Tips on de-icing your block paving or tarmac driveway

Winter tips – 5 ways to de-ice your block paving or tarmac driveway.

Has winter turned your block paving or tarmac driveway into a skating rink? If so, read on as we list the most effective ways to keep your tarmac driveway ice-free. Also tips on how to prevent the snow and ice from accumulating on your driveway in the first place.

Rock Salt

The most common way for you to de-ice your tarmac driveway is to use grit or as it’s more commonly known ‘rock salt’. It’s great to use because it’s cheap and pretty much available everywhere.  The UK drops about five million tonnes of the stuff every year, so a popular choice. But the downside is it contains chloride and cyanide making it very dangerous for animals and plants.

Use a shovel

Preventing the snow from building up will prevent ice from forming. So probably the most effective way to de-ice your tarmac driveway is shovelling snow as soon as it falls. This method is green and works 100% of the time. Just takes a little effort and braving the wintery conditions.

Green products

There are a number of green products for de-icing on the market, which are advertised as environmentally friendly or all-natural. However, they can be expensive, corrosive or just ineffective. For example, magnesium calcium acetate is biodegradable, but will only work properly with temps -3C or warmer. Make sure you do your research before splashing out.

Sand

This is great for creating traction by making icy and snow surfaces less dangerous. The only downside is the sand can create a lumpy mess and may clog up the outside drains when the snow and ice begin to thaw.

Heat Maps

These are a means for people building a new house, or replacing what’s already there to de-ice their driveway. But for everyday use, they’re prohibitively expensive.

 

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