Are tire and oil stains permanent or can you still clean your floor?

duravaconstruction
Nov 5
3 min read

When it comes to upgrading your home, few improvements make as big an impact as transforming your garage floor. In Arizona, where the sun is relentless and summer temperatures can reach well over 100°F, traditional concrete floors often suffer; they crack, fade, absorb odors, and become unsafe due to slippery or uneven surfaces.

Choosing the right coating isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about durability, safety, and long-term value. Two of the most popular options are epoxy and polyaspartic coatings. In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each, and explain why polyaspartic coatings are often the best choice for Arizona homeowners.

You’ve tried it all: industrial soap, baking soda, vinegar, pressure washing, even that “miracle hack” from YouTube. And yet, those tire marks and oil stains are still there — waiting to greet you every time you open the garage door.

You start wondering if your floor is ruined for good... or if there’s still something you can do.

The answer lies in a truth few people talk about: Not all stains are the same, but they all share one thing, they seep deep into the concrete.

Concrete is a porous material.Just like a sponge absorbs coffee, your floor absorbs oils, chemicals, and the rubber compounds from your tires.That’s why, even after scrubbing, the stain remains alive underneath the surface.

In this blog, we’ll explain what causes those marks, how to know if your floor can still be saved, and when it’s time to stop cleaning and start protecting your concrete.

What are those marks on your floor, really?

The tire and oil stains you see on your floor aren’t just surface dirt — they’re the result of a chemical and physical reaction between rubber, oil, and porous concrete.

Every time your car is parked, the heat from the tires releases plasticizers, oils, and carbon that bond to the concrete.

These substances mix with garage dust and grease, then seep deep into the pores of the surface — creating what’s commonly known as tire marks on the garage floor or oil stains on the driveway.

The problem is that concrete wasn’t designed to resist that kind of exposure.

Without a protective layer, it absorbs those particles just like paper absorbs ink.

That’s why, even after using detergents or a pressure washer, the stains only lighten on the surface but remain alive underneath.

The result? A floor that never truly looks clean, even minutes after washing it. This dirty concrete isn’t ordinary dirt — it’s accumulated damage.

Why don’t those stains disappear and what do they cause over time?

Concrete stains are hard to remove because the material acts like a sponge — full of microscopic pores that trap particles deep inside, beyond the reach of normal cleaning.

1️⃣ The problem isn’t cleaning — it’s absorption

Unsealed concrete works like a magnet for liquids.

Every oil drop and tire mark sinks into the surface and bonds chemically with it.

Even the strongest cleaners can only reach the first few millimeters, which is why, once the floor dries, the stains come right back.

What you’re trying to clean isn’t on top of the floor — it’s inside the floor.

2️⃣ The damage builds up over time

Each unremoved stain weakens the surface a little more.

Oils and chemical compounds penetrate the pores, creating micro-cracks.

Over time, those cracks let moisture in, accelerating internal corrosion and causing concrete dusting.

The result is a constant cycle of: stains → wear → dust → more stains.

3️⃣ Visual and emotional impact

A floor with tire marks on concrete or oil stains in the driveway doesn’t just look neglected —it steals value and energy from your home.

The garage stops feeling like a clean, useful space and starts resembling an old workshop, even if the rest of your house is spotless.

You’re not fighting dirt — you’re fighting an unprotected material.Until your concrete is properly sealed and protected, those stains will always stay.

You don’t need to keep cleaning to make those stains disappear.

If your garage still looks dirty no matter how much you clean, if those tire marks and oil stains keep coming back, it’s not your fault.

Your concrete is unprotected.

Those stains aren’t just signs of use; they’re warnings of wear and tear, asking you to act before the damage becomes permanent.The good news is, you can fix your floor.

With Durava Construction’s Epoxy + Polyaspartic coatings, stains stop being part of your home.We seal every pore of the concrete, creating a surface that resists heat, oil, and daily traffic.

Your floor doesn’t just look clean again—it stays clean.