You can most likely rent one-and buy the baking soda in bulk-at your local home center. But perhaps the most effective nontoxic option is a soda blaster, a tool very much like a sandblaster, except that instead of sand, it shoots out sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Likewise, a floor buffer can get the job done on a larger scale. For instance, on a finished concrete surface of modest size, you can opt to use an orbital sander. There are alternatives to using a paint stripper, but they’re all more labor-intensive. Instead of applying a layer of paint stripper alone to the concrete, you would apply a paste made from the stripper and a super absorbent material, such as finely ground clay powder or pulverized kitty litter. What if you spill a gallon of paint on the garage floor, or accidentally leave a thick splatter of bright orange paint on the driveway? To clean it up, you would follow the same basic steps outlined above, with one important exception. It’s not unreasonable to anticipate having to apply and then wash away multiple applications of paint stripper. Soon enough, you will see whether or not it will be necessary to repeat Step 2. Having set the pressure washer at 3,000 psi, go ahead and blast away the paint stripper residue. On a larger surface, to make things much more manageable, it’s recommended that you rent a pressure washer from your local home center (or borrow one from a neighbor). Or if you don't want to wait and already have a gravel driveway, spread it on the driveway now.For this stage of the job, so long as you’re working on a compact concrete patch, you can probably get by with a wire scrub brush or a paint scraper. Unsifted, you could keep the gravel in barrels to use for grit on your icy driveway/walkway in the winter.If you sift the sand, you could maybe use it as a kid's sandpile.I use them all the time and have seen them used for doorstops, ballast, ad hoc bookshelves, seats, garden terraces/raised beds, blocks to hold up the truck in your front yard, etc. Those concrete blocks have about a million uses.You can plant a small garden bed with annuals or perennial flowers by the wall for an interest point in your yard. You've got enough stone there for a small, rough stone wall like the ones you see while you're driving around New England (I think you said you live in the Boston area).You could probably get rid of the blocks that way too. If you're willing to pay to haul it away (or have the means to haul it yourself), you will almost certainly find someone willing to take it.ĭepending on how much traffic goes by on the road, a "FREE STONE" sign in that pile of stone might do the job. a tractor with a loader, or if you're willing to help them shovel it), definitely mention this in the ad. I you have the means to load someone's truck (e.g. You could also try posting to craigslist/freecycle advertising "Free Fill" and mentioning the composition. Talk to them and see if they will haul it away (any combination of the sand, stone, and concrete). If you keep your eyes open as you drive around, you might see a sign up where someone is looking for fill. (I know people who have disposed of strange things via freecycle - really fast.) Looks more like fine gravel to me.Ĭraigslist and/or freecycle ads might get rid of the field stone and the concrete blocks. It would be generous to call that "sand" - definitely don't spread it on your lawn.
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