Best way to clean cement off driveway?

A regular client of mine is having a new swimming pool installed, won't mention the company name but begins with 'D' and is French.....Was supposed to take a couple of weeks and already into 2nd month with numerous mishaps and damage to clients property. I feel sorry for my client as I know this is costing them a bomb. They've been through a water main and had at least half a dozen kids 'working' on it but seem to spend more time texting than grafting.2 weeks back they'd obviously had a mixer lorry in and the whole driveway was covered in cement plus the drains were full of cement sludge - truly shocking. 2 blokes turned up with the smallest pressure washer I've ever seen, about the size of a toaster and took a whole day to clean it, not sure why 2 of them doing it but there you go.The driveway is still badly stained and in the past I've used Feb Clean or similar to treat splashes but there's a good chance this might end up being a job for me to clean up after them so was wondering whether Feb or Brick Clean through a sprayer might do it, then left for a while, then blasted off with pressure washer?The driveway is the style which is poured in sections and then imprinted with brick pattern.Any ideas on this?Cheers

Replies

Big Dig Groundworks June 20, 2010 at 10:27am

So it is pattern imprint concrete. You would have to be carefull that when you jet wash it that you dont take the sealer off the top.

Is the client not better making the other company sorti out the problem. If they cant clean it, claim off their Insurance to replace rather than them having to pay out for their negligence?
Richard@www.seasons-garden.co.uk June 20, 2010 at 10:32am

Yes pattern imprint concrete would be it.
I've no idea how far the client's got with the firm in terms of sorting it out but would be useful to know what's involved in terms of remedial work in case I'm asked to do it and they send my bill to the pool company.

Big Dig Groundworks said:
So it is pattern imprint concrete. You would have to be carefull that when you jet wash it that you dont take the sealer off the top.

Is the client not better making the other company sorti out the problem. If they cant clean it, claim off their Insurance to replace rather than them having to pay out for their negligence?
Bigyin June 20, 2010 at 10:33am

Sounds cynical I know but you might be best served by stepping back from this one. I appreceiate your concern for your regular client but as the problem isn't of your making, I don't think they would ecpect you to remedy it and you run the risk of making things worse.
Classic Gardens June 20, 2010 at 10:37am

We have used sodium hyper chlorite to remove cement marks off York paving and it works a treat.

I have never tried it on pattern concreate driveways before, it should never be used on Tarmac as it bleaches.

It will remove it but I would test a small area first.
Dan Frazer Gardening June 20, 2010 at 10:44am

I agree with bigyin...stick to gardening and doing those gardening tasks you usually do.

Driveway is nowt to do with you and if you don't already know the best way to clean it you're better not going trying to do it!
Peak surfacing ltd. June 20, 2010 at 12:26pm

Richard any chance ofposting a picture,the problem is that you could remove the cement marks but damage the pattern,
any type of acid will eat through the sealer, sounds like there may be very little seal left on the drive and when you power wash the drive you could take the colour release agent out of the concrete and end up with a complete mess.
pm me for a further discussion