Today a couple of houses away up the road builders started on a repointing job. A few lads got stuck in straight away with angle grinders raking out, lots of dust. All the cars covered in a thick layer of the stuff. Still a bit more to go by the looks of it but I am not best pleased. Do I keep my gob shut or say something?
Say something, your neighbour isn’t going to like a few car wash bills. I has exactly the same thing recently. The builders washed half a dozen cars without a word being said at the end of each day for a week just out of courtesy,
Im not sure what the builders can do about the dust, but the last thing you want is a builder washing your car…can’t you move your car? or cover it?
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I suppose that is probably the most annoying thing…yes, I could have quite easily have moved it but I didn’t know the work was starting. I just got home & saw it. A bit too late to cover it now, that will just make it worse & I really don’t fancy the idea of a builder giving it a wipe over with an old gritty rag as recompense.
Well in that case, you best go and have a word I guess 
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They could have used scaffolding with plastic sheeting around to control it a bit.
I think councils say builders should use dust control, but enforcing is another matter.
Just be careful washing your car, would need rinsing off a few times first to remove the abrasive dust.
At least there are builders. I’ve spent the last 6 months dtaring at a space where my conservatory had been (getting a replacement). The excuses have been lockdown, disease outbreak at the factory. Now its “everyone was laid off, and they all got jobs, so we have to train from scratch”.
I stashed my MX5 in the garage for a week while getting a new drive, thinking the garage door would be sufficiently protective. It wasn’t.
Wondering what the orange speed clamp is doing??
If the dust is drifting onto the public domain I.e the public highway then its classed as a hazard and could be reportable to the Gealth and Safety Executive has cement dust can cause respiratory issues. O work in the construction industry and our workforce have to wear dust masks and use dust suppression when using any form of cutting equipment to cut or grind contentious materials. I would have a word with your neighbour and point this out to him as well as making him aware of the dust on the cars. You could also point this out to the contractor as he is blatantly neglecting his duty to protect his workforce and the public.
Oops should be Health and Safety…predictive text kicked in
Contentious materials = cementious materials
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This is such a difficult one, it really depends on how well you know and get on with your neighbours. For me I would be horrified to see my neighbours’ cars covered in dust based on work I’d had on my house and I would go around an apologise and organise something, i.e. I would be proactive. But everyone is different and they may be too embarrassed. It’s really only something you can judge I think.
Be very careful. I once had a car serviced at a garage where building work creating brick dust was being carried out. Even though the garage had thought that they had very carefully washed the car the brick dust had got into the window seals. When I opened a window sometime later there was a scraping noise (one touch opening!). When I shut the window again the window glass was very badly scratched. Once the grit is in there it is very difficult to remove. The garage had to replace both windows and seal sets at their expense.
I would ask the builders to supply you with some plastic sheet or blankets to cover your car if you don’t have anything or I would move your car. They should really have informed you of the type of work they were going to do so you could take precautions.
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It got you again!
Cementitious!
Barrie
I’d be inclined to say something but I agree it’s not wise to let the builders clean your car, I’d be looking for the cost of a basic maintenance valet to be coughed up personally.
I’m always paranoid about this sort of thing - I’ll never do any pressure washing of paths or driveway if there are cars in the vicinity but sadly some people just couldn’t care less