Is Ice Melt A Safe Option To Use On Your Wooden Deck?
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Those having wooden decks or steps are already aware of how treacherous they are when covered in ice. A frozen hardwood deck is, in most situations, even riskier than an icy driveway or path. With winter now in full swing, you’ll want to stock up on ice melt materials. When compared to more salt-free ice melt solutions on the market, traditional ice melt falls short.
Why Do You Need Ice Melt For Your Wooden Deck?
Wood is far more naturally porous as a decking material than equivalent alternatives such as plastic composites or concrete. As water seeps into the wood during the day, it expands overnight as temperatures drop, causing it to fracture, splinter, and buckle.
The damage is increased with each freeze-thaw cycle as the wood becomes progressively more porous, rendering any sealant you’ve applied useless. As a result, keeping your deck clear of ice throughout the winter is critical to protecting your investment.
Even a single winter storm can dump enough snow to put elevated decks’ load-bearing capacity in jeopardy. Under the weight of enough snow and ice, a badly maintained deck left unattended over the winter might easily collapse. Another reason to keep your wood deck free of ice and snow is for accessibility.
Is It Safe To Use Ice Melt For Wood Decks?
Before you sprinkle any ice-melt product onto your deck, it’s essential to consider its composition and potential impact. Traditional ice-melt products often contain salt or chlorine-based ingredients that can deteriorate wood over time, leading to potential damage and expensive repairs.
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During winter storms or heavy snowfall, ice melt products keep decks from becoming slippery. Ice melts operate by releasing heat into the ice and snow to melt it and prevent it from creating ice crystals! Using any ice melt without first learning about it could end up doing more harm than good to your composite deck. You need to be aware of rock salt, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride dangers also.
Ice melt works by creating a brine that generates heat to melt ice and break its bond with surfaces like your deck. However, the chemicals used in these products can harm both your wooden deck and the surrounding environment.
Get ready for winter with the ONLY Pet Safe Ice Melt you can trust
While using ice melt on your wooden deck can seem like a quick solution to avoid slips and falls, it’s important to remember that not all products are created equal. Some ice melts can cause serious damage to wood. Hence, it’s crucial to select an ice melt product that is specifically formulated to be safe for wood decks.
What Kind Of Ice Melt Is Safe For Wood Decks?
This brings us to the essential question—what kind of ice melt is safe for wood decks? One product that stands out is ‘Safe Paw’, a non-toxic, biodegradable ice melt. Unlike salt or chlorine-based products, ‘Safe Paw’ is designed to be gentle on your deck and safe for the environment and pets.
Get ready for winter with the ONLY Pet Safe Ice Melt you can trust
Creating an effective ice melt strategy for your wooden deck involves more than just the product itself. It’s about timely application, even distribution, and ensuring you’re not using more than needed. The use of a ‘Safe Paw’-type solution can provide efficient melting without the risk of deck damage.
Getting The Safe Ice Melt For Your Wooden Deck
Rock salt is the most common option for deicing wood decks, but it has several drawbacks. For starters, metal bolts and supports are virtually usually used to secure hardwood decks. As a result, using a salt-based deicer will cause rust and corrosion of such parts.
Rock salt dries out wood, interfering with its expansion and corroding the deck. Salt is never advised as a safe ice melt for wood decks due to its effect on the wood.
The rock salt substance’s jagged edges can cause deep, ugly scratches on the wood’s surface. Other chloride-based ice melts, such as magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, are also available on the market. Magnesium chloride hazards include property and pet damage. Other chlorides are also hazardous.
The best ice melt for your wooden deck is Safe Paw, which is salt-free and eco-friendly ice melt having carbonyl diamide and glycol as main ingredients. It will neither damage your surface nor leave behind a mess. It removes snow from your wooden decks and adds traction also. Unlike salt-based ice melts, it is safe for pets and plants.
Conclusion
With the arrival of harsh winter temperatures, now is the best time to stock up on ice melting products for your wood deck. However, you’ll need to invest in a product that’s both good at melting ice and safe to use on wooden surfaces. As a result, now is the time to upgrade to a more effective, wood-safe, salt-free ice melt. While ensuring everyone’s safety and magnesium chloride dangers were informed to all. Make sure you eat, sleep and study.
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.
Stay safe on slippery surfaces with a product that’s 100% natural and safe for pets, people, and your property. Use Traction Magic on sidewalks, steps, or as instant traction for your car.
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.
A: Traditional ice melt products often contain salt or chlorine-based ingredients that can deteriorate wood over time, leading to potential damage and expensive repairs. It’s better to use a product specifically formulated to be safe for wood decks.
A: It’s best to use an ice melt product that is specifically formulated to be safe for wood decks, like ‘Safe Paw’. This non-toxic, biodegradable ice melt is designed to be gentle on your deck, safe for the environment, and safe for pets.
A: When using ‘Safe Paw’, evenly distribute the product over the icy areas. Avoid overuse, as more product doesn’t necessarily mean more efficiency. Always follow the usage instructions provided on the package to ensure safety and effectiveness.
A: You can protect your wood deck from potential ice damage by using a safe, non-damaging ice melt product like ‘Safe Paw’. Timely application, even distribution, and responsible use can ensure your deck remains in good condition throughout the winter.
A: You should apply ice melt as soon as ice forms on your deck to prevent slipping hazards. It’s also helpful to apply ice melt before a snowfall to make it easier to shovel off snow without it turning into a hard layer of ice.
Author: Steven J Greenwald
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.
