How To Remove Old And Stubborn Oil Stains From Asphalt Surface?

 The aesthetic appeal that asphalt adds to any driveway is the number one reason why people rely on this material. Its popularity is also due to factors like durability, low maintenance requirements, easy to use and easy availability. However, prolonged usage, lack of maintenance and regular traffic can make this material wear down, and the top culprit is the oil stains. If not removed on time, they can become unsightly and challenging to remove. They are indeed tough to remove, but not impossible according to the vendors of asphalting services Blacktown. In this blog post, we will discover how they form and why it is so hard to remove them.

Image Source: https://tandlasphalting.com.au/asphalting-blacktown/

HOW DO OIL STAINS FORM, AND WHY ARE THEY SO TOUGH TO REMOVE?

CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Oil and asphalt both have hydrocarbons and when hydrocarbons of these two materials mix, they form a chemical reaction that results in long-lasting stains on driveways.

GREASE BUILD-UP

Motor oil is the most common cause of oil stains, and this build-up, if not handled on time with the help of asphalting services Liverpool becomes very hard to remove.

ROAD SALT

During the winter season, salt is used to melt the snow and ice on roads and highways, and this salt can be very harmful to asphalt. It mixes with other substances like motor oil, grease, etc. and forms stains that are very difficult to remove.

TEMPERATURE CHANGES

Asphalt is a flexible material that expands and contracts with slight temperature changes. When exposed to higher temperatures, it becomes brittle, making it easier for the oil to penetrate the surface and become a permanent stain on the driveway.

PRESSURE WASHING

Pressure washing removes dirt and dust from the driveway, but it also pushes the oil deeper into the asphalt, and it becomes almost impossible to remove.

REMOVING OIL STAINS FROM ASPHALT DRIVEWAYS

Removing oil stains from asphalt driveways is possible with the help of asphalting services Blacktown offered by top-notch professionals. The only stipulation is that they use the right products and techniques along with their experience to get rid of these unsightly eyesores. 

Chemical solutions like detergent solvent degreaser are used to remove these stains effectively.

Experts offering asphalting services Blacktown also recommend using TSP or Trisodium Phosphate to remove stains of oil spills from the dry asphalt base. This solution has to be applied using a stiff, bristled brush and scrubbing until the stains go away. 

A home remedy used in removing stains is vinegar, which has to be mixed in equal quantities with water and applied to the stains using a soft-bristled brush.