Tarmac stains - How to remove tarmac stains

[wigglylines]

Magic site....My DIY paving bible.....

I recently purchased a number (14tons approx) of Yorkstone flags at heck of a low price from a contractor who was laying fibre optic cable. These flags were originally laid and some time later they were covered with tarmac. So now I have these flags with tarmac effectively on the smoother good side. I now have the option of:
1....Trying to get the tarmac stain off chemically, if possible.
2....Grinding off the tarmac stained surface.
3....Utilising the rough but clean side, grinding down the really rough bits and recutting the edges to slope the other way and nibbling the edges.

What would be your recommendation and if no1 what chemical would be best?

best regards..........Wigglylines

[Dave_L]

One for Roger from R&A Pressure Washing.

Personally I think you might struggle to get them cleaned up, but Rog will be the man to tell you the best course of action.

[Amogen]

Or maybe someone else in the same trade more local to the OP!!

[Dave_L]

Or maybe someone else in the same trade more local to the OP!!

Well possibly!!!!!!!

[Tony McC]

Your only sensible option is cleaning. Grinding or honing is expensive and might not be suitable for salvaged stone. Even if it was, it would create an odd looking finish at a cost that would make a nonsense of any bargain price paid to date. As for laying upside down, that's akin to wallpapering with the pattern to the wall. Salvaged yorkstone has a very definite face and a very definite base. It will look shite laid wrong side up.

The 'cleaner' for bitmac is any oil-based "thinner" such as white spirit, petrol (!), or even diesel. The problem is that these "thinners" make the bitumen binder more liquid and thereby increase its ability to penetrate porous stone.

If the staining wasn't too bad (this is after you've removed any bulk material) there's a good chance that regular trafficking would abrade what stain remains after a couple of years.

[wigglylines]

Dave, Tony, Amogen........

thanks for the prompt response and advice. Will try the 'cleaner' method and see what happens. Owe you a beer!

rgds...........wigglylines

[RAPressureWashing]

Lithofin Stain-away should/will remove the bitumen followed by a hot pressure wash. It will be very messy and Stain-away isn't cheap either.
Serious PPE if you use this product as it is one of the nastier ones.

Amogen is in your neck of the woods so might be worth contacting him to do this.