The winter is here in Utah, bringing snow, slush, and ice, and for your concrete driveway, that can add up to be a bad combination.
Here are 3 ways to maintain your concrete driveway this winter so that it can last you longer, and you can keep enjoying it all year long.
Clear the Snow
Before you reach for a chemical de-icer to use on your concrete driveway, reach 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 you 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, can be harmful to people and animals and are actually adding to the wear and tear of 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 last option for ice removal would be a de-icer that is salt-free. Generally, 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 actually 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 land on 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 you 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!
