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any concrete guys out there?

corey4

corey4

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 11, 2012
1,425
467
pittsburgh pa
to make a long story short, my stump grinder blew a hydraulic hose today.

after it blew, instead of leaving the machine where it was, in a mulch bed that could have been easily cleaned up...no...the guy running the machine drove it over a NEW exposed aggregate sidewalk, leaving a 12' long by 6" wide hydraulic fluid stream across the sidewalk.

WTF really!?!

so, what can i do to clean it up?


EDIT:
so updated post on 12-5-13 at 6:00am
 
Last edited:
corey4 said:
to make a long story short, my stump grinder blew a hydraulic hose today.

after it blew, instead of leaving the machine where it was, in a mulch bed that could have been easily cleaned up...no...the guy running the machine drove it over a NEW exposed aggregate sidewalk, leaving a 12' long by 6" wide hydraulic fluid stream across the sidewalk.

WTF really!?!

so, what can i do to clean it up?
Click to expand...

First I am not a concrete guy, so hopefully you will get a better answer soon.

1) I feel for ya and Sorry this happened
2) I have pressure washed a lot of my own concrete in my drive way and in front of my garage.
3) The high pressure coming out of a pressure washer can damage the surface of concrete if the nozzle is held to close. You need to pay attention and watch what you are doing.
4) keep the nozzle far enough away not to destroy the surface- How far depends on the pressure of your washer and the dispersion of your nozzle.
5) Over time most of the oil will "float" out of the concrete
6) What is left becomes part of the character of the concrete. I know it's hard to tell that to a fussy owner, and I know you feel responsible.


Good luck, and hope you get a better answer in time to help
 
I am a concrete guy and the only way on exposed agg to fix I would I think some kind of polishing stone but that might damage it to. Try pressure washing but other than that you might be fucked I still have hydrolic oil on my side walk when a hose blew on the skid steer from 3 years ago and most pressure washed off but I can still see the stain. What really makes it worse it is new side walk so still pretty porous.
 
Muratic acid wash, neutralize with baking soda afterwards.
 
thanks guys.

got some good replies to get me started.

my first thought was some sort of degreaser and pressure washer, like ya'll said.

jrassy, can you elaborate more? that is the only reply that i am not familiar with.
 
Coat all of the concrete evenly with the hydraulic fluid then wash it off, that way they can't see the spots. ;)
 
diverdon said:
I know it's hard to tell that to a fussy owner, and I know you feel responsible.
Click to expand...

even though i wasn't there, i was in the office all morning doing paper work until i got the call the line blew (no big deal, no the first time a line blew, until i got there and saw what a horrible mistake was made moving the machine), i am responsible because it was my machine, my employee, my company, and...in the long run...i am responsible as the business owner.
 
Dirty D said:
Coat all of the concrete evenly with the hydraulic fluid then wash it off, that way they can't see the spots. ;)
Click to expand...

honestly, that was my first thought!!! only for a brief second though.

funny how a sick sense of humor is...well...funny.
 
clumping cat litter overnight works wonders. I think Home depot has some wiz bang oil remover for concrete...
 
Mop it up with the guy who was running the machine.
 
I second the Muriatic Acid suggestion. This was told to me by a Concrete Plant Head Mixer, many years ago. You'll have to google/enquire exactly how to go about doing so, but when they are doing "layer" and whatnot, this is what they use to totally clean off the surface. And it soaks in somewhat, to help 'float' out the oil.

And, as suggested, you would need to neutralize the surface when you've completed it.

Just my $0.02, and worth about what you paid. Good luck, and remember this come 'performance review' time.
 
Well not a concrete guy but a pool guy. Do a lot of acid washes. I would first try whatever store bought degreaser you can on it. If this was anything other than exposed aggregate I would not suggest the muriatic acid, being that it's a new pour. If degreaser/cleaner doesn't work, go the acid route. The acid is basically stripping away a thin layer of the concrete, so you will likely want to treat the whole section between two expansion joints to keep things matching as well as you can.

