During the winter months, ice can freeze on the concrete outside our homes creating a dangerously slick surface. This slippery ice can cause slips and falls to occur. Many people choose to apply rock salt to their concrete steps or pavement. However, these are not safe salt for concrete and can cause concrete to become damaged over time. Using salt to melt ice regularly pits the cement used for our walkways, steps, and other concreted areas. Once the cement pits, it will eventually crack or cause potholes on your surface.
Also, if salt comes in contact with metal, such as the frames on your patio furniture, it can cause corrosion and rust. Fortunately, there is an ice melt for concrete that is a safe alternative to using salt that you can try to stay safe this winter.
Let us explore the ways how to melt ice without damaging the concrete.
A layer of sealer applied to the top of the concrete can protect it from freeze/thaw cycles, dirt stains, ice melt salts, oil, and other impurities. While concrete appears to be sturdy and substantial, its porosity makes it highly vulnerable.
Taking care of new concrete is similar to caring for a child. The first few days are crucial and necessitate special attention and safety. Pouring new concrete has a significant impact on its strength. Ice melt should not be used on fresh concrete, according to experts.
The majority of ice melts on the market contain chloride in one form or another. Ice melt made of salt or chlorides is not only bad for the environment, but it is also bad for pets.
You can use a deicer that is salt-free and chloride-free that works gently on the concrete. They are as effective when used at low temperatures. Another advantage of salt-free deicers is that they have a Teflon effect that prevents ice from forming. This technique provides an undetectable layer on the deiced surface. It makes shoveling easier after your floor has been purged of frozen deposits.
The use of too much rock salt or chemical ice melt can damage your concrete. The easiest method to avoid this is to use a non-toxic ice melt suitable for concrete, which will not hurt you if you use it too much. Colored ice melt might help you spread the melt evenly across the area and avoid overusing it.
Patch and seal all of the cracks and gaps on the concrete surface. By this, you can protect your concrete from the effects of snowfall. Start by using a flexible sealant to fill in cracks. A flexible sealant will form a watertight connection with the concrete surfaces while also visually blending in.
Safe Paw
The Original and the #1 Pet and Child Safe Ice Melt for over 20 years. Guaranteed environmentally safe – will not harm waterways and sensitive wetlands.
The best way to remove ice and snow from your steps or driveway is to use a shovel. However, many times shovelling the snow just isn’t enough and an ice layer can be left behind. Therefore you will need to use other methods to break up, melt or gain traction on the ice. Here are a few ice-removal alternatives to using salt that will not cause damage to your concrete surfaces.
Driveway Ice Melt: Best Practices for Driveways
To effectively manage ice on driveways without causing damage, it’s crucial to employ driveway ice melt that is safe for concrete. When selecting an ice melt for driveways, opt for products specifically designed to be gentle on concrete while effectively reducing ice build-up. Before applying ice melt, ensure your driveway is clean and debris-free to maximize the product’s efficacy and minimize the amount used.
Ice Melt for Driveways: Maintaining Driveways
Maintaining your driveway during the winter involves more than just regular snow removal. After applying driveway ice melt, promptly remove the slush and melted ice to prevent refreezing, which can be hazardous and cause further damage to the concrete. Consider using a concrete safe ice melt that contains ingredients like modified urea, which offer effective melting without the harshness of more corrosive materials.
Ice Melt for Sidewalks: Best Choices for Sidewalks
Choosing the right ice melt for sidewalks is essential to ensure the safety of pedestrians while protecting the concrete. Sidewalks are frequently used and require a non-corrosive ice melt that can prevent accidents without damaging the concrete or nearby vegetation. Look for environmentally friendly and concrete safe ice melt products that provide effective deicing without the risks associated with more aggressive chemicals.
Safe Paw: A Comprehensive Solution
For a holistic approach to melting ice, Safe Paw offers a reliable and concrete safe ice melt solution, ideal for both driveways and sidewalks. Its unique formulation includes ingredients that are effective at low temperatures and safe for the surrounding environment, including pets and plants.
