How to remove tar from asphalt driveway
If your asphalt driveway has tar stains in it, you should probably remove it before the winter hits. Once the snowfall starts in Oakville and Hamilton or Burlington, it would become impossible to do any outdoor task.
It is also necessary to understand the condition of tar in your asphalt driveway. It’s always better and easy to remove hardened tar stains than the ones that are still soft. If you have soft tar stains on your pavement, it’s better to wait for some time until it hardens. At the same time, you must also keep in mind that it’s not a beginner’s task as the procedure involves the use of toxic chemicals.
Applying muriatic acid
Muriatic acid is one of the best tar removers. However, you need to take all the precautions while applying it. It is a cousin of hydrochloric acid that is sold in high concentrations. But it’s extremely necessary to use the acid with extreme caution, following all safety instructions.
Steps to remove tar using muriatic acid
Put on your protective gear
As it’s well-known to all of us that acid is a dangerous substance that can cause serious injuries if not handled with care. You must cover your eyes, mouth and wear protective gear before starting with the tar removing procedure. Read the instructions properly and follow the cautions you need to follow while putting on your protective gear. Wear your clothing, put on your gloves and eye protection strap to splatter. Do not forget to wear a mask to prevent acid inhalation.
Dilute the acid
As muriatic acid is sold in high concentration, you must dilute the acid to the desired strength using the instruction mentioned on the label. Please note, you should never add water to acid but acid to water. Carefully pour the acid into the water to prevent splatter.
Next, test if you have reached the required strength by using a weaker solution first and then slowly strengthening it if necessary. If you notice bubbles after the application of the acid, you have reached the required strength. Hence avoid going beyond or it may damage your pavement.
Cover the tar with acid and wait for a minute
Next, apply the diluted acid to the tar stain gradually. Go slow as a cloud of fumes will appear while doing the procedure. Try pouring a small amount of the mixture instead of pouring it abruptly. After covering the tar with the acid mixture, wait for a few minutes.
Scrub and scrape the loosened tar and rinse with water
Try scrubbing the loosened tar using a long-handled cleaning brush. As acid may splatter during the procedure, put on your safety mask and glass.
After the scrubbing procedure, scrape off and wipe off the loosened tar with a towel. Repeat the process until all of it is removed.
Rinse with water
Once all the procedures are complete, rinse off the place thoroughly with water. Again be careful of the acid splatter.
The bottom line
From the above description, you might have learned; how to remove tar from your asphalt driveway using the “do-it-yourself” process. It might seem like an easy job to remove tar from your asphalt driveway. But, in practical life, it requires a lot of preparation and practice to accomplish the job. Therefore, it is always recommended to take help from professional driveway asphalt paving experts who have years of expertise in the field. Try finding out the best asphalt service provider in your area that can assure you the best service at a reasonable rate.