Dilute the acid in a fresh 5 gallon bucket. 4 parts water to one part acid is good low consistency to start with. Add water to the bucket first, then the acid. Pour it low and don't breath it, obviously. Get a nylon pole brush and brush it on. Let it sit for 30-45 seconds at a time. Spray it off with a low psi pressure washer 2500ish psi. If you don't have a pressure washer the garden hose will work, just more slowely. Repeat the process till you get the result you want. After it's clean. Allow the area to dry a bit then get TSP at box store and mix in a new bucket and scrub with that. The TSP will neutralize the acid and your good to go.

Shop TSP All Purpose Heavy Duty Cleaner at Lowes.com

Shop Crown Gallon Muriatic Acid at Lowes.com
 
Yes better detail with NMMX method. A garden hose is all I have ever used when working with exposed aggregate and a heavy duty brush. Dilute muratic acid like ^^^. And spray on, let sit a bit and brush.neutralize muratic acid by mixing water and baking powder. TSP works too. Spray that on. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. You can repeat until you eliminate the stain if you have too.
 
what abut the runoff in to the yard?

is the acid going to be bad for the soil?

dumb question i know, just trying to cover ll my bases first.
 
Last edited:
I'm building a barn house right now, about to stain the concrete floor. I've cleaned up quite a bit with Simple Green. If that don't work go with the acid.
 
Question is, do you make the faulty operator do it, or make sure this time it goes correctly and do it yourself?
 
Go to the auto parts store, buy a few bags of oil absorbent. Similar to cat litter. Put it on, even grind it in a little with your feet. Sweep it up after 12 hours or so, then apply more. This soaks up the oil, and works very well. Subsequent applications help suck the oil out of the concrete.

We used this stuff every week when I worked as an auto mechanic years ago.

s
 
Wash it with charcoal lighter fluid and scrub the stain with a stiff bristled brush and light it if you can. THen grind some oil dry into it with your foot or a car tire. Wash off excess floor dry with a hose.... Worked many times in my moms driveway/garage and she is super picky about her concrete. She doesn't understand a gearhead......
 
i talked with the homeowner, and he decided to hire a pressure washing guy that says he an get it out.

oh well, thanks for the input fellas.
 
I would be calling the company of the idiot who left the mess and let them know they can either replace the concrete, or fix it so the mess is gone(replacement is the only way this will look like it did before moron screwed it up). If they refuse, you have record of their work and teh fact they made the mess they are liable for. They more than likely have liability insurance or a bond, if not, pursue them in Small Claims or initiate a claim through your homeowners insurance and they will pursue the idiots.
Either way, that company owes you cleaned or new concrete
 
any concrete guys out there?

Switch, I think the OP is the company.

But I do award you full points on the scorecard for your outrage and aggressiveness.
 
Last edited:
Switchblade said:
I would be calling the company of the idiot who left the mess and let them know they can either replace the concrete, or fix it so the mess is gone(replacement is the only way this will look like it did before moron screwed it up). If they refuse, you have record of their work and teh fact they made the mess they are liable for. They more than likely have liability insurance or a bond, if not, pursue them in Small Claims or initiate a claim through your homeowners insurance and they will pursue the idiots.
Either way, that company owes you cleaned or new concrete
Click to expand...

^^^i'm gonna let that one slide ;)

haha!

we are the idiots!!! (sarcasm)

maybe your reading comprehension needs some work?

as far as the "refuse" part, my parents raised me better than that. even though my parents and i don't talk anymore, i would still hate to disappoint them that i didn't do the right thing. as soon as the homeowner got home, i approached him right away and explained what happened. i explained to him that i would take care of it and he wouldn't have to worry. the homeowner actually tried to pay me the $2k for our work, but i refused until everything turns out fine. the power wash guy went today, and i am going to stop by tomorrow to take a look.

i was just as furious and livid with dave (guy running the machine) as you were just as passionate in your post, even more so.
 
if all else fails, piss on it because you will be digging it out to replace it.
 
rjacobs said:
If they can't get the stain out they will have to replace the concrete hence the digging it up.
Click to expand...
If I stain the side of a building do I have to pay to demolish the building and then rebuild it? What's the value of the concrete without the stain minus the value of the concrete with the stain?
 
shootist, we are going the cleaning route first, see how that goes. if it doesn't work, then i will refuse payment, and if the homeowner wants a new sidewalk then so be it.

the power wash guy said it might take a few times to do it, and it might seep up, and we have plans to do it again if need be.

