Can Rock Salt Damage an Asphalt Driveway?
The winter season is about to come, and most of us have already started preparing for it. Be it the festivals, holidays, or the snow; the wait is almost over.
Now, if you’re one of those who have the responsibility for taking care of the snow deposited around your house and driveway, you must have started looking for a safe pet ice melter. But here’s something you should know, we don’t need an ice melt that is safe for just the pets or children; we need the one that is safe for your asphalt driveway as well.
You might be using rock salt for your driveway, thinking that it won’t harm it in any way, but the fact is, it does.
Does Deicing Salt Damage Asphalt?
So, how to protect your asphalt from salt damage? Well, deicing salt, often in the form of rock salt (sodium chloride), is commonly used to combat icy conditions. However, it can have adverse effects on asphalt surfaces, including driveways and pavements. Here’s what you need to know:
- Asphalt Damage: Deicing salt on asphalt can infiltrate the porous surface of asphalt. As it melts ice and snow, it creates a brine that seeps into the asphalt, causing freeze-thaw cycles. These cycles lead to cracks and, over time, can deteriorate the surface.
- Surface Discoloration: Salt on asphalt can leave behind unsightly white stains on your asphalt driveway. This is not only an aesthetic concern but can also indicate potential damage.
- Corrosion: Salt is corrosive, which can lead to the erosion of the asphalt binder and aggregate in your driveway. Salt on asphalt driveway weakens the asphalt’s structure.
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How Does Rock Salt Harm the Asphalt Driveway?
Rock salt, also known as sodium chloride, can damage unsealed asphalt. This is because rock salt accelerated the normal deterioration because of the freeze/thaw cycle in the winter season. This, in turn, shortens the lifespan of the asphalt.
If your asphalt driveway is appropriately maintained, rock salt might not damage it a lot, but it can damage it severely if it isn’t maintained. So, if you have to use rock salt, you will need to start the maintenance process from summer only. Proper maintenance includes repair of cracks, adding a seal coating, and fixing any water penetrations.
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How to Protect Your Asphalt From Salt Damage?
Protecting your asphalt driveway from salt damage is essential to ensure its longevity and appearance. Consider the following preventive measures:
- Choose the Right Deicer: Opt for alternative deicers like calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) or potassium acetate, which are less harmful to asphalt. These options are more environmentally friendly as well.
- Apply Sparingly: Use deicing salt sparingly. Apply just enough to melt the ice, and avoid excessive usage.
- Sweep Regularly: Remove excess salt and slush promptly with a broom. This reduces the time salt has to penetrate the asphalt.
- Sealcoat Your Asphalt: Applying a sealcoat to your asphalt driveway creates a protective barrier that can help mitigate the effects of salt.
- Professional Snow Removal: Consider hiring a professional snow removal service that specializes in safe ice and snow management techniques.
Alternatives to Rock Salt
So now that you know that rock salt is dangerous for your asphalt driveway, don’t you think you should use an alternative? Here are the top alternatives to rock salt.
- Sodium Chloride The Classic Choice for Winter Ice Removal: Let’s talk about the OG of winter ice removal with salt: sodium chloride for ice melt, also known as good old rock salt. It’s everywhere, and you’ve seen it on roads, sidewalks, and driveways. Sure, it’s cheap and effective, but is it the best option? Sodium chloride works by lowering the freezing point of water, which helps to break up ice and prevent new ice from forming. It’s a quick fix that works best in temperatures above -10°C. Below that? Not so much. But here’s the rub while salt like sodium chloride does melt ice, it’s not exactly gentle. It’s highly corrosive, chewing away at concrete, metal, and even your car’s undercarriage. And don’t even get started on what it does to your pets’ paws. Plus, the environmental impact is hard to ignore. Sodium chloride runoff seeps into local waterways, messing with aquatic life and vegetation. So, while it gets the job done, it comes with a laundry list of downsides that can’t be overlooked.
- Calcium Chloride The Heavy Hitter: Next up, we have calcium chloride, the muscle of winter ice removal with salt. It’s known for its impressive ability to work in freezing conditions, down to -25°C. That’s way lower than sodium chloride, making it a favorite when the temperature really plummets. Calcium chloride is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture from the air, speeding up the melting process. It’s a bit of a powerhouse when it comes to breaking down thick layers of ice, and it’s often used in those big bags of de-icer you see at the hardware store. But let’s not forget: it’s a double-edged sword. While calcium chloride is powerful, it’s also incredibly corrosive. It eats through concrete, rusts metal, and can severely irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory systems of humans and pets. Not exactly the friendly ice melt you want around your home. Plus, it’s not just your driveway that suffers—calcium chloride’s runoff can damage soil quality and harm plants, making it far from an environmentally friendly option.
- Magnesium Chloride The Gentler, but Still Problematic Option: Magnesium chloride often gets labeled as the “safer” salt, but don’t be fooled—it’s not without its issues. It’s less harsh on concrete and metal compared to calcium chloride, making it seem like a better option for those worried about corrosion. And it works down to about -15°C, which is pretty decent for most winter conditions. However, magnesium chloride is still a salt and, like its counterparts, it lowers the freezing point of water, helping to prevent ice from forming. But here’s the kicker: magnesium chloride is still corrosive, just to a lesser degree. It’s also highly soluble, which means it dissolves quickly and easily washes into nearby soil and waterways. This contributes to elevated magnesium levels that can disrupt local ecosystems, harm vegetation, and alter soil composition. So, while it’s marketed as a “better” alternative, it still carries many of the same environmental and structural risks as other salts. Plus, it’s not entirely safe for pets, despite what some brands claim.
- Potassium Chloride The Misunderstood De-Icer: Potassium chloride often flies under the radar, but it’s still a player in the de-icer game. It’s not as common as sodium or calcium chloride because it’s generally more expensive and works best at temperatures just below freezing—around -9°C. So, while it’s good in moderate conditions, it’s not your best bet when the real deep freeze hits. Potassium chloride is sometimes touted as a “safer” alternative because it’s also used in fertilizers, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s harmless. This salt can still be corrosive and poses risks to plants and soil health due to its high potassium content. And for pets? It’s a no-go. It can cause digestive upset and other health issues if ingested, making it far from a truly “safe” option. Plus, like other salts, potassium chloride contributes to environmental runoff that can damage aquatic ecosystems and affect water quality.
- Plastic Shovels: Plastic shovels are one of the oldest yet effective ways of removing snow from the driveways and other areas. However, this requires a lot of manual work and time. Also, if you prefer using shovels, make sure you use a plastic shovel instead of a metal shovel. This is because metal shovels can scrap the driveway surface.
- Heating Systems :This is the only method that doesn’t require any kind of manual work. All you need to do is install a heating system beneath your driveway. However, it’s not for everyone as it requires you to install a brand new driveway, and that’s very expensive. So the majority of the people refrain from doing it.
- Ice Melts: Rock salt is an ice melt, but not all the ice melts available in the market contain rock salt. There are several kinds of ice melts that are safe for your pets, family, environment, and asphalt driveway. Using an ice melt needs a little bit of manual work but isn’t expensive at all. Safe Paw is an ice melt that is 100% safe, easy to use, and affordable. To use it, all you need to do is spread it across your driveway even before the winter season, and it won’t let the snow get deposited there.
To Conclude-
Rock salt might be the cheapest solution to get rid of the snow but isn’t a good ice melter for wood decks and even asphalt driveways. Use the other alternatives and keep your driveway safe during the winters.
Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.
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