What Will Remove Driveway Sealant?

The Mechanical Method

• The easiest approach to driveway sealant removal is to hire a professional contractor to use a motorized scraper or grinder to remove a thin layer of your driveway. This method is very reliable and straightforward, but it tends to be expensive. A more affordable option may be to rent a similar machine and do the job yourself, but this can still be pricey, in addition to requiring a substantial amount of time and skill. If you have more money than time to devote to the project, are experienced or naturally skilled at tackling home improvement projects or want to ensure the results are good, this may be the best option.

The Chemical Method

• If you want to do the job yourself without dealing with noisy and unwieldy rental equipment, a chemical sealant remover may be worth considering. Most chemical removal agents include very strong and harsh ingredients, which enable them to break down the sealant coating on a driveway, allowing you to simply wipe away the resulting sludge. Because the chemicals are so harmful, however, you will need to be extremely careful when using them to avoid allowing any contact with people, animals or plants. If you don’t mind suiting up in protective equipment (including a breathing mask) and working with a potentially dangerous substance—and you want to do the job thoroughly yourself—this approach might appeal to you.

The "Green" Method

• In recent years, a new category of sealant removers has begun to emerge. These products focus on using natural, often plant-based substances to replace the toxic chemicals included in many traditional sealant removers. While these new formulas are effective, they tend to take effect more slowly and may require more care in application to achieve similar results. On the plus side, they don’t demand the same level of precaution, which can make using and disposing of them less challenging. If you are concerned about the potential environmental or medical impact of your project and don’t mind devoting a little more time and effort to using safer substances, this approach may be the best for you.