Damage Of Driveway Due To Rock Salt And Cost Of Repair

One of the most harmful chemicals that will ever come into touch with your concrete driveway is rock salt (sodium chloride). It hastens the deterioration of your concrete pavements caused by winter’s freeze-thaw cycles and reduces their lifespan. Asphalt is similar, though to a much smaller extent. 

If you used rock salt on a concrete driveway or walkways or steps, you’re likely to observe substantial damage. The effective ice melt temperature also plays a crucial role in decreasing the freeze-thaw cycle.

How Does Rock Salt Damage Your Driveway?

Concrete is a porous substance. It absorbs water as well as rock salt as the ice melts back into liquid form. The concrete cracks as the melted water expands and exerts internal pressure. Concrete infused with rock salt can hold more water, making it more prone to cracking and breaking. Because it cannot sustain the strain, newly built concrete is even more vulnerable to harm. 

Ice Melt For Driveways

Asphalt is less porous than concrete, however, any fractures or fissures on the surface will enable rock salt and water to enter, causing the same internal damage.

In addition to the physical harm that rock salt causes to the roadways, it can also be damaging in other ways. With a rise in cracks, potholes, and traces of patched-up surface repairs, affected regions may lose their visual appeal. Rock salt that flies up and attaches to the underside of a car, van, or truck can corrode and degrade the surfaces it comes into contact with. Rock salt is also toxic for your pets and plants.

You can stop this damage by using a salt-free green product. Safe paw, non-toxic ice melter is pet safe, non-corrosive, and environmentally friendly. 

Disrupting Ice Crystal Formation

When salt, typically sodium chloride, hits an icy surface, it starts a fascinating chemical interaction. The salt mixes with the thin layer of water that exists on the surface of the ice, disrupting the normal freezing process. This interference occurs because the salt ions hinder the water molecules from reforming into a solid state, effectively disrupting the formation of ice crystals. This scientific phenomenon is crucial for why salt is so effective in winter maintenance.

Effectiveness of Salt in Melting Ice

Salt’s ability to lower the freezing point of water is known as freezing point depression. The more salt you add, the lower the freezing point will go, allowing ice to melt even in temperatures below water’s standard freezing point of 0°C (32°F). This process, where salt forms a saltwater solution that remains liquid at colder temperatures, is a game-changer for deicing methods in frosty climates.

Pros and Cons of Using Salt to Melt Ice

Pros:

• Highly effective: Salt can melt ice quickly and is especially useful in preventing re-freeze in moderately cold conditions.
• Cost-efficient: It’s one of the most economical deicing options available, making it a go-to choice for many municipalities and homeowners.

Cons:

• Environmental impact: Salt runoff can lead to increased salinity in nearby water bodies, affecting aquatic life adversely.
• Corrosive: Salt can damage concrete, metal, and other materials, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs.
• Limited effectiveness in extreme cold: Regular table salt works best above -10°C (14°F); below these temperatures, its effectiveness drastically reduces.

Using salt to combat ice might seem like a straightforward solution, but it’s a double-edged sword. While it can make winter walkways safer, its long-term effects on our infrastructure and environment prompt a second look. Seeking alternatives or using products like Safe Paw, which claims to be safer for the environment and non-corrosive, might provide a balance between efficacy and ecological responsibility.

Cost Of Repair

Putting a Patch in a Driveway 

You’ll want to mend any cracks in your driveway as soon as possible if they’re expanding. Patching entails using asphalt or concrete sealant to fix small gaps or cracks. The patch material costs $2 to $3 per square foot, plus an asphalt squeegee costs around $40. Patching is more of a short-term option that only heals minor cracks less than one-quarter-inch wide. 

Replacing the driveway

For driveways with extensive deterioration, such as deep cracks, pits, and potholes, replacing it is the best alternative. However, this option will be more expensive than patching or resurfacing. 

Bulk Purchase With Safe Paw

It is the most expensive option. The cost of replacing an asphalt driveway can range from $15 per square foot to $4,500 on average. A concrete driveway might cost anything from $2,000 to $7,000.

Conclusion

The good news is that de-icing frozen roads and infrastructure does not require the use of rock salt. Safe Paw non-toxic ice melter is pet safe and organic. It is salt-free and won’t harm surfaces or release hazardous chemicals into the environment.

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.