Steel Construction = Rust on Vehicles

Quick overview: I work in an SoCal industrial park, next door a business is
expanding and the construction is steel frame. Work is being done as high as
3 stories up.

Here's my dilemma: since the steel work has begun, I've noticed pinpoint
spots of rust, literally hundreds on the horizontal surfaces of the two
vehicles I drive to work (One a Honda). Additionally, every white car (both
mine are white) or light colored car that parks in the same vicinity
exhibits the same malady. This is the only commonality amongst the vehicles
infected.

I suspect that this rust is do to the steel work being done. The workers are
cutting and grinding three stories up, and it is my belief that the
prevailing winds carry the steel 'dust' over our parking lot, where it gets
deposited on the vehicles and when it gets exposed to moisture, it begins to
rust.

I initially noticed this last weekend when I washed the cars. In order to
remove the rust I literally had to clay-bar and polish the paint. I only did
a small portion until I had a chance to evaluate the problem.

If this was overspray from a painter, I think that the contractor would be
liable for the damages to others private property. Is this any different?
Other than the fact that this can be much more insidious and damaging...

If I choose to confront the contractor, any suggestions on how best to
approach this? Points against me is the lack of actual proof. I really have
no way of knowing that this is the sole cause. It's not like my paint
analogy because I don't have specks of paint the same color. Points for me
is the widespread 'coincidence' of multiple vehicles with the same damage.
These vehicles have nothing in common except parking in the same lot as I
do. Other vehicles parked not downwind are not affected.

I guess this just pisses me off, Keeping my vehicles clean and looking good
is time consuming enough without having the additional burden of repairing
damage caused by others...

No, I'm not looking for a financial windfall, I'd simply like the contractor
pay for the damage he has caused. It could get quite expensive for him if
'everyone' were to file similar claims...

Your advice?

Rick

 

try talking to your employer first, they may contact the contracter and have
everything repaired, better then doing it alone

 

: try talking to your employer first, they may contact the contracter and
have
: everything repaired, better then doing it alone
:
:
What's going to work out in my favor is my employers personal vehicle (an
Mercedes) is also exhibiting this rust. He doesn't appear to be concerned
:-(. Although the contractor doesn't know this..)

Rick

 

I get the same thing from the railroad which is about a mile from my job.
They can't control the direction in which the air blows. Its called rail
dust in my case.

Tom

 

you keep your car nice, you use bar clay on it also.. well the bar clay
gets off the metal chips that stay on the car, but it also rubs then
against the paint.. this is why you have rust..... a neighbor of mine
would be out in the front of his house just about every day when he
bought the last of the big T-birds.. always polishing it.. it was
maroon.. nice car. the rag was always maroon from him rubbing the paint
off of it... eventually he had to get it painted.. he removed all the
old paint with his polishing rag.... the best thing to do is get a
bucket of water or hose off the car.....