Winter is here, which means it’s time to break out the shovels and stock up on de-icers. When you head to the store, you may feel a bit overwhelmed with all the different options available to you in the ice melt department. When choosing a driveway de-icer, it’s important you know what de-icer is safe for your driveway to avoid causing any damage. Here’s what you need to know about driveway de-icers.
Application Rates
The most important aspect to using any ice melt product on your driveway is to read the directions. One of the major issues with driveway de-icers is that homeowners over-apply the product. This in turn leads to run-off damage to your lawn and surrounding environment and driveway damage. Whenever using any driveway de-icer, be sure to read the directions.
Cured Concrete and Asphalt
Curing times for asphalt and concrete vary depending on where you live and who you talk to. With regards to a driveway de-icer, you want to give your driveway at least one year from the date of when it was poured before using any de-icers. It’s also extremely important your driveway is properly poured by an experienced Howard County driveway paving contractor to limit imperfections which will become worse during the winter months.
Go for Traction
As opposed to using corrosive driveway de-icers, opt for using materials which increase traction such as ash, kitty-litter, sand, or wood shavings. These types of fixes aren’t perfect for every situation, but if your driveway is relatively flat, then using a traction-increasing material could solve your issue. Not to mention, ash, kitty-litter, sand, and wood shaving are all environmentally-friendly options.
Driveway-Safe De-Icers
At the end of the day, sometimes what a driveway really needs is an ice melting product that just works. So long as you follow the above directions, your driveway will be able to withstand most of the more common driveway de-icers. We recommend using a chloride blend when using de-icers as it will offer milder levels of each of the chlorides, reducing the amount of wear or damage your driveway is exposed to.
For more information on driveway de-icers and whether or not your driveway is cured and ready for the use of a de-icer, get in touch with your Maryland driveway paving company today. 1-855 Got Paving is a family-owned and operated Maryland driveway contractor with professional staff and state-of-the-art machinery. For a free estimate on a new driveway, give us a call at 410-672-3333 or fill out the form on our website today!
