Concrete Safe Ice Melt: Is There Really Such a Thing?
Winter weather and concrete can leave homeowners scratching their heads. You don’t want to damage your concrete surfaces, so when ice accumulates at your house, you may wonder, ‘what is the best deicer for concrete?’
There are lots of commercial products on the market, and some of them might do significant damage to your concrete even when properly applied as an ice melter. So it’s pretty difficult to decide which is best when you’re staring at all those stacks of bags, jugs, and buckets of ice melters at the big box store.
My concrete parking area is in good shape even after 15 harsh New York winters. I’ll take the mystery out of deicing products for you.
Types of Ice Melt
There are four types of ice melt when broken down by their active ingredients.
Sodium Chloride
Commonly called rock salt
Lowers water’s freezing point to melt ice
Chemical name NaCl
Corrosive
Can damage concrete, as well as plants and wood
Very affordable
Provides extra grip and traction
Calcium Chloride
Chemical name CaCl2
Absorbs moisture, turns to liquid
Solid to liquid transformation generates heat
Melts ice/snow very quickly
Safe for concrete
Can irritate or burn skin
Hazardous for pets
Works even in very low temperatures
Magnesium Chloride
Chemical name MgCl2
Less corrosive than rock salt
Often sold as pet-safe
Easy cleanup
It takes larger amounts to melt ice compared to calcium chloride
More expensive than rock salt or calcium chloride
Calcium Magnesium Acetate
Chemical name CMA
Much less corrosive than rock salt
Typically sold as a liquid
Completely safe for concrete
Biodegradable
Expensive compared to other products
Often sold as a liquid with a sprayer
Not an ice melter alone, but it prevents ice from forming
Some products are a blend of CMA and other deicers
The Best Deicer for Concrete
Calcium chloride is widely considered best for concrete. It won’t damage it. It’s effective in below negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit and melts ice quickly.
It’s also not as corrosive as some products and is relatively safe for the environment.
So, it likely is no surprise that calcium chloride ice melt is probably the most popular choice for concrete ice melter and is widely available in stores.
Ice Melt Safe for Pets and Concrete
Magnesium Chloride is also safe for use on concrete. It’s very effective, and it’s safe for use around pets and sensitive plants. But it doesn’t work as well as calcium chloride at low temperatures, and you may need to use more of MgCl to get the job done.
Concrete Ice Melters: Other Good Choices
Potassium chloride is safe for concrete. But it takes longer than MgCl and CaCl to melt ice, and it doesn’t work well when it’s colder than 26-degrees.
Preventing Ice From Developing
Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) is effective at stopping ice from forming. It works by limiting the ability of ice and snow particles to adhere to one another on concrete. Its effectiveness decreases significantly in temperatures below 20-degrees Fahrenheit.
CMA contains acetic acid, a naturally synthesized product found commonly in vinegar. It also occurs naturally in the ocean. So it is very safe for the environment.
It often comes in a liquid form, but you may be able to find it sold as granules as well.
CMA is an excellent choice if you have a new concrete surface, as it is often produced explicitly for concrete less than two years old. It’s an excellent ice melt for new concrete, but be careful which blend you buy.
CMA is often blended with other deicing chemicals to increase their effectiveness and limit their corrosive properties. So, you may see a product with CMA that isn’t entirely safe for use on concrete, like unblended pure CMA.
Ice Melt Forms
Ice melt comes in three applications. You can find different applications from many brands like Morton, Road Runner, Super Seal, Paw Safe, Bare Ground, Scott’s, and Diamond Crystal.
Pellets
Pea-sized and -shaped
Tendency to roll away when distributed
Very effective at penetrating ice
Granules
Usually rock salt
Larger than pellets
Provides traction
Doesn’t roll away easily
Liquid
Often sold in a bucket with a spray nozzle for easy application
Some products prevent ice from forming
Typically safe for pets and concrete
What Not to Use As a Deicer on Concrete
Rock salt is an effective ice melter, and it even provides a traction boost in slippery conditions.
But, it is very corrosive and likely to damage your concrete.
It is exceedingly cost-effective, so it is widely popular. But it is known to damage concrete, and it is also corrosive to motor vehicles and may damage wildlife and plants.
Trends in Deicing
New Hampshire was the first state to introduce the use of salt for road deicing in 1941. But, what started as a novel, well-intentioned method to keep motorists safe in slippery winter weather conditions has become a problem.
New Hampshire has examined the growing amount of salt in their water, as it is a toxic threat to fish, destroys vegetation and corrodes vehicles, and contaminates drinking water as well. And they are not alone in recognizing the damage caused by salt.
While salt is effective at melting ice, it is also bad for our roads and our environment. So it is essential that we limit salt use where possible and simultaneously look to anti-icing solutions that are better for not only concrete and asphalt roads but us and the planet as well.
Bottomline
It may be tempting to consider rock salt as a deicer for your concrete. But if you use it, you’re opening yourself up to the type of damage that will potentially lead to costly concrete repairs or even the need to replace your surfaces entirely.
Instead, you should use other products that may be a bit more expensive but aren’t going to damage your concrete walkways, driveways, and parking areas. Calcium chloride is the most popular choice, but products that prevent ice from building up are ideal for newer concrete.