How to Treat an Icy Porch

Icy porches are dangerous to both people and the structure of the porch. During the cold months, snow falls on a porch, melts slightly and freezes, leaving a slick surface on the porch. Ice and snow also add extra weight to the porch, which may threaten the structure. Icy surfaces on concrete porches can also harm the concrete. Trapped water in tiny openings on the concrete's surface freezes and puts pressure on the concrete causing a tiny crack. Ice thaws, more water fills the tiny crack, freezes again and widens the crack. As the freeze-thaw cycle continues the cracks become larger and wider, making ice removal necessary.

Snow shovel
Broom
Eco-friendly, pet safe ice melter
Cat litter, sand or wood ashes

Instructions

- 1
  Shovel the porch frequently during a hail, snow, sleet, storms to minimize the amount of ice on the porch with a snow shovel or sweep the porch with a stiff broom.
- 2
  Sprinkle an eco-friendly, pet-safe ice melting product on the porch just before a storm or during the storm to prevent ice from forming. Follow the ice-melting product manufacturer's instructions in regards to the amount of product and frequency of spreading.
- 3
  Apply a generous layer of the ice-melting product on the icy porch surface after the ice forms.
- 4
  Sweep the water, slush and loose ice off the surface of the porch to prevent the water from refreezing as the ice melts.
- 5
  Spread a generous layer of cat litter, sand or wood ashes over the surface of the icy porch to maximize traction. Sweep or shovel the icy porch often to remove the ice and then reapply the cat litter, sand or wood ashes. Cat litter, sand and wood ashes absorb the warmth of the sun and help melt the ice.

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