The winter in Nashville is always festive and the usual mild temperatures mean that you can enjoy outdoor activities most of the winter without fear of slippery streets. However, it is also important to prepare for the occasional extreme weather conditions. It only takes one dip in the temperature, especially after rain creates dangerously slippery ice on roads, stairways, driveways, and parking lots.
For these occasions in Nashville Tennessee, it is imperative for homeowners and businesses to clear parking lots of ice for the safety of people walking to and from their cars.
As a paving company in Nashville, we are often asked the question “what is the best way to remove ice from asphalt for both the safety of people and to prolong the life of newly paved driveways or parking lots?”
3 Most Common Ice Melt Products
Calcium Magnesium Acetate is the safest product on the market to remove ice from driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots. This ice melt works at temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit and is completely safe to use around children and pets. While it may not be as effective as salt, it will work effectively for many different surfaces and is also eco-friendly. It is, however, more costly than salt products.
Sodium Chloride (otherwise known as rock salt). Salt-ice-melting agents come in pellets, flakes, and crystals. They’re fast-acting and effective in removing ice from asphalt surfaces. While these products are less expensive than calcium magnesium acetate, they’re not the safest option for use on pavement. They’re also not environmentally friendly and may be hazardous to workers, plants, and pets. Over time, salt can also damage asphalt and cause the need for costly maintenance and repairs. The best option is to avoid salt altogether.
Calcium Chloride is another common ice melt agent which can work at temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit and is considered the most effective ice melt agent for asphalt. Nevertheless, these chemicals aren’t environmentally friendly however, Calcium Chloride is somewhat less caustic on concrete than some of the other ice salts and melts ice faster.
Both Calcium Chloride and Calcium Magnesium Acetate are effective deicing agents that are less caustic than Sodium Chloride (rock salt). If you’re unsure about which product to use, read the label before you buy, follow directions, and use caution when using a salt substitute
So, when snow falls, be sure to take these precautions to prevent accidents. While it is more costly to use, calcium magnesium acetate is the highest-quality, effective, and safest ice-melting agent to help protect your asphalt against freezing and thawing.
No matter which product you choose, be prepared and be sure to have an ice-melting product readily available to prevent slip and fall accidents on your public parking lot areas and driveways.
As always, if you have any questions, or need seal coating, paving, maintenance, parking lot line striping, or pothole repair services, A-Hole Paving is here to serve you in the Greater Nashville area.
We know every project is important. At A-Hole Paving, we stand behind our work.
We proudly serve Nashville, and surrounding areas from Clarksville, to Hendersonville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Columbia.
