Asking to see a locator's paint can seems kind of rude...

**Enjoythefall** · May 26th, 2011, 09:35 PM

Those folks who yell at us for painting their grass are apparently blogging now, too.

http://newurbanstreets.com/2010/graf...cate-painting/

**TMO** · May 26th, 2011, 10:24 PM

I read this article , and went from enthusiastic, to pissed , then settled on pleased with it . It is awareness, and discussion from those not 'in ' our industry CAN be a positive. They hit on the issue of 'over' calling dig request locations, and the frequency of markings, as well as the type of material used. I will say out right, if i was asked to show someone my can of paint, i would be really intrigued that question. And if that persons temperment and mannerism warranted it , i would go from 0 to smartass in record time. But ... I think i am cool with people raising some issues here, i feel that the bulk of the concerns can be put directly onto our industry guidleines and lack of requirements mandated for the contractor. We do what our company policy requires us to do , and i think it is fairly obvious (even to a John D Rockafeller in his Armani suit on 5th ave.) that if we didnt HAVE to mark as much as we do , we simply wouldnt.

**Turk182** · May 26th, 2011, 11:41 PM

I have been approached by homeowners asking about the nature of the paint, most of them were dog owners that wanted to be assured that the paint their dog just rolled all over in would not harm their pet.

**TheCableVine** · May 26th, 2011, 11:59 PM

It's not a bad article... it may actually be useful to locators. If the public frowns on all the paint, maybe the contractors will be a little less cavalier when calling in locates.

**Isotopes** · May 27th, 2011, 06:11 PM

15 mins with a pressure washer and the paint is gone.

**sprayandpray** · May 27th, 2011, 09:14 PM

I know one thing : if any utilities had been damaged ,this guy would have been the 1st to complain!

**big boots mcghee** · May 27th, 2011, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Isotopes

15 mins with a pressure washer and the paint is gone.

Yes, but if contractors were to get specific with their actual dig locations 15 minutes with a pressure washer wouldn't be needed.

**paintitnow** · May 27th, 2011, 10:14 PM

I had a mayor of a small town almost want to have me arrested. They just finished revamping several blocks of their main street and cost of 10 millions of dollars. The contractor was doing finishing touches and called in a relocate. Knowing they were just about done and didn't want to mark up the new stuff i asked him what he needed. He was gruff and said "just mark it all like the damn ticket says". So I marked the new stuff, it had a phone duct and a gas main and some electric crossings. One the mayor saw what i did to his new downtown he had the head of his public works drive around town until he found me to bitch me out. After he found me and told me of his mayor's disgust I told him call the contractor. I had to mark the full extent since the contractor didn't want to change the extent.

**Goldenboy** · May 28th, 2011, 08:24 AM

Everytime I paint the stupid bricks downtown I get complaints from the historical society. I tell them the same thing everytime. First off I paint what I'm told to. If the contractors would call in what they actually need then there would be alot less paint downtown. Second it is the contractors responsibility to remove marks when they are done so if the city really wants the marks off the stupid bricks have the contractor pressure wash them off.

In this picture below I got a call to mark the entire courtyard and alley for soil borings. I called the contractor to ensure they were working in the alley because of all the conduit and fancy bricks. They said they needed it all. I stopped back while they were boring and all the borings were in the courtyard over 150ft away from the alley.