How to Treat a Sidewalk With Salt

Icy or snowy sidewalks are an annoyance to home or business owners and create hazardous conditions for pedestrians. Additionally, many municipalities require property owners to clear sidewalks of snow and ice within a given time following snow events or risk citations and fines. A winter sidewalk maintenance routine generally includes shovelling and may require ice chipping or treatment with a deicing salt. Properly applying salt can minimize the amount required, make snow removal easier and prevent the formation of an ice layer.

Shovel
Ice chipper
Deicing Salt

Instructions

- 1
  Pre-treat the sidewalk before the expected snow event. Sprinkle a thin, even layer of deicing salt across the sidewalk surface. This will prevent ice bonding with the surface, and it will create a thin layer of water rather than ice.
- 2
  Shovel snow off the sidewalk. Deicing salt will be much more effective if it does not have to melt through a layer of snow to reach the ice.
- 3
  Chip the ice layer, using an ice chipper, if the layer is thicker than about one-half inch and cracks easily. Avoid using too much force, which could damage the sidewalk.
- 4
  Shovel as much chipped ice off the sidewalk as possible.
- 5
  Sprinkle a thin, even layer of deicing salt across the sidewalk surface. Avoid dumping it in piles. If it spills or falls in a pile, spread it out using a shovel.
- 6
  Shovel any slush formed several hours later. Repeat application of deicing salt if the first treatment was not adequate. Focus application on portions of the sidewalk where ice still persists.

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