Salt?

[NewHorizon's Land]

What type of salt is the safest for ice on pavers? I know we are not supposed to use "regular"-ice-melt-salt.

What works the best?

Thanks

[musclecarboy]

GOOD question... I went by a lazy azz customer that I've become friends with and he COATED his brand new $4.75/sf pavers in reg white salt. Kinda annoyed me...

[Dreams To Designs]

Anything with CMA (Calcium Magnesium Acetate), which guards against concrete and corrosion damage by forming a protective coating on the surface. Also calcium chloride or magnesium chloride are safer for concrete and surrounding plantings than sodium chloride, rock salt.

Excessive application of any product can lead to tracking of the product along unintended areas or into homes and leads to damage of plant materials or turf.

Kirk

[NewHorizon's Land]

Thanks Kirk.

[cgland]

ANY salt product is damaging to concrete, especially newer concrete. As Kirk said Calcium or Magnesium are the safest, but if put down in excess will still damage concrete.

[NewHorizon's Land]

So is there a better alternative to melt ice on pavers?

[chardscapes]

Heated pavement

[cgland]

Calcium put down in light doses is fine. Pavers definitely have a greater density than poured in place concrete, but you still have to be careful.

[MuirView Design]

Found this online -

It is widely known that deicers containing ammonium nitrate and/or ammonium sulfate will chemically attack concrete. However, chemical deicers such as sodium chloride (rock salt), calcium chloride, urea, potassium chloride, and their combinations do not chemically attack concrete.


These deicers do, however, depress the freezing point of water. This action normally increases the number of freeze/thaw cycles that water goes through, which in turn can increase the potential for concrete scaling.


Each time water in concrete freezes, it expands approximately 9%. The resulting hydraulic pressures can exceed the strength limits of the concrete, causing pitting and/or scaling. The greater the number of freeze/thaw cycles water goes through within concrete, the greater the potential for concrete damage.


So, I would say, the denser the paver, the less water it will absorb and the less damage it will incur from freeze thaws and salt. This is why Techo Bloc is willing to warranty their paver against salt damage, because of how high their PSI is.

[mark tresch]

A product called Environmelt works well. All I use at home

[paponte]

As stated Calcium & potassium chloride, or calcium magnesium acetate work best on concrete. As with any chemical too much of something is never good. We have used treated sodium chloride and have had no null effects on cured concrete over 1yr old.

[cgland]

Paul, was that salt treated with molasess?

[paponte]

It's treated with liquid calcium and can be combined with organic materials such as Molasses, corn by products, or distillery products as a sticker.

[cgland]

Bagged or bulk? Price compared to untreated?

[paponte]

Can get it either way Chris. We use a product for walks that is quad release, meaning it contains calcium, potassium, Magnesium, and sodium. we have never had any problems to date with any concrete products,

As far as treated salt you can get it in bulk or bag, Cost difference between treated and untreated is huge, when looked at quantity wise. When looked at effectiveness, it not only makes the salt effective in lower temperatures (in most cases effective to -20F), it also will decrease your salt usage when compared to straight salt. Most common products available are iceban, magic 0, ice b gone, and bare ground which can be used in liquid for, or for treating salt or salt/sand. Another method without using any organics is to make a calcium brine and apply it as a liquid, for spraying your stockpile, or using a pre wet system on your spreader.