For various reasons, concrete flooring is popular. It’s affordable, stylish, and long-lasting, even in high-traffic areas. On the other hand, concrete is porous, making sticky stains like tar difficult to remove. Cleaning tar from a concrete floor is doable, but it will take a lot of effort and probably harsh chemicals.
Unlike removing a regular stain from concrete, removing tar from concrete is a time-consuming and difficult task. Cleaning the substance will require more than just wipes and a dry towel.
Luckily! tar may be removed from concrete using tar-removal mixes such as muriatic acid, solvents, and commercially available tar-removal solutions.
Table of Contents
Why Do People Prefer Concrete Flooring?
Many individuals believe that concrete flooring has a fascinating tactile, natural aspect that goes well with their home style, whether it has pricey finishing or not. Compared to other ornamental options, concrete flooring has a lower price per square foot.
Concrete also requires very minimal maintenance. It’s an excellent garage flooring option since it can withstand heavy traffic. Although concrete flooring is generally easy to maintain, tar and other sticky things can be difficult to remove due to their porous structure.
Furthermore, tar is a very sticky substance that is tough to clean up with a towel. To remove tar from your concrete floor, you’ll need more work and stronger instruments and the possibility of using chemical removal solutions.
Try To Power Wash The Floor First
First, use a floor scraper to scrape off as much tar as possible. If dealt with immediately after the spill, this could help solve the problem. Go for a power washer to hit hard-to-access places if this is a viable option given the position of your floor.
Many large home improvement and hardware businesses rent power washers and sandblasters. If you cannot remove tar completely, you must put more time and effort. For this, you can go with a hard scrubbing brush. You can also hire professionals for this purpose if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Steps To Remove Tar From Concrete Flooring
Tar has long been recognized as a particularly difficult stain to remove, regardless of the surface. However, it is considerably more difficult to remove concrete flooring than to remove the carpet.
The last thing you anticipate to harm the beauty of your home is tar on the concrete. In most cases, tar can be found in a concrete or asphalt driveway. Nonetheless, you can use tar to stain your concrete foundation, normally created with hydraulic cement.
Needed Materials
- Water
- A stiff brush
- Gloves
- Muriatic Acid
- A bucket
- Protective eyeglasses
- Mix Acid With Water To Dilute:
Firstly, dilute the acid according to the strength required to dissolve the tar. These items normally come with instructions that you can use as a reference, including the amount of mixture to infuse.
To avoid acid splatters, remember to pour it into the water rather than the other way around while diluting. Begin with a weaker answer and improve it if needed.
Apply a weak, diluted solution to test the acid’s strength. Then keep adding until bubbles develop when you apply it to the affected region. It means it has already attained the necessary power to dissolve the tar.
Apply Diluted Acid On Tarred Concrete
Apply the diluted acid solution to the tear-stained surface with caution next. Spread it out gradually to minimize the bubble odors to a minimum. The tar will gradually disintegrate at this point. Allow the acid to stay in the substance for longer to dissolve it fully.
Scrub Tar-Stained Concrete Floor
After some time has passed, begin scrubbing the surface with a firm bristled brush. Depending on your preference, you can use a small hand-held brush or one with a long handle. Allow the solution to stay in for a few more minutes if you discover that the tar has not entirely dissolved. To avoid acid splatter, make sure to scrub the area thoroughly.
Use A Scrapper For Remaining Stains
Then, using a plastic scraper, scrape the loosening tar. After that, dry it off. Remember to use a disposable towel, as removing tar from garments would be a time-consuming task. After that, use warm or lukewarm water to wash the acid off the floor. To avoid acid splatter, do it gradually.
Apply Sealant
Finish your floor to add the finishing touch. Simply use a sealer to protect the affected area. After all that washing, it will give your concrete a new and fresh look. Small tar stains can be removed with solvents like mineral spirits and kerosene.
Solvents should not be used to remove tar from big areas since they emit harmful fumes and cause fires. Other solvents like diesel and paint thinner can be used to restore tar-stained concrete. Apply the solvent and the acid to the tarred area gradually, but use caution while handling this chemical because it can start a fire.
Final Thoughts
It appears to be a simple task to remove tar from your concrete foundation. It only takes some cleaning and scraping and preparing your solution to pour on your tarred concrete. However, be conscious of the task’s safety requirements and the potential damage that these solutions might cause to your concrete.