Safe Paw stands out in the market for its unique, pet-safe, and concrete-friendly formula. Here’s a breakdown of its benefits, focusing on its actual ingredients:
Modified Urea Carbonyldiamide: Unlike standard urea, Safe Paw’s modified urea carbonyldiamide does not produce harmful nitrates that pollute waterways. It’s effective and less corrosive, making it safe for concrete, metals, and other surfaces.
Non-Ionic Surfactants and Glycols: These ingredients help lower the freezing point of water, enhancing the melting process without damaging concrete or vegetation.
Traction Agents: Provides grip on icy surfaces, reducing slip-and-fall accidents without abrasive effects to concrete or paws.
Choosing the Right Ice Melt for Your Needs
When deciding on the best ice melt, consider factors such as climate, the structural integrity of your concrete, and environmental concerns. Here’s a comparative overview to help guide your choice:
Feature Comparison:
Calcium Chloride (CaCl2):
Concrete Safety: Moderate – Can cause concrete damage due to its exothermic heat release.
Effectiveness: Excellent in very cold temperatures.
Pet Safety: No – Can irritate pets’ paws and skin.
Environmentally Friendly: No – Can contribute to waterway pollution.
Cost: Low
Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2):
Concrete Safety: Good – Less corrosive than calcium chloride but still poses some risks.
Effectiveness: Good, but only effective down to 0°F.
Pet Safety: Moderately safe but can cause discomfort if ingested.
Environmentally Friendly: Moderate – Less impact than calcium chloride but still concerning.
Cost: Moderate
Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA):
Concrete Safety: Excellent – Gentle on concrete and does not cause scaling.
Effectiveness: Good in moderate climates but less effective in extreme cold.
Pet Safety: Yes – Generally safe for pets.
Environmentally Friendly: Yes – Biodegradable and less toxic.
Cost: High
Potassium Chloride (KCl):
Concrete Safety: Good in warmer temperatures but less effective in the cold.
Effectiveness: Moderate – Not reliable in temperatures below 25°F.
Pet Safety: Yes – Safer than other chlorides.
Environmentally Friendly: Moderate – Safer for plants.
Cost: Moderate
Urea (as in standard formulations, not Safe Paw):
Concrete Safety: Excellent – Non-corrosive.
Effectiveness: Light snowfall only; ineffective in harsh conditions.
Pet Safety: Yes – Safe if not ingested in large quantities.
Environmentally Friendly: Yes – Lower toxicity but can contribute to algae growth if runoff occurs.
Cost: Low
This table should guide you in choosing the right ice melt for driveways and sidewalks, ensuring safety, efficiency, and protection for concrete and living beings alike.
Safe Paw- Concrete Safe Ice Melt
Safe Paw is one of the few ice melt products on the market that can be used around pets and children, and it will not cause harm to your concrete walkways. It has even been considered the best ice melt for concrete.
It’s a one-of-a-kind compound with a time-released action because it’s completely salt-free. It has a non-corrosive structure with a crystalline amide core that is injected with glycols. Unlike rock salt and other salt-based ice melting products, which include potassium chloride or sodium chloride and can only melt ice to a temperature of 24 degrees, it can melt ice to a temperature of 2 degrees below zero.
Salt-based treatments take longer to function, and the crystals often linger on the surface of snow and ice for long periods before penetrating, posing a risk to pets and children if they eat the contents.
Furthermore, the salt residue left behind can harm concrete, pavers, lawns, timber, and decks. It can also be tracked indoors, causing damage to carpets and hardwood surfaces. Safe Paw is one of a kind because, unlike other ice melts salt on the market, it doesn’t include any salt.
It is readily available in hardware stores, grocery chains, pet supply stores, and veterinarian offices in all cold-weather states because it is a top-selling product. You can be confident that you are not hurting your concrete, family, pets, or the environment while using this simple tool to remove all of your winter ice worries.
Get ready for winter with the ONLY Pet Safe Ice Melt you can trust
These mats come with a heating coil. They are used to heat snowy or icy surfaces. They do require an active power source, however, they don’t pollute the environment and can be reused.
