There are several ice melt products that are safe for concrete the most popular and most effective being calcium chloride magnesium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate.
Deicing salt safe for concrete.
After the first winter if you choose to take the risk to use de icing salts or chemicals you should apply a sealer to your concrete in the fall.
The first winter for new concrete salt should never be used.
The following are the best ice melt products for concrete surfaces.
This solution generates heat which in turn melts the ice.
Ice melt can help keep your concrete driveway free of snow and ice in winter.
The properties of deicers.
The melting action of the salt allows water to enter the concrete.
Safe paw is the number one selling brand for environmentally safe ice melt that you can find today.
They are added to reduce the corrosiveness of the salts.
Ironically these by products also are used to make products to dissolve concrete residue on ready mix trucks.
Deicing agents sometimes contain organic based performance enhancers obpe which are primarily agriculture by products.
If you ve been using rock salt or potassium chloride this is probably why your concrete driveway is showing signs of deterioration.
Ice melt works by attracting moisture thus forming a salt water solution known as brine.
It is alkaline stable and reduces rebar corrosion caused by salt content in moisture especially in coastal regions.
When you spread rock salt on your concrete to melt snow and ice the salt dissolves the snow and makes a salt water mush.
If the temperature then drops and the water freezes the growing ice crystals can blast apart the concrete.
Some deicing salts for concrete are corrosive sodium chloride rock salt.
Just use some sand in the meantime and clean the concrete off regularly.
It does take concrete at least 30 days and sometimes up to a year to reach its full strength.
Saltguard wb also provides exceptional protection against any salt damage to concrete garage floors sidewalks patios or even roads that are exposed to deicing salts.
Concrete less than 30 days old even if it s properly designed poured cured and sealed should never have deicing salts spread on it.
The safe paw ice melter is 100 salt free and it is guaranteed to be concrete pet and child safe.
Many of these products are completely safe for concrete pets children and for the environment as a whole.