As the winter rolls closer the weather forecasts mention snow more and more often. What can you do to be prepared to face accumulating snow and ice?
Hopefully you have given the snow blower a test run and it is ready for the first snow. Another good idea is to make sure you know the whereabouts of your snow shovel. If is has gone missing it would be a great idea to buy one now while the supply is adequate.
After clearing snow most people will apply an ice melt to their driveways and walks. The choice of ice melt as well as application technique is crucial to the life of your concrete surfaces. The most damaging material is straight salt. The chemical properties of salt wreak havoc on your concrete, simply because more product is required due to its ionic formula. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride require only 1/3 as much product as salt to melt the same amount of snow or ice.
The most important consideration is using the proper application rate listed on the bag. More is most definitely not better when it comes to your hard surface health. Too much product will result in more freeze/ thaw occurrences and cause cracking and crumbling. After the ice and snow are gone, sweep up any granules that may be left behind. If we are going through a warm period drag the hose out and rinse the areas you have treated.
If you have any questions, as always feel free to call or email me.