The Best Ice Melter for Pavers

Exothermic or Endothermic

• Exothermic de-icers release heat to melt ice and work effectively at a broader temperature range. One such chemical, solid calcium chloride, will melt ice down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. Solid sodium chloride, on the other hand, absorbs the sun's heat to melt ice into a liquid brine. This endothermic de-icer loses its effectiveness when temperatures fall below 20 F. Use Calcium chloride or magnesium chloride, both exothermic de-icers, for extremely cold environments and, in warmer areas, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and urea.

Application and Avoidance Measures

• You can best appy de-icers with a hand-held or broadcast fertilizer spreader. Using scoops and shovels can lead to clumping and uneven distribution that may harm your pavers. The exotherms also require the use of protective gloves to prevent chemical burns. Pavers that are extremely porous and unsealed should not be exposed to any type of de-icer. Protect brick pavers with an underlayment of a heating system before positioning the bricks.

Proactive vs. Reactive

• You usually apply de-icers either before or after a snow or ice storm. Many highway crews spread de-icer proactively, that is after a storm is forecast and before it actually occurs. Homeowners usually treat pavers reactively, applying de-icer to already slippery driveways and walkways. Most people use an inexpensive form of rock salt that leaves behind a salty residue called efflorescence. Concrete pavers are vulnerable to efflorescence and also corrosive attack by the endothermic de-icers that break down Portland cement.

De-icers For Clay Pavers

• Clay pavers are fired at over 2,000 degrees F to create a glassy matrix to bond the clay particles together. For clay, the best de-icer is an exothermic magnesium chloride. This chemical, although more costly, works within a wide temperature range without damaging clay's glassy matrix. Look for a de-icer that contains magnesium chloride as the first ingredient. This signifies that the mix contains more magnesium chloride than any other de-icing agent.