Oil stains ruin new driveway, but you can repair it

Q: Last fall we had a beautiful gray paver driveway installed, and it really looks beautiful. However, during the Christmas holidays we had lots of company, and someone had an oil leak that we noticed after everyone had left.

We have tried everything you can think of to remove this stain from the paver bricks. It is on one brick completely and slightly on three adjoining bricks. So far, nothing has worked, and we are at a loss as to what else to try. I am hoping that you might have some good ideas to share with us. — Dolores G., Toms River, N.J.

A: Unfortunately, it sounds like a pretty deep stain, and since it’s an oil drip from a vehicle — meaning the oil likely is “dirty” from running through the engine as opposed to “relatively clean” oil like that just purchased from a store — the stain may be permanent. This is because brick pavers — and concrete pavers, or any masonry for that matter — are quite porous and absorb liquids quickly.

You’ve been treating this stain for some time without any improvement, so you may have to take the most drastic course, which is replacement of the stained paver.

•A do-it-yourselfer can loosen and lift out the paver, being careful to set the replacement so that it sits flush with the rest of the bricks.

•Paying attention to the level of the underlying material (sand, usually) is crucial, as is remembering that this material gradually settles under the weight of the paver.

•If you aren’t sure that you can make the replacement fit exactly, or if the pavers are prohibitively large, call in the contractor who installed the driveway to make repairs, or contact a driveway repair specialist.

•Because of their makeup, treating oil drips as quickly as possible is essential to saving the pavers’ appearance. This means soaking up the spill, first by wiping away excess oil and then covering the stained bricks with an absorbent material. Household products like talcum powder, cornmeal or cornstarch are excellent for soaking up masonry stains.

•Powdered chalk, fuller’s earth and whiting are also very good absorbents, and cat litter is said to work well. One recommended method is to mix mineral spirits and whiting into a thick paste, apply directly to the stain, and allow it to dry (about 24 hours). These powders can typically be brushed away, using a synthetic-bristle cleaning brush so the stain can be scrubbed a bit.

•Bleach, vinegar and lemon juice do not work well on oil stains.