Not all de-icing products are concrete friendly.
Every type of ice melt is manufactured to be effective, not necessarily safe for the concrete below it or the environment. Now that snow and ice are on the way, it’s time to select the right ice melting tools for the chilly months ahead. Here are our best ice melt for concrete tips to keep you safe and your concrete in great shape.
Why Is Ice Melt Not Necessarily Safe for Concrete?
Sodium chloride or traditional rock salt lead to what is known as concrete corrosion or spalling over time. Tiny holes, cracks, and breaks will start to appear in the concrete and turn into major problems over time. The cracks and spalling form as a result of the porous nature of concrete. When the ice melt mixes together with water after a snowstorm, the melted water will seep into the concrete. Once the water and ice melt mixture freezes, it will expand the concrete and lead to a problem.
Concrete Friendly Ice Melt
When choosing the right ice melting substance for your concrete, you should first consider what the average temperature is in your area during the winter months. If it hovers around the freezing point, you might actually be just fine using rock salt. However, if you are a Maryland resident looking to keep your concrete in great shape, you need a substance that can handle 0 degrees or below.
Other Factors to Keep in Mind
When using ice melt:
- Never wait until the last minute to apply ice melt
- Instead of using a lot of inexpensive ice melting substance, use a little bit of higher quality ice melt
- Follow the instructions on the ice melt itself
Concrete Care and Maintenance from Concrete Visions
Concrete Visions has over 12 years of experience and expertise in concrete scanning and we know how to detect any problems lurking beneath the surface. We use ground penetrating radar accurately and expertly and are familiar in many other methods that can be used when appropriate like concrete x-ray and electromagnetic conductivity. We are also very familiar with the latest construction safety techniques and train all of our workers to do their work quickly, accurately, and safely. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, give is a call at (410) 766-2210 or visit us online. For more articles and tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.