Hi All,
I'm unsure if I'm posted this in the right area, apologies if I'm not.
Last September, I had a new bitmac driveway done at my house. As instructed, we didn't drive cars on the new driveway for a numbers of days after the bitmac was laid. However, a couple of days after, we began to notice brown staining in numerous places around the driveway. I called the guys who laid the driveway (an extrememly reputable company) and informed them of the stains appearing. I was told not to worry that they'd seen a number of instances of this happening lately and the stains would go of there own accord once we had some warm weather. In the meantime I was told they'd send someone out to have a look. After a few weeks nobody had called so I emailed the company expressing my concerns. After hearing nothing for the past three months, I received a letter yesterday from them stating the following "The chemical processes which cause the phenomenon are predominantly initiated by airborne spores settling on warm, newly laid bituminous surfaces; these provide an ideal environment for the mould/algae growth visable as brown staining on the surface. The critical time of year with this phenomenon is around late autumn and early winter when there is a combination of high himidity and air and surface temperatures that result in condensation. Although unsightly, particularly in dry conditions, the staining is superficial in nature and does not affect the structural integrity of the macadam in any way. It is known that the these forms of staining reduce with time and disappear permanently during the subsequent summer where sunlight with attentant warmer temperatures destroys the growth"
I'm wondering does anyone think I have any grounds to look for some form of compensation here, as while I do have a "structuraly intact" driveway, it is covered with staining that the company did not make me aware would be a possibility. To put it another way, if you left your car to be serviced and it came back to you with a bad rattle, would that be acceptable if the mechanic told you the rattle would go out of it within a few months? I don't think it would. Any advice welcome. Thanks.
I'm unsure if I'm posted this in the right area, apologies if I'm not.
Last September, I had a new bitmac driveway done at my house. As instructed, we didn't drive cars on the new driveway for a numbers of days after the bitmac was laid. However, a couple of days after, we began to notice brown staining in numerous places around the driveway. I called the guys who laid the driveway (an extrememly reputable company) and informed them of the stains appearing. I was told not to worry that they'd seen a number of instances of this happening lately and the stains would go of there own accord once we had some warm weather. In the meantime I was told they'd send someone out to have a look. After a few weeks nobody had called so I emailed the company expressing my concerns. After hearing nothing for the past three months, I received a letter yesterday from them stating the following "The chemical processes which cause the phenomenon are predominantly initiated by airborne spores settling on warm, newly laid bituminous surfaces; these provide an ideal environment for the mould/algae growth visable as brown staining on the surface. The critical time of year with this phenomenon is around late autumn and early winter when there is a combination of high himidity and air and surface temperatures that result in condensation. Although unsightly, particularly in dry conditions, the staining is superficial in nature and does not affect the structural integrity of the macadam in any way. It is known that the these forms of staining reduce with time and disappear permanently during the subsequent summer where sunlight with attentant warmer temperatures destroys the growth"
I'm wondering does anyone think I have any grounds to look for some form of compensation here, as while I do have a "structuraly intact" driveway, it is covered with staining that the company did not make me aware would be a possibility. To put it another way, if you left your car to be serviced and it came back to you with a bad rattle, would that be acceptable if the mechanic told you the rattle would go out of it within a few months? I don't think it would. Any advice welcome. Thanks.