Best Ice Melt For Concrete

sickcars wrote: ↑ Hello All,

We have a new Concrete driveway poured a month or so ago. I'm wondering what would be the best/safest Calcium to use on it this winter? I have found a bunch at Canadian tire but not sure which is better.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/outdoor- ... ete%20Safe

Thanks

engineered wrote: ↑ I use sand or screenings.

l69norm wrote: ↑ Do not use any salt on new concrete. It doesn't reach full strength for a couple of years

Example:

https://www.alaskan.ca/products/alaskan ... melter-bag

Concrete precautions

Alaskan® Premium Ice Melter is recommended for use on good quality, air-entrained concrete for cold weather climates as specified by the Portland Cement Association.
Melting snow and ice increases the frequency of the freeze/thaw cycles that can affect all surfaces. Poor quality surfaces may not withstand the stress associated with these cycles.
Due to irregularities and inconstancies in finish and porosity, use of ice melter may carry some risk of surface spalling.
Use of Alaskan® Premium Ice Melter is done at the user’s own risk.
The potential for surface damage can be decreased by promptly removing slush as it is formed.
If you are unsure of the quality of your concrete or the suitability of using an ice melter on your surface, use sand to reduce the risk of slips and falls.


Alaskan® Premium Ice Melter is not recommended on the following surfaces:

Concrete that is less than 1 year old
Patterned, stamped and/or coloured concrete
Stone or brick masonry (including flagstone)
Precast concrete (steps or paving stones)
Stone or concrete surfaces that are chipped, cracked, spalled or have exposed aggregate
Wooden surfaces such as decks
Roofs or gutters

1)Shovel snow when it's still fresh, before it gets compacted/ melted into ice
2)Use a manual ice scraper as needed :

In general, the lower the price of the product, the more salt it contains and the more potentially harmful it is to the environment. Check product labels to figure out the chief ingredients in these popular deicing products:

SODIUM CHLORIDE : Also known as rock salt, this basic compound is one of the cheapest ice melters on the market. It has the lowest price per pound, but it’s the hardest on the environment and not that effective at temps less than 15 degrees F. Cost: $6 for a 50-lb. bag.

CALCIUM CHLORIDE : One of the best choices for super-cold climates, it’s effective down to minus 25 degrees F. It’s a better environmental choice than sodium chloride. Cost: $20 for a 50-lb. bag.

CALCIUM MAGNESIUM ACETATE : Relatively new on the market, it’s a salt-free product that’s touted as environmentally friendly, but that claim has yet to be tested in the long run. It costs more than other deicers. Cost: $30 for a 50 lb. bag.

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Maybe this info will help explain it better

https://www.houselogic.com/organize-mai ... intenance/

Remember ... Chloride = Salt



And that’s pretty much how you’ll see them bought & used in the marketplace.

Most folks use Rock Salt, cuz it’s the cheapest, most known, and most available (like Windsor Salt = https://windsorsalt.com/product/safe-t-salt/ )

Followed by Deicers / Ice Melters that incorporate calcium (like Alaskan = https://www.alaskan.ca/ )

CMA = Calcium Magnesium Acetate mixes are available too, although less known / common (like Joe Melt = https://www.homedepot.ca/product/snow-j ... 1000854994 )

If you want to avoid SALT ... then make sure there’s no CHLORIDE in the mix

sickcars wrote: ↑ Thanks for the info, Yes I want to avoid salt or anything else that would damage a concrete driveway.

So looking at this one that you mentioned - https://www.homedepot.ca/product/snow-j ... ____583694_

i dont see Chloride in the description, do you think that this would be a good option?

Thanks

l69norm wrote: ↑ If you follow the "Manual/ Specifications" link on the right, it says:

..https://images.homedepot.ca/s7viewers/h ... 854994.pdf
....
Salt.jpg
'..
Sodium Chloride 85%, so I would avoid using, especially in the first 2 years. Concrete slowly gains strength over time

https://precast.org/2013/10/28-day-myth/

.... Many cement pastes will cease hydration before one year, and some may continue to hydrate over the course of several years (4). Because of the variable length of the hydration process, the phrase “green concrete” is a purely subjective characterization.....

sickcars wrote: ↑ I think I may be better off just using Sand like this - https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/anti ... p.html#srp

Unless you have some recommendation on a product that wont harm salt?

Thanks

engineered wrote: ↑ I liked screenings, as they're less likely to stick to your boot and be dragged into the house. They also seem less messy to me. Sand or screenings will actually melt your ice as well, as they are dark and will absorb the sun's heat better than the ice.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/lime ... p.html#srp

Holystone wrote: ↑ I had concrete poured last year. Contractor told me to try to avoid using any kind of salt and definitely not use anything but sand/cat litter during the first winter. The only thing I used was a shovel!

Toboss2020 wrote: ↑ I was reading Canadian Tire has one but lots of horrible reviews of the sand being so heavy and wet that after it was opened it was so went ppl could not spread it on the concrete driveway.