Removing Street Marking Paint from Driveway

[kbuhagiar]

Hello GJ Nation,

I have some concerns about the application, and subsequent removal, of street marking paint on concrete and asphalt.

Our local gas utility discovered a small natural gas leak out in the street in front of my next-door neighbor's house. Of course, USA (Underground Service Alert) was notified and all of our local utilities came out and VERY THOROUGHLY marked off the area. The street was dug up and the leak was repaired today, but my driveway, sidewalk and street still look like the aftermath of an amateur graffiti contest.

Back when I worked as a cable locator for Pacific Bell (30+ years ago), we used a chalk-based marking paint that would basically wash off after the first rain. Well, whatever they are using these days seems to be a tad bit more resilient. I was unable to remove most of the marks with a strong stream of water, even with a stiff brush. NOT COOL. I am not thrilled about the prospect of looking at these marks for a few months (years?) until they wear away, especially the ones on my concrete driveway.

To any active utility workers out there, what is your company policy regarding the use of marking paint? Not to sound like an old crank, but there is a fine line between protection of underground facilities and defacement of private property. WTF?

Any suggestions for marking paint removal from concrete?

 

[CJM8515]

pressure washer

 

[The Cobbler]

first off are you sure they are on your property or is it road allowances owned by the municipality or whatever
that paint doesn't have a long wear life, it fades out quite quickly.
Understand your concerns but what else can they reasonably do to locate servicesÉ

 

[njhoudini]

If they are done, I would think a pressure washer would make it go away. You could also use a citristrip type liquid if you don't have the machine since it shouldn't harm the concrete or the environment.

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[garrett1812]

When they come to mark around me it washes off concrete after a few rains. It stays on the grass for about 6 months though. Very annoying.

They sell a paint remover for concrete for spray paint overspray. Works well on spray paint. I would give that a try. Last time I bought it was from Menards in the spray paint aisle. Can’t find a link unfortunately.

 

[JRC3]

Acetone.

Brake cleaner.

Not in the grass though.

 

[Stuart in MN]

In my area they always use spray paint.

 

[Kaizen]

When I did that digsafe stuff we had crayons to use on people’s driveways. Even the end in the right of way. Call and ***** and they might come remove it. Graffiti remover spray works


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[Farmall450]

When they come to mark around me it washes off concrete after a few rains. It stays on the grass for about 6 months though. Very annoying.

They sell a paint remover for concrete for spray paint overspray. Works well on spray paint. I would give that a try. Last time I bought it was from Menards in the spray paint aisle. Can’t find a link unfortunately.

Why, do you have astroturf?

 

[like2wheel]

Acetone.

Brake cleaner.

Not in the grass though.

Not sure this is a good idea.

On concrete it could just thin it so it can get deeper in the pores
On asphalt, it might dissolve the binder.


I'm still picking yellow stones out if my gravel driveway from when the gas co. marked it up 2 years ago...



.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Highway dept used to use an industrial version of a pear burner.

 

[kbuhagiar]

first off are you sure they are on your property or is it road allowances owned by the municipality or whatever

Definitely on my property, they marked all of the UG feeds (gas, water, cable, and phone) coming up my driveway right up to the edge of my foundation.

that paint doesn't have a long wear life, it fades out quite quickly.
Understand your concerns but what else can they reasonably do to locate services

I absolutely understand the need to locate the services, having been in the trenches myself many years ago I can appreciate the frustration (not to mention the service interruption) caused by contractors and/or homeowners who did not request (or ignored) USA markings. I just wish they would use a paint that was a little easier to remove.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Do a burnout, watch it fade away.

 

[theundermount]

I work for my local water utility and yes the locate paint seems to really last now. when I do locates Im always very concious in not marking up people's driveways if I can avoid itcas I know how annoying it can be to wait for it to go away. I believe our paint is a krylon product last quite awhile

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[PWC Repair]

Do a burnout, watch it fade away.

That's what I'm talkin' about!

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I can't speak to other jurisdictions, but in my state locates are "good" for 20 calendar days after they are called in...and MANY excavators will ask for multiple extensions requiring facilities to remain marked longer than that, so a good quality marking paint is required.

Our law also provides penalties for mismarking, not marking, digging without locates, false emergencies and ALTERING MARKINGS of up to $10,000 per occurrence...where there is damage to a buried gas facility as part of the occurrence. Other jurisdictions will vary.

But...I personally would be very hesitant to remove any marks or flags before I was 100% certain either the ticket had elapsed OR work was 100% complete. In the original posters case...sounds like he has that covered. However, I've dealt with line hits where the homeowner pulled up flags because he was tired of mowing around them and a line got cut. Lots of finger pointing when that happens and someone (typically the excavator) is going to get a big bill at a minimum.

Phil

 

[James-W]

Just a thought here, this may be a dumb idea, but would a propane torch and a stiff wire brush work? If you burn the paint it might be easier to use a wire brush to remove it. I never tried this so I could be dead wrong, but it might work.

 

[6768rogues]

Maybe pressure washer, definitely soda blaster.

 

[tthornto]

Just paint the rest of the driveway to match, maybe turn it into a mural,

Or figure out who marked it and bang his wife.

 

[RivennHewn]

That stuff never stays around long.
Give it time and it’ll just go away

 

[wasfuzz]

When I worked as a locator for our utility company if we marked someones hard surface that were not in direct conflict with the utility there was hell to pay! Contact the utlity and ask about it, we allways came out to clean it up. Usually a good graffiti remover will do the job.

 

[tarmy]

Just a thought here, this may be a dumb idea, but would a propane torch and a stiff wire brush work? If you burn the paint it might be easier to use a wire brush to remove it. I never tried this so I could be dead wrong, but it might work.

I use a wire wheel....followed by pressure wash.

Heat can spawl concrete. You can do it...but it can cause things like plaster and smooth conc finishes to crack, spawl or deform the surface. That is why if your pool ever gets redone...do NOT let them use heat to clean up the stains.

 

[Solpainter]

Purple Power from HD. Pour a little on, agitate with a nylon brush and wash it away. Be sure to flood your grass to dilute it and wear safety glasses. Might need to repeat.

 

[klassenl]

If this is such a burden to you, sit back and relax you apparently have it made

 

[PFSard]

Can you contact Underground Service Alert (and/or whoever did the markings)?

 

[kbuhagiar]

If this is such a burden to you, sit back and relax you apparently have it made

It's certainly not a burden, merely an annoyance...but you are correct, I do have it made, and I am grateful every single day.

Can you contact Underground Service Alert (and/or whoever did the markings)?

That won't be necessary. Just venting here on GJ helped a lot.

Usually a good graffiti remover will do the job.

Graffiti remover sounds like a plan, I'll give it a try.

 

[wasfuzz]

Can you contact Underground Service Alert (and/or whoever did the markings)?

NO because they do no locate - they are only a central notification company that contacts all the affected utilities who are then responsible for marking their on facilities. Everyone needs to read their states one call webpage about what they are and who they are and what will be marked!

 

[nes999]

In IL they are switching to water based marking paint. We buy whatever Julie buys to save on cost. Now it lasts about 2 weeks unless it rains hard.


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