Winter is here in Utah, bringing snow, slush, and ice, which can be a bad combination for your concrete driveway.
Here are three ways to maintain your concrete driveway this winter, ensuring it lasts longer and allowing you to enjoy it all year round.
Clear the Snow
Before you reach for a chemical de-icer to use on your concrete driveway, go for a “manual de-icer” instead. This could be anything from a shovel to a snowblower. You can use a shovel to scrape away all of the snow off of your driveway before adding any other de-icing agents. If y u want to go the easier route, set up your snow blower and get to work. It’s half the hassle and half the time it would take to shovel, especially if you have a large driveway to work with.
Use a Safe De-icer
Believe it or not, not all de-icers used on sidewalks, roads, and driveways are safe. Some can damage the surrounding lawn, soil, and foliage, be harmful to people and animals, and contribute to the wear and tear on the cement. Your standard Rock Salt lands in this category. History shows this de-icer to be hazardous to your plants, family, animals, soil, and to your cement if not used cautiously. It is not effective at low temperatures and can damage your concrete.
The next option you have when choosing a de-icer is chloride-based agents. This is a safer option than the Rock Salt, as it is not as harmful to your environment. The best option for ice removal would be a salt-free de-icer. Gene ally, this type is going to be more expensive as it is very effective in extreme temperatures and does not have the harmful agents and chemicals that its counterparts do. It includes Calcium and Magnesium, which will help your plants grow and thrive, and is not dangerous for your soil, family, animals, or cement.
Hire a Professional
When in doubt, do your research. If you can find a safe alternative to chemical de-icers and have a plan to clear off the snow as a first step, you will be ahead of the game in keeping your concrete protected, as well as your plants, family, and animals. If u determine that clearing your driveway the proper way is too big of a job to handle this season, ask for help. Hire a professional company that specializes in snow and ice removal. You can even find options that offer safe alternatives themselves and are not hazardous to your cement or your environment.
Hard Rock Concrete Coatings Can Help
If you find that your concrete driveway has some cracks or damage this winter, here at Hard Rock Concrete Coatings, we can help. We specialize in concrete repair, reconstruction, and replacement. We serve Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Taylorsville, and other neighboring Utah cities. Call us by phone at (801)-918-3656. Contact us today!
