Temporary lines

Hi everyone, Got a customer who has a small parking lot (12 spaces) paved with travertine tiles. Currently it doesn't have any striping and thats the way he wants it but the city requires the lines. He wants it striped, then removed after the city inspector signs off on it Is there any striping tape or a temporary paint that would easily pressure wash off? Thanks Dean

stripe it and leave...

I'd have him sign a disclaimer about removal, mix cheap drywall primer 50% with water, spray it and when he gets his certificate of occupancy, he can power wash the paint off or let it wear off naturally - - it won't last long.

I agree with Municman. Don't even mess with it. Inform him all you do is permanent striping. If you do this, next thing you know you will start getting calls to start doing other unethical request. All I say is "Run Forest, Run".

Why not just put down tape for a few days then go and take it off after the inpection? I think they make yellow duct tape these days.

Duck tape comes in all colors, the drywall primer cut 50% also will work. You can do what ever the customer requests but personaly I would not be the one that removes the lines, let him do it.

I don't understand what is unethical about doing what the customer wants. If he assumes all risk of penalties and removes the lines himself, where is the line being crossed with respect to ethics? Have him pay you up front and sign a contract stating that you are doing exactly what he wants [placing a removeable pavement marking that HE will remove]. Also, if you use the cheap drywall primer, put a disclaimer in the contract stating that it can be removed but removal may also blow out sand/grout holding the tiles in place. If left too long and driven on, tape can also be a problem for removal. The adhesives in tape "flow" over time to fill voids and the longer tape is applied, the harder it will be to remove.

Randy, Can't wait to see what your "brothers" will say about your answer.

I honestly don't see where an ethics line has been crossed in this situation. Please, anyone put me in check on this because I simply fail to see the problem.

RUN DON'T WALK!!!! THIS IS BAD NEWS !!!! IF ANYTHING HAPPENS IN THAT PARKING LOT YOUR CUSTOMER WILL FLUSH YOU LIKE YESTERDAYS @#@@!!!!!!! STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO SAY IN THE REGULATIONS!!!

"THE CITY REQUIRES IT", yet the customer feels like this does not apply to him. The ethical issue is this: You the striper knows the city requires it, the customer knows the city requires it and the city knows they require it. Yet the customer does not want to conform. And you as the striper doing it is condoning the customer and his desire to go around the system. He wants to get by with his rules. He is most likely the same guy that figures just because a parking lot is coned off it doesn't apply to him because he wants to park there. We as striper's should be setting the standard. As far as getting him to sign something to release you of any responsibility is like someone going to rob a bank. You see it, yet they give you some of the money to "NOT SEE IT". It's just WRONG. But each person is defferant when it comes to stuff like this. Those who say "Don't" I'm glad to see it. Those who say "Do it" I just hope I'm never in need of a bystander making an ethical decision and you happen to be that by stander.

I would do it in a minute. It is not up to me to police this persons actions. He has his reasons for why he wants to remove the lines and it is not p to me to say different. If the City don't like it then it is up to them to deal with it. If I had to go to court I would tell it like it is. Depending on the circumstance I may tell the owner that I do not recommend he remove the lines but it would still be his choice. If the City wanted to put me on there payroll to oversee the job that would be another story but until a Branch of government is willing to put me on there payroll they can do there own inspection and make sure the lot conforms to specification. If I restripe a lot and it does not meet spec. (not ADA compliant) (stalls to small) etc. I will inform the owner and ask if he wants me to correct it and if he says no then I will continue to restrip it the way he wants. If it is a new layout and it does not meet spec. I will again inform the owner but this time in writing and if he still wants it striped out of spec I will have him put that on paper before I continue. oh and if I knew of someone that was going to rob a bank I would turn them in. then run and git my camera and take pictures.

If this happened to me, I would charge the property owner an above average fee for the temporary striping and do the work. Then when I noticed the owner removed the lines I would send an anonymous note to the inspector. The owner would have to call me back to put down permanent lines. No problem regarding ethics and you get paid twice for the same job.

Unless there was a spec. on file with the city mandating a certain kind of marking, there is no legal or ethical standard violated. Doing what the customer requests is good business unless there is a law against the type of marking used. But, police work for monetary gain ?

See Ware-ever "YOU" are who I'm talking about. You would do it and charge an above average price (like that makes it right) then you would place an anonymous note to the inspector and hope the owner calls you back to charge him again. You "DISGUST" me. If this is an example of you run your business it's sickening. Here since it sounds like you have forgotten what Ethics is all about I'm including the definition; Ethic n. 1. A principle of right or good conduct or a body of such principles. 2. A system of moral principles or values. 3. ethics v. The study of the general nature of morals and of a specific moral choices. 4. ethics. THE RULES OR STANDARDS GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF THE MEMBERS OF A PROFESSION. But you go ahead "ware-ever" send your anonymous note, because I'm sure that is good enough for you to sleep well at night. Your post of what your actions would be is a perfect example of why this world is full of dishonesty more an more.

In the words of the great Steve Miller Band "Take the Money and Run"

Quoting Municman, July 05, 2005 (that post is not in this thread):

Reading the majority of responses here, I believe I have made a huge mistake joining this web forum. If this is how you people run your businesses then I don't believe you can offer any other worthwhile advice. Okay bye then

I smelled a rat from the get-go. This was a set-up.

Stripeitok, you have a good argument but then so does Dwan. Is it up to us to do the enforcement of the city employees? I think I would have the customer sign a simple contract with disclaimers, charge my normal rate, collect my money and not look back. Removal would be up to him. I would provide the markings that the customer desires. Even if they are meant to be temporary. You never know when that same customer my be in a position to send a $10K contract your way with a reference or lead. Look at it this way, if someone tells you to spray paint on green concrete, do you turn your back on the job because you know it may not last a month? You may try to educate the customer but he[[ no you don't pass up the work, you just cover your butt by having them sign a waiver, paint it and know you are doing the job the customer asks you to do. No harm, no foul from my prospective.

At the request of a very well respected national contractor and the local Catholic Diocese, I put down a white duct tape handicap space and installed a sign in front of an addition to a downtown church. The city required that the space be directly in front of the main entrance and the church was not happy about it (it was on a brick driveway). The city passed the space, the church go its CO and then the space was "disappeared". I see no problem with temporary space marking if it is the wish of the property owner. Dear manicman. What ever happened to the right to one's opinion, right or wrong?