it's raining today, so i am not sure how well i will be able to tell how effective the cleaning was. i'm stopping out today anyways, and i'll check on it tomorrow when it is dry.
 
corey4 said:
^^^i'm gonna let that one slide ;)

haha!

we are the idiots!!! (sarcasm)

maybe your reading comprehension needs some work?
Click to expand...

uh yeah *kickin rocks*, I see that...
That's what I get for trying to polish up a review .ppt file on Cheidak-Higashi Syndrome that I gave yesterday afternoon. I suppose I shouldn't work with high level brain function stuff and read 'hide stuff at the dame time...DOH! Thanks for the slide ;)

I really hope it works out for you. That hyd fluid isn't that tough to clean, but if it's not raining, BAKING SODA will help pull it up where it can be shoveled out like cat sand then power washed with some good degreaser to totally remove it.
 
Graham said:
If I stain the side of a building do I have to pay to demolish the building and then rebuild it? What's the value of the concrete without the stain minus the value of the concrete with the stain?
Click to expand...

It's not really about the stain as much as it is about the HAZMAT issue with hyd fluid. The crew that built my deck had their truck dump a trail from the driveway down the street. I told the guy since he does do quite a bit of the contractor type stuff for us, that all he needed to do was to clean the mess on the driveway, and the street. They tried using cat sand first...worked a little. Panty 6 suggested using baking soda(same stuff she uses for pet stains when her friend visits with her boxer). The baking soda pulled most of the stuff out of the tarmac and asphalt, and a simple pressure washer and degreaser did the rest. THEN the guys followed up with a rented street sweeper. Sutton Bros is indeed a class act. They go the extra mile to make sure things are right. I'm certain the OP will do the same. No more 'hide and Genetics presentations for me at the same time...
 
Graham said:
If I stain the side of a building do I have to pay to demolish the building and then rebuild it? What's the value of the concrete without the stain minus the value of the concrete with the stain?
Click to expand...

it's the fact the homeowner just moved in, had the sidewalk put in this september, and we fucked it up. it's an eyesore, and it's the right thing to do.

would you want to come home to that everyday?
 

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It speaks well of you that you stand behind the mistake. Do you have employee liability insurance?
 
Glad to see you are doing everything you can to make it right. I know the situation sucks for both you and the customer but it sounds like he is reasonable to deal with so that helps.
 
i got together with the homeowner to discuss the stain.

the stain has come out about 95%. you can only see it if you knew it was there. other than that, if you never knew, you wouldn't be able to see it unless someone points it out.

the homeowner is happy with everything. we actually did $1000 worth more of work that he wanted to pay us for but i refused.

thanks for the input guys.
 
i took a pic with my phone of the after, and for some reason you can see it on the phone pic, but not standing there (unless you know where to look).

i posted a before pic on post #36.

EDIT:

i'll try again when we go back for a free-be ad next week.
 
Had to be exposed aggregate didn't it...

I've never seen a stain come completely out of concrete. Some of the suggestions were pretty good but even the best of them would have still left something in the slab. I did a few exposed agg slabs and recall them being a couple steps harder than a slick slab. Since the cream at the top that is usually burnished (Burned in with a trowel) is washed off in order to expose the top of the aggregate, the surface is rough to prevent slipping but not so much as to be uncomfortable to bare feet and of course must be aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, the extra surface area makes cleaning such a stain even harder. And demo-ing out the old slab sections and pouring and finishing new ones is above the pay grade of many concrete guys who are usually doing slick or broom finishes. Definitely worth the time to try to clean it as much as possible in my experience.

I had a house I was running about 20 years ago and a couple days after the driveway and walks were poured, crazy stains became apparent that displeased the homeowner. The concrete outfit made a lot of noise about the pot ash content and the Portland and Yadda, Yadda, yadda...Long story short, we ended up dying the slab a gray that the owner selected which looked pretty close to what the slab should have looked like without the rosacea!

Best solution of all is what appears to have occurred: The OP did a maximum effort to get it as clean as possible, threw some extra value service to the homeowner and the homeowner responded by being a reasonable guy.

Glad this worked out for you. I like the way you run your business.
 
a guy came out with a power washer. he said he uses somesort of a detergent and 190* hot water.

we are going to do it again in the spring.
 
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