I’ve been a resident of Reno most of my life and remember many winters that have had snow on the ground and freezing temperatures for weeks. We are very fortunate that in our area of the country the sun shines most of the time, even in winter. And usually, the sun’s warmth keeps the snow and ice from remaining on the streets for not more than a few hours. But there have been times when inversions, overcast days and freezing temperatures keep the snow and ice on the roads, driveways, and walks for weeks. Many city ordinances require homeowners and business owners to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice, and our community’s efforts to comply are usually evidenced by local shortages of snow shovels and ice melt products.
While road salt and de-icing products seem like a necessity in cold temperatures, the damage caused by the use and mis-use of these products is now evident on many concrete driveways and walkways. While these compounds are helpful in softening snow and ice, they are often overused or mis-used to the detriment of the concrete. Damaged concrete can spall or scale (the flaking or peeling of the top layer of your concrete), destroying the integrity of the concrete and the overall appearance. The instructions on most de-icing products state that the slush should be removed quickly from the concrete or surface that it was applied to. With some products, “quickly†means in as little as ten minutes.
The moisture from rain and snow works its way down into the porous surface of the concrete. Upon freezing, the ice creates a bond with the concrete. De-icing products are designed to break this bond, which allows the user to shovel the ice and slush off of the concrete. Damage to the concrete occurs when the de-icing product is left on the concrete for long periods of time or indefinitely. Additionally, if the product is over-used or excessively used, damage will occur. Most de-icer instructions stipulate the correct amounts to use and they are usually in the range of ¼ to ½ cup per three square yards. This amount is equivalent to a small handful in your cupped hand used over an area of 9 feet wide by 9 feet long or approximately 4 small handfuls applied to a typical residential driveway.