Chemicals to Remove Paint from Pavement

Depends on what kind of paint, but there may be a solvent that will cut the dried paint. If not, you may have to resort to sandblasting or the like.

Sorry, i did not mention that the paint is water based PVA.

With luck, the directions on the paint container may suggest cleanup methods/solvents. This will be easier if the paint hasn't yet dried, but maybe the suggestions will cover dried paint as well.

High-pressure water jetting would be a good start.

Dust sheets next time?

Get a water rinsable stripper from the hardware store. Dab on paint spots. Remove built up paint with a putty knife. Dab more stripper on remaining stain. Scrub stains with a wire brush while simultaneously rinsing with water hose.

My bad......................I was thinking concrete.

If this is black asphalt, just take a heat gun or propane torch and wave it over the paint spots until they burn off.

The asphalt will be soft, so don't use a wire brush. If you can char the paint enough that it turns black, just leave it. It will blend in until it wears off, which won't take long.

If you're not determined to remove the spots, just get a pint of oil based black matte enamel, a Q tip or artist brush, and dab the black paint on the spots.......................no one will ever know.

[Edit] I just saw the post that said no torch. You don't want to hold the torch in place. Small flame and just wave over paint spot enough to char it......done.

The easiest is to touch up spots with black paint.

My thoughts exactly, but apparently I am off topic.

When they repaint the lines on the highway they use a torch to remove the old ones.

I'll change that. Asphalt can take a good deal of heat before it degrades. The latex paint will be gone before the asphalt starts burning or suffers damage.

Just to add. Any type of stripper or solvent will soften the asphalt before it does anything to the paint and is not recommended.

Why would they torch it to remove line painting? In PA, NJ, NY, and now in AZ all I've ever seen for the past 18 years is it being slightly milled or simply painted over. A hell of a lot faster and again no issues with damaging the asphalt. At around 110 F asphalt starts to soften and anything over 375 F will start to effect the chemistry of the liquid asphalt. You never want to "char" asphalt, again it will start to oxidize plus if you go over a large enough area and soft it you could lose compaction.

I do not know the reasons why, I just know I have seen them riding along in a truck with a large torch scorching the lines up.

I understand your explanation, but a small amount of heat to peel paint should not degrade the asphalt any noticable amount. Yes, if you are doing anything larger than 2"x2" area.

I would think that a pressure washer would do a whole lot more damage.

A little heat and putty knife should make quick work of paint splatter. Large spills no.

You may have seen them removing this.

Either way, if I get a little drop of paint on a black asphalt roof, I don't remove it, I just hit the spot with a dab of black paint.

That's thermal line. It's heated up to melt the plastic to the asphalt usually using IR. At least thats the modern way of putting it down.

I'd just leave it, it would wear away over time.

Never saw it must be old technology.

Do a google search for asphalt crack torch. They are propane torches that are used for asphalt repair. Here is a website describing the process. And a picture of a homeowner repair in progress. It's quite common.

This doesn't prove anything. Its a product for a band aid solution. It's melting the caulking and softening the asphalt so that it adheres to each other. There will always be a weak point in the driveway until it's properly taken care of, the replacement of it.

If you want to prevent having to us this product stay away from heat, stay away from solvents, etc. So you don't have weak points that lead to cracks which lead to the replacement of the pavement. I'm just letting you know from experience I've been around asphalt and asphalt plants for over 13 years. I know guys in the business for over 30 years and they all will tell you the same thing.

But hey if you want your pavement to need crack sealants then by all means do what you want.

I'll take your word for it. Personally I'm not worried that waving a torch flame over a paint drip for 30 seconds or less is going to do any harm.

Personnel I would really wouldn't be worried by a couple of paint drips. Major spill maybe.

I would just park my minivan over them and cover them with oil.

