Icy Driveway

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velvetfoot

velvetfoot

Minister of Fire
Hearth Supporter
Dec 5, 2005
10,203
Sand Lake, NY
Man, my 400' driveway with big turnaround is a sheet of ice after the rain the other day. We've got studded tires so we're not sliding into the garage, and spikes for the boots so we're not falling on our asses. I'm torn with sprinkling some salt on it, though it's a large area, and I don't want to harm the vegetation. I just threw away some ashes, but I don't want to use them either because of the mess.My current plan is to hope that it actually does snow a little here on Thursday like they say it might. Otherwise, nobody without studs is going to be coming down the driveway.

Anybody else dealing with an icy driveway and how are you coping?
 
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velvetfoot said:
Man, my 400' driveway with big turnaround is a sheet of ice after the rain the other day. We've got studded tires so we're not sliding into the garage, and spikes for the boots so we're not falling on our asses. I'm torn with sprinkling some salt on it, though it's a large area, and I don't want to harm the vegetation. I just threw away some ashes, but I don't want to use them either because of the mess.My current plan is to hope that it actually does snow a little here on Thursday like they say it might. Otherwise, nobody without studs is going to be coming down the driveway.

Anybody else dealing with an icy driveway and how are you coping?
Click to expand...

Better do something, what if an ambulance or fire truck needed to make a visit.......
 
Fertilizer helps, yes.

But there's not much better than sand, if you can find some. I never use salt, it seems to just melt its way into the ice one granual at a time and still leave slippery behind. My main goto is ashes. I don't find it tracks in, if you don't spread right up to the doorway. Our driveway is long too, on a hill, and can get pretty bad. I should likely have a sandbox setup out there but haven't done it yet. A really nice setup would be a sandbox with a bit of salt mixed in so it won't freeze solid, chains on the mower or ATV, and a spreader you shovel a bunch of the mix into. Couple trips up & down and you're good. Till next time.
 
Ashes ... as much as my wife hates dirt, dust and clutter ... this has never been an issue with it tracked inside the home.
 
I just used a quarter bag of dry sand on mine today. My driveway and stairs and cement path were a skating rink. The sand helps give some traction but sits on top of the ice, snow will cover it eventually but at least you won't slip. It has to be reapplied whenever there's a melt like rain, but it works for me.
 
my standard answer to these cold/ice threads is to move, being I am relocating to the USVI. However I have the same situation now and use salt, it will melt through and form a layer of salty water under the ice and loosen it all up. After it dries it will be like it is pretreated for the next time, Then repeat, I have had success with this and always have made it in and out. 400 feet uphill on the way in, blacktop helps things melt too on the first 300' the next 100' is pavers and they do not get anything put on them. I buy a pallet, 1 ton, of salt every 4 years.
 
My driveway isn't that long but I just got back home after being gone a few days and could barely get up he small hill it has.
Now I just have to go to the the local watering hole later and buy a drink for my buddy with the sander in his truck, should be all better tomorrow morning.
 
Good guy to know. Doesn't look like it's going to snow here and it's staying cold.
 
velvetfoot said:
Good guy to know. Doesn't look like it's going to snow here and it's staying cold.
Click to expand...

Very good person to know, you just want to make sure you get him early in the day....
Kills me to do it though cause now I will be tracking dirt into the house every time I come in. At least ice is clean.
 
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