The systems are priced between $5,000 and $10,000, which means you have to spend thousands of dollars for them. Hydronic systems are typically more expensive to install. Due to winter utility bills, you will incur charges in the operation of the snow removal system. The price will vary depending on the type of heated pavement used, the square footage, the temperature, and the amount of snow that has accumulated. If the system fails, the entire driveway may have to be torn to make repairs.
Beet Juice
The sugar molecules in beet juice have the same action as the salt in road salt in preventing the development of ice crystals. Many municipalities have taken use of this trait by combining road salt and beet juice to reduce the quantity of salt required to deice roads.
When beet juice enters streams, its sugar attracts undesirable microbes, which consume the oxygen that many aquatic organisms require to exist. It may leave a light brown or crimson stain behind. As a result, every time you use it on your walkway or driveway, you’ll have to do more cleaning.
Urea
Commonly employed as a fertilizer, this liquid is second only to salt in popularity as a deicer. When temperatures dip below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, urea loses its potency, making it a less appropriate alternative for severely cold days.
While urea is less corrosive than rock salt, its significant nitrogen content makes it hazardous to the environment. High enough amounts of urea, like any fertilizer, can harm plants.
Another risk with urea is that runoff could reach the water system, resulting in an overabundance of nitrogen in the spring, leading to algal growth. It has the potential to upset aquatic ecology.
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Adding traction with sand, ash, coffee grinds, cat litter, and other materials reduces the risk of sliding and falling on ice. These remedies don’t melt snow or ice, but they do improve traction. They can only be used for providing traction but will leave behind a huge mess to clean up.
Calcium Magnesium Acetate
When used in small amounts, it is less corrosive than chlorine-based products, is biodegradable, and will not affect the environment. CMA is one of the priciest de-icing chemicals, costing up to 30 times as much as rock salt. By refreezing, it can also make the pavement slick. Hence, it does not minimize the risk of slip and fall accidents on your premises.
Calcium Magnesium Acetate, like normal rock salt, is ineffective at very low temperatures. This compound functions at roughly 15oF, which is the same temperature as rock salt.
Moreover, it is not as effective on old ice that has already formed a bond with the ground. But it can be used for pre-treatment.
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.
White Vinegar, Wood Ash, and Water Ice Melt
This ice melt recipe using white vinegar, wood ash, and water is not only great at melting ice. It is also gentle on plants.
Collect 2 cups of wood ash from your fireplace to melt this ice. Fill a gallon bucket halfway with water, then add the wood ash. Allow the mixture to settle for at least one night. Clear out all of the wood ash that is still floating in the morning.
Pour the contents of the old bucket into a new one, discarding the clumps of wood ash at the bottom. Stir in 2 cups white vinegar until thoroughly combined. Pour it into a spray bottle once it’s thoroughly mixed.
But it is tiresome to collect so much ash and to make a perfect ice melt mix. Moreover, it may not be effective in all temperatures and does not provide you any traction on slippery ice.
Get ready for winter with the ONLY Pet Safe Ice Melt you can trust
Chloride-Based Ice Melt Salt and Its Disadvantages
Sodium Chloride or Rock Salt
Salt is the most common and least priced deicer, and it is used on many public pathways and roadways. Salt comes in a variety of forms, but one of the most prevalent is sodium chloride, which is quite similar to the salt we put on our food. Both physical structures and materials, as well as the ecosystem, are harmed by rock salt.
One of the most frequently asked questions is does rock salt damage concrete? We all know the answer, yes it does. It should not be used on concrete since it can damage both old and new concrete, asphalt, stone, and brick. Even little amounts of this salt can leak into neighboring soil, changing its makeup and hurting grass and plants. It is also toxic to pets and can contaminate groundwater.
Calcium Chloride
Calcium Chloride has a melting temperature of -10 degrees Fahrenheit and emits heat as it melts. This property allows it to act more quickly than other ice melt. It also has less of an impact on the environment than other chloride-based ice melts. It is available in liquid, flakes, and pellets.
