Creosote Problem?

[chjeeper]

I'm running into what may be a problem that I definately didn't expect with my concrete floor. I'm still in the process of enclosing the pole shed section of my barn and have poured concrete covering approximately 2000 sqft. The barn has been around since the 1960's so the poles are older ones that were treated with creosote. The concrete has been in now for almost 6 months and I've noticed what appears to be wicking of the creosote into the concrete around some of the poles. There is a ring in the concrete around several of the poles that has spread out from the pole around 4 inches. Has anyone run into this before?
I'm wanting to apply an epoxy floor coat before too long, but I'm concerned that these areas around these poles will cause an adhesion problem for the epoxy. Any of you epoxy distributors ever run into this? Or anyone else? Thanks ya'll!

 

[bluesman2a]

Welcome to the dark side!

I guess my first question is: have you tried to clean/pressure wash it out?

I could see where the coloration might spread, but unless there was a constant source of NEW tar/creosote coming up, you should be able to clean and profile the surface so the epoxy would bond.

Something that has been discussed here several times is to treat the colored area with a liberal amount of acetone, scrub it around, then throw some cat litter/oil-dri on it. Let that sit a couple of days. That should take any of the oils, lift them up to the surface and the clay will wick them out. Pressure washing may also get some of it out once you have the oil on the surface.

BTW, I have the Epoxy-Coat stuff at my place. It went down a lot easier than I thought it would. I prepped the **** out of everything but still wasn't as hard as people would make you believe if you have a good system down.

 

[chjeeper]

Thanks for the welcome. I haven't tried to clean or pressure wash it yet. I just have noticed that the rings have been spreading very slowly since I first saw them. I'd hate to get it cleaned only for it to wick out again beneath the coating and cause it to peal. I guess in hindsight, I should have plastic wrapped the poles on up to the level of the concrete. I ran my vapor barrier around each and sealed it to them, but that was on dirt level.

 

[bluesman2a]

I guess in hindsight, I should have plastic wrapped the poles on up to the level of the concrete. I ran my vapor barrier around each and sealed it to them, but that was on dirt level.

If I had a nickle for everything I've run into like that... You know super easy when you are NOT thinking about it, but a PITA later... Well let's just say I'd have a metric ****-ton of nickles.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Apply an oil stop primer around the poles to be safe.
Cleaning the floor may not stop the tar from the poles from wicking through the crete over time.

 

[chjeeper]

Thanks! I didn't realize there was such a thing as an oil stop primer.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

There is. We even have one you can coat asphalt with, works excellent for asphalt floors in old industrial buildings.