay would be the most straight forward really. Just love it when people drop grass feed etc on paving and leave it. Bit more care & attention needed.
Roger
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:29 pm
by mickavalon
Mate, it wasn't just a little overspray, it was blobbed everywhere, and then they walked the Acid all over as well..Doh!! Its the same couple I spoke to you about before, they seem to like my company, cos I've been at their house more than it seems my own...maybe their swingers
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:50 pm
by Mikey_C
mickavalon wrote:Mate, it wasn't just a little overspray, it was blobbed everywhere, and then they walked the Acid all over as well..Doh!! Its the same couple I spoke to you about before, they seem to like my company, cos I've been at their house more than it seems my own...maybe their swingers
still nice little earner, this is their c0ck up and therefore I am sure your charging accordingly?
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:50 pm
by mickavalon
Yeah mate, but it's like squeezing blood out of a stone, there accountants, say no more!
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:29 pm
by rab1
be careful mate, their probably billing you for their time. :p
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:25 pm
by Mikey_C
mickavalon wrote:Yeah mate, but it's like squeezing blood out of a stone, there accountants, say no more!
nothing worse than accountants!
apart from the dreaded "retired engineer"!!
and careful cause I'm electronic engineer, but still working 
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:30 pm
by lutonlagerlout
we had a retired clerk of the works once
he wanted 2'6" of hardcore and 9" of concrete in his garden path
the price soon put him round to my way of thinking
LLL :;):
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:51 am
by mickavalon
Worse are blokes who's wives you 've been mainly dealing with(professionally I mean) and they get a bit jealous and keep passing snide remarks. Had one guy would just constantly be an arse about everything . Once I politely mentioned the fact the guy was talking crap, and any alterations would cost, his wife had a go at him, he became like a little pet mouse. Never heard a peep out of him for the rest of the job. Still gives me daggers if I see him about, especially with his wife. I wouldn't mind but he's about 5', a skinny fecker and probably wouldn't say boo to a goose.
