Red Streaks From Sand Added To Concrete?

[webfeet]

I thought that I posted this question, but can't find the thread.:( Can red rust colored stains in new concrete be removed? PB says the red sand used by concrete company caused the reddish streaks. He says they will fade in time. The deck was poured last week. I am not familiar with muratic acid, or any acid wash. However, the PB cleaned some concrete residue off of our steps and spa with something, and it trickled out on the deck, and the areas that stuff got on are white. All around the edge of steps and spa, where they touch the deck, now has areas that have turned white from whatever he applied. We think it is muratic acid. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Webfeet

[Poconos]

Web,
Is the thread you'r looking for titled 'Frustration and Anxiety'?
If you want any posts/threads altered, deleted, combined, etc let us know right here.
Al

[webfeet]

No, I actually started another thread, but I must have deleted it. BTW, I noticed that whatever PB used to clean the outside edge of the fiberglass steps dripped on to the deck. The red stains that were in these small areas were removed by the cleaner or acid that the PB used. I didn't get a chance to ask him what he used. However, I will this afternoon. I think it may have been muratic acid. However, he claims that muratic acid will ruin the deck, if he acid washes it. I think whatever he used to clean the steps, would probably remove the rest of the red stains on the deck. Does anyone else think that an acid wash would work? How do I do one?

[webfeet]

PB is finally ready to try to find a fix for the red streaks. When, I did not give him his last draw, he suddenly came up with a suggestion. He wants to spray a thin coat of light gray colored epoxy on the deck. We asked for pictures or samples of what the deck would look like. He said he could not provide any, because it had never been done before. ??? I said make me a sample on a piece of plywood. He said he could do that. Does anyone know what he's talking about? BTW, he does decorative concrete work too, but he said this would not look like that. He claims, my finished deck would look like even colored gray concrete upon completion. We made it clear we did not want the deck painted. Any input out there? Thanks, again

[webfeet]

PB finally provided us a sample of his "fix" for the red streaks. He sprayed one coat of Surespray by Surecrete onto a concrete block and then sealed it. He said he was not going to follow the manufacturer's specifications for application because he was only trying to cover the stains and not trying to give us a "decorative" concrete look. What he provided us looked awful. We said, we will not consider anything that is not used according to specifications. We also told him we were hesitant about the surespray coating anyway, but his unwillingness to apply it according to specs, certainly made it easier to tell him. We told him that we are going to look into acid staining. Of course, he recommended against it.
We also ask him if he had talked to the concrete company about the problem, he said he had not. Then I told him that the concrete co and a local concrete specialist both think that the red sand was tracked on to the wet concrete and then broomed swept. Which of course, makes the PB completely responsible. I believe that he knows that it his fault, thus he hasn't contacted the Concrete Co.
The sand does not appear to be to deep. We suggested trying to reach a financial agreement and waiting to see if it would fade or wear off. He was completely opposed to that. (Like he can make me pay him?) So, at this point, we are going to let the concrete cure completely, give it a thorough cleaning, and if the sand is still visible, do some acid staining tests. PB has not offered to wash the deck. Per a concrete stain technician's advice, we plan wash it, using a floor polisher with a brush attached, and give it a power wash. Perhaps, that will remove the sand. If not the acid staining tests come next.