How do I remove roofing tar from my concrete statues and birdhouse?

Question

I have an #%*&@*% for a landlord. He has no brain at all. He threw roofing tar (on purpose I'm sure) on my concrete and terra cotta statues and on a hard plastic birdhouse. The items cost me over $100. How do I get the tar off? And what recourse do I have against this idiot?

Answer 1

There are a number of things that will dissolve tar.  My favorite is common kitchen oil.  This will work fine on the plastic birdhouse.

Now either your statues are concrete or terra cotta.  Terra cotta is a baked clay product.   The material is less porous and it may be possible to clean with the oil.  

The concrete is the most problematic.  Depending upon the type of tar used (liquid or more viscus) you can let it harden and then pick off most of it.  The remaining portion can again be dissolved and "soaked" out but you have to do it carefully.  I have used sawdust on oil soaked concrete walks very effectively, but it takes a lot of time.  

I have noticed that you said your landlord has "no brain at all"  and that he threw it (on purpose).  You are understandably angry and so I hesitate to point out that these might be contradictory statements.   This goes to the question of recourse.  Where were the statues?  Is this a separate house and you are clearly renting the grounds as well or is it a room and he told you not to put the statues where you did?  

I assume he was doing some roof work.  Did he tell you ahead of time? IF... you are within your rights, clean off what you can and replace what you can't and present him with the bill or take it off the rent and give him the bill at that time.  If you have a questionable claim this might make a bad situation worse.