Keeping commercial asphalt driveways and parking lots clean will make it easier for employees and visitors to access your business. Although placing trash cans in the area will deter littering, it’s not as simple to control the residue left behind from cars. The chemicals in motor oil are a particular concern, which is why you should remove stains as quickly as possible. By knowing more about oil stains and how to remove them, you’ll be able to retain the structural integrity and aesthetic quality of your investment.    

What Oil Does to Asphalt

If not cleaned quickly, oil stains can eventually make your asphalt driveways and parking lots unsafe to use. Asphalt is made up of aggregates, including gravel, crushed stone, and sand. The loose materials are held together with bitumen, which is made of the petroleum byproduct polycyclic hydrocarbons. When asphalt is stained with oil, it alters the oil ratio already present in the material. As a result, the stained areas will become softer. Rainwater, tires, and foot traffic can dislodge the weak portions of the asphalt, leaving potholes in the surfaces. If you plan to sealcoat the asphalt, the material won’t bind well to areas with oil stains, either. This could leave portions of the asphalt driveway or parking lot unprotected from the elements. 

How to Clean the Surfaces

Routinely inspecting driveways and parking lots is the best way to spot and treat oil stains before the chemicals can penetrate the asphalt. When caught early enough, you might be able to remove minor stains with dish soap or laundry detergent. Just pour the cleaning solution on the affected area and add water. Use a stiff brush to scrub the stain and then rinse away the residue with a garden hose.

If the stain has already soaked into the pavement, you might still be able to treat the area with a stain remover specifically formulated to dissolve oil and grease. After scraping away the dried oil, apply the product to the area. After a few hours, it will dry and turn into a powder you can sweep away. If the stain persists, call an asphalt paver for help. The technician can restore the driveway or lot by heating the damaged area to soften the asphalt, scraping away the oil-stained area, and laying new asphalt.

For professional help keeping your asphalt driveways and parking lots in the Waynesboro, VA, area in great shape, contact the Greenville-based technicians at Billy S. Young’s Blacktop Paving. Beyond sealcoating and repairing the surfaces, they’ll also provide additional maintenance to prevent chemical contamination and water infiltration. To schedule driveway repair or parking lot paving in Nelson, Augusta, or Rockbridge counties, call (540) 949-0432. Visit the paving contractors online to examine how they’ll boost the functionality and safety of your investments and on Facebook to see project photos and read client feedback.