Whether your asphalt has been victim to an unsolicited graffiti makeover or has been marked in past construction projects, all hope isn’t lost. Make it look new again by scraping and scrubbing the paint off or pressure washing it. If that doesn’t work, use a natural stripper or a heat gun. Still no success? More aggressive removal options include blasting and grinding.
From small spills to stubborn graffiti, here’s how to remove paint from asphalt. I listed your options by difficulty—try the easier options first.
Scrub, Scrape, and Rinse It Off
| Best for: Washable paint, acrylic-latex paint, wet or dry Project difficulty: Beginner Estimated time to complete: 1 hour maximum Estimated project cost: $6 for 4 oz of TSP (excluding the cost of PPE) |
Craig Lloyd of Lloyd Handyman in Atascadero, CA, notes that paint typically isn’t very durable on asphalt. Acrylic-latex is the least durable of them all. If you spill some, you may be able to scrub, scrape, and rinse it off.
What’s more, some paints are even designed to be washable.
Step 1: Get a bucket with hot water and a cleaning solution or trisodium phosphate (TSP). TSP is strong and considered to be a hazard—be careful when using it; use PPE. A little of it mixed with water goes a long way. If you’re dealing with washable paint, use just water.
Step 2: If the paint is already dry, wet it and wait five minutes.
Step 2: Use a wire brush to scrub the paint. If you’re dealing with washable paint, try to wash it off with a garden hose on the highest setting. Apply it as close to the paint as possible, at a slight angle.
Step 3: If the paint still won’t budge, scrape it off with a paint scraper.
Step 3: Rinse it off with water, taking care that the paint doesn’t run off into a drain.
Pressure Wash It Off
| Best for: Wet or dry acrylic-latex paint Project difficulty: Beginner Estimated time to complete: 1 hour or more, depending on the size of the job Estimated project cost: $30 to $150 per day to rent a pressure washer |
If you have a pressure washer handy and have some paint on your asphalt driveway, walkway, or court, you can try pressure washing it away. If it didn’t adhere too strongly, you may be able to get it off.
Turn your pressure washer on and move from side to side and top to bottom until there’s no more paint or until you’re not making any more progress.
Caution: Avoid pressure washing wet latex paint—that can quickly become a messy disaster.
Use a Natural Stripper
| Best for: Dry acrylic-latex paint, small or thin layers of dry 100% acrylic paint, small or thin layers of dry oil-based paint Project difficulty: Beginner to intermediate, depending on the paint and the size of the job Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the product, the paint, and the size of the job Estimated project cost: $10 to $25 for a 32-oz. natural stripper (excluding the cost of PPE) |
Strong chemical strippers, mineral solvents, and acetone may be effective at dissolving certain kinds of paint, but they can also damage the asphalt, leaving a gooey mess. Don’t use them unless you really need to.
A natural option, like a citrus-based stripper, is less likely to damage the surface. Plus, they’re safer and better for the environment. John McTighe of Reliable Service Company in Chandler, AZ, recommends trying out natural strippers first on any project: “I always recommend starting with the least harsh option,” he says.
Citrus-based strippers can be surprisingly effective. McTighe continues, “These products are low in VOCs and relatively safe to use, though they still require gloves and a mask.”
As a general rule, use a thicker remover for thicker paints and a thinner remover for thinner paints, such as spray paints. Thicker and older paints may require additional coats or longer application times. Another option is to use a specialized graffiti remover.
Before you get started, don’t forget your PPE.
Step 1: Test a small section first before you apply any solution to the whole surface.
Step 2: Apply a thick layer of the stripper.
Step 3: Place a plastic sheet over the stripper layer and wait for it to fully take effect (usually up to an hour).
