Ice removal: De-Icer, Ice Melt, or Torch?

[Cinneagh]

Our new house has concrete steps and sidewalk and an asphalt driveway. The concrete has spalling from previous applications of ice melt. The asphalt has northeastern exposure and stays iced up for a while. What would be a good way to take care of this? Liquid de-icer, gourmet ice melt like Magic Salt (if I can get it), or a high-BTU torch?

I'm thinking a torch for the concrete and an ice-melt or de-icer for the asphalt since I think the torch would not work for the asphalt.

Some ideas from Northern Tool:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_bare-ground

Any other tips or hints would be a great help.

Thanks!
Jeremy

 

[1948]

just a bag of rock salt usually works good. but if its something you have to deal with most of the year i would consider redoing the steps to be heated.



wait..... youre in virginia... you guys get ice down there???

 

[e30bradley]

natural salt. Not chemicals, salt works great. But if you need instant melting use a torch, then put salt down so it doesn't refreeze.

 

[Richard Cranium]

be careful with the torch that it doesn't cause the concrete to chip from air pockets heating up and exploding.

 

[p_mori7]

Put rubber pads/mats on the concrete steps. When they ice up, just peel them off, flex them to break the ice off, then lay them back down. Use nice thick rubber.

 

[jam022316]

I have one of those 80,000 btu tourches I use and it does really well on my concrete driveway and steps. I don't hold it in one spot very long but I haven't had any problems. If the ice is 1 inch to 2 inch it's easier to heat it up and then break it up with a shovel. Otherwise you'll be there all day.

 

[Mr.N]

Our new house has concrete steps and sidewalk and an asphalt driveway. The concrete has spalling from previous applications of ice melt. The asphalt has northeastern exposure and stays iced up for a while. What would be a good way to take care of this? Liquid de-icer, gourmet ice melt like Magic Salt (if I can get it), or a high-BTU torch?

I'm thinking a torch for the concrete and an ice-melt or de-icer for the asphalt since I think the torch would not work for the asphalt.

Does Sun hit the steps?
If Yes, shovel before a single foot step lands on them every snow. Sun will do the rest if they are clean of as much snow as you can remove.
If No, Make sure you've a down hill spot for the water to run. Hate to see the water freeze and make some very slick ice.
Or, Shovel like above and lay a little sand if you want to stop using salt.

 

[bad_idea]

What part of VA are you in? I've lived here in Va Bch for 20 years and we only get ice on the sidewalk a couple times a year when it snows (very rare).

 

[rwreuter]

i use salt (ice melt) on my driveway and sidewalk.

i built a new house and after 2 months or so i applied a sealing compound to my concrete so it wouldn't spall when applying ice melt....worked great.

i have seen so many driveways and sidewalks tore up after the application of salt....i wasn't going to have that happen to me......

 

[jhelrey]

Use sidewalk safe salt... not road salt.

 

[5lima30]

I use the turbo torch for the gravel areas and my wooden steps get ice-melt. The bigger areas (driveway) get plowed with my tractor with a rear blade...although this year I have not had to plow yet!

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Salt.

 

[Jackfre]

Last year I had enormous ice build up on my roof and gutters. Only time in 18 yrs of ownership of that house that I had to deal with it. I took 100' of hose connected to my Rinnai tankless water heater and ran hot water for three hours straight and eliminated all the ice and snow on the roof and gutters. The run off melted the build up on the driveway. The neighbors thought I was nuts, but upon seeing how well it worked they all wanted to know how I did it.

 

[premierplayer]

http://www.scotwoodindustries.com/brands/6/products/18

 

[Cinneagh]

Thanks for your input, guys. I have a lot of great options to consider.

 

[Unearthed]

Calcium chloride. Works at lower temps better than salt. Easier on concrete than salt.