Salt or sand for an icy driveway?

You’ve cleared the snow, but the slope at the end of the driveway still feels slick. Should you salt it or sand it? Start with what you need from the treatment. Salt can help melt ice in suitable conditions. Sand gives shoes and tires something to grip while the ice is still there. Region of Waterloo snow clearing guidance

Clear loose snow first

Clear loose snow promptly before traffic packs it down. That gives you a better view of the surface and lets you focus treatment on the ice that remains. If you use a de-icer, follow the product’s directions and check that it suits your surface. The Region of Waterloo recommends applying salt sparingly to icy areas after clearing the snow. Region of Waterloo snow clearing guidance

Use the temperature to guide your choice

Plain road salt becomes much less useful in deep cold. The City of Fort St. John uses about −10 °C as the lower practical limit for salt in its winter road program. The temperature of the pavement matters when choosing a treatment, and the forecast air temperature can differ from the temperature at the surface. Read the directions for the specific product you have. City of Fort St. John ice control guidance, City of Minneapolis on salt and pavement temperature

Sand can add grip on a cold, slick surface while the ice remains. Traffic can scatter the grit, so check the spot again after vehicles have passed over it. If you get ice in the same place after every thaw, look for where water is coming from before deciding how often the spot needs treatment. Meltwater can freeze again when temperatures drop. Federal Highway Administration on traction materials, Environment and Climate Change Canada on flash freezing

Treat the spots you actually use

Start with the section you cross on foot or where a vehicle stops, turns, or climbs. On a sloped driveway, that may be the grade change at the street or the route from a parked car to the door. Keep the application targeted. Salt can move with runoff and harm waterways and drinking water supplies. Sweep up excess salt once the surface is dry. Environment and Climate Change Canada on road salt impacts, Region of Waterloo on salt use

If one patch keeps freezing, show us where it is and when you see it. See how PSP Maintenance handles salting and sanding and request a quote for the areas that need ice control.

Sources

• Region of Waterloo — Snow clearing tips for homeowners
• City of Fort St. John — Winter road maintenance
• City of Minneapolis — Salt use best practices
• U.S. Federal Highway Administration — Manual of Practice for an Effective Anti-Icing Program, section 2.5
• Environment and Climate Change Canada — Severe winter weather alerts
• Environment and Climate Change Canada — Road salts code implementation