Asphalt is a blessing and a curse.
At its best, asphalt is an important asset that provides a relatively affordable, dirt-free, orderly surface for traffic and parking and is the first thing to notice when entering a building from its parking lot….at its worst, it is a catch-all for oil, grease, fuel, and trash, the buildup of which makes it something travelers and pedestrians will avoid. Protecting your asphalt investment needs to be a priority to avoid expensive repairs and disappointing first impressions.

The Curse? Fresh Oil Spots. —The Cure? A Good Cleaning. (Least Painful)
Fresh oil spots are minor and simple to remove since they are only stains on the asphalt surface. The best way to deal with these is to scrub away the oil with a detergent and then thoroughly rinse the area with clean water to remove the oil. This step may need to be repeated if an oil film is still visible after rinsing. Rinse and repeat until all visible oil is removed.

The Curse? Oil Stains Left Unattended. —The Cure? Heat Application. (More Painful)
In cases where the oil stain has sat on the pavement for too long, and the oil has seeped into the asphalt, the asphalt material may begin to RAVEL. The oil stain has dissolved the binder into chunks of aggregate which break loose. The result is cracking and often not far behind, a depression in the pavement. If severe pitting is absent, infrared heat can be used to repair the asphalt damage; however, detergent and water will no longer be enough.

The Curse? Soft Pavement (Oil Spots Still Unattended). —The Cure? Surgery.
When the oil stain has sat long enough to soften the pavement, it’s time to saw cut the area out and patch it with good asphalt. This is not an inexpensive job but, is critical if you wish to avoid liability issues with potholes in your parking lot or driveway and the continued erosion of this important asset.

Maintain Your Asset as the Blessing It Deserves: Consult A Professional.
If you have some questionable stains in your parking lot or driveway, it may be best to call for a professional assessment of your problem. Our team is available to come out and evaluate your unique asphalt problem at no cost. Give us a call at (702)-651-8100 or email us at [email protected]. We’re here to help you protect and maximize your asphalt investment.