By Zack Devin
Winter presents itself each year with its share of precipitation. Often snow, but it also happens that rain, sleet, and ice get involved. It is important to keep parking surfaces, sidewalks, and driveways safe with salt from Ninja De-Icer for example to prevent falls and potential injuries. But be careful, you have to choose the right products!
Contrary to what is claimed on many ice melter packages, blue halite for sale for example, no ice melter is safe for concrete. It’s all a question of dosage. Moreover, excessive use of fluxes does not improve their effectiveness. It is, therefore, important to read the instructions before application so that it is optimal.
Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
Sodium chloride (NaCl)Sodium chloride or rock salt is the most common ice melter; it is inexpensive and widely available. However, you should know that sodium chloride is highly corrosive and harmful to the environment. It also becomes ineffective during extreme cold, that is to say, below -10°C. Sodium chloride remains the least damaging de-icer for concrete surfaces. It is frequently used as a base in higher-performance ice melter mixes. To recognize it, it is identified by its chemical composition (NaCl) on the packaging.
Calcium Chloride (Cacl2)
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) Calcium chloride is obtained by chemical transformation; it is used, among other things, for its ice-melting properties. Its manufacturing process makes it more expensive than sodium chloride. For this purpose, it acts faster than the latter and is effective down to -30°C. It is highly corrosive and can damage concrete when used in large quantities. Calcium chloride can be purchased in its pure state and take several forms (flakes, pellets, liquid solution). It is frequently added to ice melter mixes to increase their effectiveness at low temperatures. To choose this type of flux, look for its chemical composition (CaCl2) on the packaging.
Sand Or Gravel
The ecological solution par excellence remains fine sand and gravel. These only give grip to sidewalks and other passages that tend to be icy during the winter. However, ensure that the product purchased contains only sand or gravel, as salt is sometimes mixed with abrasives to make them perform better. You will have a little cleaning to do in the spring, but your surfaces will be intact.
Mixtures Of Substances
Various combinations of ice melters on the market offer a wide range of effectiveness. When the chemical composition of the products is not established, it would be more prudent to avoid them.
