Is there anything I can use on my new icy driveway?

Question

I just moved into a new home in northern North Dakota, where it is seriously cold. The driveway's cement is just a few months old. All the driveway salt that I have found says it is not for use on new concrete (as it can crack more easily). Does anyone know if there is a product available that will de-ice new concrete? Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

I am fortunate to never see freezing weather very often but as a general person I would think using new unused Kitty Litter might work because it will offer traction for your tires, sort of like highway crews spread sand on roadways. It won't melt the snow and when the ice is gone it'll pretty much blend in with the driveway after it's crushed and ran over.

Answer 2

You can use Calcuim Cholride it is safe to use in subfreezing tempertures usualy up to -20 the only other problem is just the process of thawing and refreezing that is dangerous and causes most problems,water can get in the slab cuts of you concrete and as it freezes the ice will exspand and might cause damage so they recommend using it as a aid to losen contact with cement to shovel away rather than just leaving it there like most people do. Ive heard fertilizer works well the nitrogen melts the snow but i wouldnt use it because you dont want it to run into the sewer system chemical in there promote growth in nearby lakes i would use sand or absorbant granuals such as hy dri or just shovel a walk way.Don't use rock salt, it would work but once temperatures fall below 20 degrees the chemical has no effect and will sit there and can pit your cement but not recommended for concrete under 2 years old .Stick with calcuim cloride or absorbant granuals

Answer 3

Not without chemicals. It is true that concrete hardens up over many many years, even centuries. Do these driveway salts define 'new'?
Get a tonne or two of building sand and spread out an inch thick. This will provide traction without affecting your driveway. It also wont pollute your waterways with salt.
Mind that it wont all just drain out into the street or your new neighbours may be less than welcoming. Good luck

Answer 4

Magnesium Chloride is the best bet. It is the least corrosive to metal and concrete. Keep in mind, that no deicing chemical is totally safe on concrete - but Mag. Chloride is being used by more highway departments now because it is the least aggressive.
Calcium Chloride is another alternative that is less aggressive.
The only other alternative is sand, which is messy, but not aggressive.
Do not use sodium chloride - it is the worst, and will start popping chunks of concrete in no time.
Happy shoveling!!

Answer 5

There are products out there that are safe for concrete and it will tell you on the bag...we have also used fertilizer which will also melt the ice. Cat litter or sand will also give you traction and they can be hosed off in the spring.

Answer 6

Ordinary salt will ruin concrete - the labelling you read was correct.

Calcium Chloride should work. This website provides more info...

Answer 7

hi. I had gotten a tiny fracture approximately 2 a million/2 months in the past in simple terms slipping on a crack interior the floor. a pair of folk caught me from falling each and each of ways, yet while i attempted walking, I in simple terms could no longer, and that i went to the emergency room. on the scientific institution, they advised me that it grew to become into in elementary terms a sprain, and not a fracture... however the unusual situation grew to become into that they asked me if I had injured it till now; which...nicely.. worried me, yet they did no longer say lots better than that. till now, they made xrays, so I had assumed that they've already regarded at them till now I left. I later went to a professional, and it grew to become into, in actuality, broken. It grew to become into in elementary terms an exceptionally, tiny bone destroy...that grew to become into preserving me from walking for 3 weeks. the element is that in case you are able to stroll, it ought to easily be a extreme sprain...yet do no longer rule out a fracture. in maximum situations, one can not stroll in any respect if something is broken. you're doing nicely with the ice and elevation, yet you do could desire to get an ace bandage, and a solid, like an air solid or boot. See a doctor very quickly. i desire this enables! :-)

Answer 8

salt. or you should be able to buy grit I'm sure.. or perhaps a bit of sand..

anything to help traction... but I would say get a shovel also..

or maybe put bits of cardboard under the wheels , so the ice sets on the cardboard instead and it could be removed.

or how about building a car porch? dunno.


or ask your neighbours.

Answer 9

Dishwasher salt.

Answer 10

Not table salt that is too small, but bigger road salt you can get it at a gas station