Step 4: Use a pressure washer to rinse it off, taking care that the paint doesn’t run off into a drain. Alternatively, scrub it off with a brush and buckets of water.
| Tip: Spilled some latex paint? Before you make a trip to the hardware store, try to search your cupboards for some vinegar. Heat it up, and apply it to the spill for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, try to scrape it off. The vinegar may soften the latex paint slightly. It doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a try! |
Use a Mechanical Tool
| Best for: Dry oil-based paint, multiple layers Project difficulty: Beginner, if you’re covering small areas and not using advanced settings Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the product, the paint, and the size of the job Estimated project cost: $20 to $100 for a heat gun (excluding the cost of PPE) |
If you have a mechanical paint removal tool like a heat gun, an infrared device, or a steam stripper, you can give that a go. It will soften the paint, so it’s easier to remove.
Heat guns and infrared devices work similarly, but an infrared device heats up paint from the bottom up. It reduces the likelihood of producing fumes. A steam stripper is similar to a heat gun, but it uses steam instead.
Follow safety precautions carefully, and wear appropriate PPE.
Step 1: Let the device heat up according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 2: Working in sections, heat the paint until it starts to bubble. If you’re using a heat gun, be sure not to apply too much heat to the paint, as this can cause burns.
Step 3: Immediately use a scraper or a putty knife to scrape the heated paint off.
Step 4: Frequently scrape any paint remains from both sides of your paint scraper.
Step 5: Repeat until the paint is gone or until you’re making no more progress.
Use a Blaster
| Best for: Any paint, large or small areas Project difficulty: Intermediate to advanced Estimated time to complete: Could take minutes, but more likely to take several hours, depending on the media, the paint, and the size of the job Estimated project cost: $60 to $300 for a day (excluding the cost of PPE) |
Blasting is a process to remove paint, rust, or dirt, or to prep a surface for a new coat of paint. It’s quite difficult to do, but not as difficult as grinding, and can be even more effective, especially if you’re dealing with thick coats of paint. Additionally, it’s less likely to damage the asphalt surface. There are gentler mediums, like pumice and walnut, and harsh mediums used for the toughest projects, like silicon carbide.
Other common media include sand and glass beads. Dustless blasting mixes water and abrasive to shoot a stronger medium without leaving a cloud of dust behind. Hydroblasting is similar to pressure washing, but at an extremely high pressure, starting around 10,000 (a strong pressure washer is around 5,000).
Expect this option to take hours unless you’re treating a small area. Don’t forget the right PPE, including hearing protection.
What’s the best medium? The best medium depends on how strongly the paint has adhered, how much of it there is, and how strong your asphalt surface is. If you’re not sure which medium to use, start with a gentle one and work your way up.
How to use a blaster: Start the blaster. Open the nozzle valve slowly to find the right amount of force needed. Be careful and don’t use excessive force.
Move the nozzle up and down and then side to side until you get rid of the paint. Work in sections and avoid repeatedly spraying the same area to prevent the concrete from getting damaged.
Grind the Asphalt
| Best for: Any paint, smaller areas Project difficulty: Advanced Estimated time to complete: Could take minutes, but more likely to take several hours, depending on the paint and the size of the job Estimated project cost: $90 to $400 for a day (excluding the cost of PPE) |
Grinding usually removes even the strongest of paints. It will remove all of it, plus up to a quarter of the asphalt’s surface. It’s used on roads and highways, but you can also rent one and use it at home.
Operating a grinder can be quite challenging and may damage your asphalt. Depending on the area you’re grinding, it may take you hours. But if you do it right, the results should be satisfactory. If you’re treating a small area, it will be faster.
Once again, you need the right PPE, including hearing protection.
How to use a grinder: Turn on the machine and move it up and down and side to side. Work in sections. Go over any areas that still have paint on them until it’s all gone.
Freshen Up The Look of Your Asphalt
I like to see the world through a creative lens, but using heavy tools like blasters and grinders is too much for me. If you’re not already experienced with these sorts of tools, paint removal is a task best left to the professionals.
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Main Photo: Man using grinder on painted asphalt. brizmaker / Adobe Stock
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