Calcium chloride corrodes metal and destroys carpets and tiles. It is less damaging to plants than other chemicals, but excessive use can harm them. Calcium chloride melts ice quickly, but it attracts moisture, resulting in damp and slippery surfaces. Thus, increasing the probability of slip and fall incidents. It is toxic to pets and can cause tongue and throat burn, excessive thirst, vomiting, and stomach pain. If touched without proper gloves and handwashing, the chemical might irritate the skin and eyes.
Another major disadvantage of calcium chloride ice melt is its relatively high price making it a less appealing and realistic option for consumers who need a lot of ice melt.
Potassium Chloride
Potassium chloride, or KCl, is similar to potassium-based fertilizer formulae and is hailed as good for plant health. Except for pets with kidney illness, it is more environmentally friendly and safer for them.
At 25 degrees Fahrenheit, it has a greater working temperature. It is more expensive, with prices ranging from $20 to $50 for every 50 pounds. Potassium chloride is similarly difficult to come by on its own. Thus, it is more common in ice melt mixtures. It is commonly blended with more toxic chemicals thus, making it an environmental threat and increasing its corrosiveness.
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium chloride ice melt does work in extreme colds. When the temperature falls below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, the melting process slows dramatically and may even come to a halt. Hence, it becomes useless to use this product in this temperature range.
Moreover, magnesium chloride ice melt is harmful to pets, children, wildlife, and even adults. It can cause eye irritation, skin irritation, and burn when touched. If you inhale the fumes of this chemical, you can experience respiratory irritation. If ingested, it can lead to gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Excessive application can harm plants. It corrodes metal and absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. If too much water is absorbed, then your concrete will remain moist and more prone to damage.
Conclusion
Common snow melt products burn the paws of our four-legged friends. They may also damage the landscape, driveways, and pathways. Fortunately, we have Safe Paw by our side to keep us away from all these problems.
A. Yes, Safe Paw can be used on various surfaces, including concrete, bricks, and pavers. It’s designed to not cause damage to these surfaces like traditional ice melts. However, it’s always best to test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure compatibility.
A. Yes, Safe Paw ice melt is safe for both pets and children. It is non-toxic and does not contain salts or chlorides, which can be harmful to pets and humans if ingested or come in contact with the skin.
A. Safe Paw’s dual-effect compound first melts the ice or snow and then provides a shield to prevent it from freezing for up to three days. It has a non-corrosive formula that does not cause damage to concrete surfaces, making it a good choice for homeowners.
A. Ice melt can lead to damage on concrete surfaces due to freeze-thaw cycles. The ice melt causes the ice to melt into water, which can seep into the concrete’s pores. When temperatures drop and the water refreezes, it expands, causing cracks and fissures in the concrete.
A. First, clean the area and remove any loose material. Fill small cracks with a concrete repair caulk or a vinyl patching compound. For larger cracks, a concrete patch may be necessary. If surface damage is extensive, a concrete resurfacer may be required to restore the surface. After repairs, sealing the concrete can help protect it from future damage.
A. Specific brands can vary over time, but any brand that uses calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) or similar less-corrosive substances is generally safe for concrete. It’s important to check the active ingredients before use.
Stay safe and confident this winter with Traction Magic! This innovative, 100% natural product offers instant traction on any icy surface. Whether you’re navigating your sidewalk, steps, or driveway, Traction Magic helps you stay upright and prevents falls.
Prevent slips at home, work or on the go, The handy disposable canister can be taken everywhere, with the same 100% naturally occurring minerals that provide instant traction on ice or snow.
Imagine an ice melt you can put down and never worry about. It won’t harm pets, kids and your property. That’s Safe Thaw. Unlike anything else on the market, Safe Thaw can change how winter affects our planet.
Nature-friendly innovations are Steve’s passion and his products are deeply rooted in this philosophy. “Safe for people, pets, property, and the planet” isn’t just a tagline; it’s the very essence of Steve’s vision.
Driven by a profound respect for our environment, for the last 50 years, Steve is leading the charge towards a future where sustainability isn’t an option but a standard.