If it's close enough to the house you could put a potted plant.

hallo, use acetone or buy a nailremover.emil

Thanks a lot, will try it...

there are also acetonefree nailremovers in the market,so do not be worry, i am since 40 years in this buisness and compare my answer to all the other experts.emil

If it's on asphalt. For the cost of replacing asphalt paving it's best not to take a chance and damage it. Just let it set and time will wear it away, or better yet cover it with a seal coat. You can always paint the whole paved area with the same paint, colored asphalt is pretty popular now. Coming from an asphalt background that's my two cents.

This happened to me recently with a solid water-soluble deck stain. Try soaking the unwanted paint areas with hot water and then use a stiff wire brush. That should take up any unwanted paint in a hurry. Wash away residue with a hose.

If the paint is fairly fresh, make a paste of washing soda and water. Let it sit on the spattered area for an hour or so, then rinse with lots of water. The paint should then come off with cold water from an ordinary garden hose. Washing soda (Sodium Carbonate) hydrolizes to yield soda lye (Sodium Hydroxide) which removes fresh paint very well. It shouldn't erode pavement made from Portland Cement concrete, and it's also OK with asphalt. I have used this method to remove graffiti made with a paint stick, which will otherwise endure for years, as my neighbor's sidewalk attests.

Keep an eye on this operation, because the washing soda paste can also burn sensitive skin and cause eye damage, and children and curious adults will unfailingly walk on it or play with it. I haven't tested this method on a brick surface, so if you are cleaning paint spatter from brick pavement, check a small inconspicuous area first.

If you are in a big hurry, you might try an oven cleaner that contains lye, but this is much more damaging to the body. If you resort to this method, you need to keep a very careful watch over it.

Night-time is good for this operation, as the soda paste will stay hydrated and the water won't evaporate. It's also less likely that anyone will walk through it. If you rinse with lots of water, you can dilute the runoff enough to avoid damage to plants. To make sure, you can follow your rinse with diluted vinegar and more water.

Next time use a drop cloth. Good luck.

Thanksm, will try it...

If it is asphalt paving, try using a propane torch. I would not do this on concrete or brick.

Don't do this you'll oxidize the asphalt, shortening the life of it. Same thing with solvents i.e. nail polish remover etc. You best bet is the soap and water

Thanks John.

You must come to South africa and do hunting here...

Cheers...

This may sound crazy, but I would try Paint Thinner or stripper. If that don't work try a wire brush, how much of a mess did you make?

I would try Krud Kutter, followed by high-pressure water blasting. It works very well on many types of paints, on both asphalt and concrete pavements. It will not attack the asphalt base either.

The company that makes it also makes a specific-designed paint removing product as well, but I'm not sure how readily available it is. However, you can buy it directly from the manufacturer online. Most if not all of their cleaning products are environmentally safe. Look for the Krud Kutter Paint & Stain Remover under their "Products" tab in th company's website....

You can find Krud Kutter at Lowe's as well as Home Depot and a lot of well stocked hardware stores like ACE Hardware, etc.. A gallon of it will cost you slightly more than $12 at Lowe's. I swear buy this stuff and use it for almost anything around the house, workshop and garage. Try it, you'll love it! I do!!!!!!

www.krudkutter.com

Moosie

I checked out the tech data sheets for Krud Kutter products and it mentions it will remove the oils from the liquid asphalt, shortening it's life. My recommendation is not to use it because it's a lot cheaper to let it go then replace your paved area. Again my two cents.

Bakerjohn, thanks for the great intell. I stand corrected in my previous statement as I should have checked the tech data sheets first.

I've used it before to clean off some enamel paint (overspray) from my asphalt driveway and had not noticed any degradation, but then again I didn't leave it sitting on the pavement for more then a few minutes either.....followed-up with a high pressure water blast.

My daughter and a friend were working with a mission project this summer and they cleaned graffiti off of a basketball court with Coke and Dr. Pepper. They let it sit for a bit and then brushed it off.

After that she swore off drinking both of those sodas.