What Can Salt Do To Your Concrete Driveway
Salt is used to make roads safer in winters for driving, and it is also commonly used on our driveways to get rid of slippery ice layers. Unfortunately, there are some things that salt does to your driveway that you might not know.
Ice melt damage concrete in several ways, and here are a few of them:
Salt Can Affect The Color Of Your Concrete
Salt can cause a white film to appear on the surface of your concrete. It is called efflorescence, and is caused by the water in your concrete evaporating and leaving the salt behind.
Efflorescence can be removed with a pressure washer, but that can be a lot of work if you have an entire driveway covered with salt.
Salt Weakens The Strength And Stability Of Your Concrete
Salt can cause your concrete to lose its strength, stability, durability, and resistance to water. Salt can cause the concrete to crack in many ways. Salt can also be absorbed by the concrete, weakening it from within.
You may have heard the term “freeze-thaw” or “thermal contraction” cracking. These are types of concrete deterioration that occur during the winter months when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When water freezes and expands, then thaws and contracts, it causes
stress on the concrete. It can result in cracks between joints and other defects in your driveway.
Freeze-thaw cracking (or thermal contraction) is more likely to occur in areas that are exposed to freezing temperatures for long periods.
Salt Damages Your Plantation And Pipes
Once the salt is introduced to your driveway, it can cause a whole host of other problems as well. Salt can damage your concrete driveway, but it can also cause damage to the rest of your property and even to the environment as well. Salt can cause rusting on metal parts like hinges or door handles. Salts also kill your plant and grass adjacent to your driveway.
Safe Thaw
Safe Thaw was created as the ice management solution for tough winter environments. Ideal in commercial and industrial properties, shops, government agencies, bridges, and construction.
What Is The Best Ice Melt On Concrete?
Safe Thaw contains no salt or calcium chloride and is the best ice melt for concrete surfaces. Safe Thaw is a urea-modified product with special surfactants, glycols, ice melting boosters, and inhibitors. It reduces the risk of any injury caused by slipping, skidding, or falling on ice. The quick-acting ingredients are ideal for pre-application and post-application on snow and icy surfaces. If you were to look for a concrete safe de-icer, Safe Thaw provides you respite, among others available in the market.
100% salt & chloride-free, fast acting Ice Management Solution
Conclusion
As you can see, salt is a very destructive element that can cause serious damage to your concrete driveway. It is crucial to use caution when applying it and to answer what is the best ice melt on concrete – try to use more concrete-friendly ice melts like Safe Thaw.
Try Also Our Other Winter Safety Products:
Safe Paw
The Original and #1 Selling Pet and Child Safe Ice Melt for over 20 years. Guaranteed environmentally safe –It won’t harm animals or children, and it won’t damage your property. That’s Safe Paw. Safe Paw can change how winter affects our planet.
Walk On Ice
The handy disposable canister can be taken everywhere, with the same 100% naturally occurring minerals that provide instant traction on ice or snow. Use it on sidewalks, steps, or as an instant traction agent for your car.
