Winter sand and salt products are used to make roads and walkways safer in the winter. If you have new concrete or are worried about salt damage to your property, you might want to use sand instead. Sand has no melting properties at all. The reason why snow removal contractors use sand is to give vehicles and pedestrians traction when they are moving across your property. A healthy layer of sand on top of a sheet of ice will help tires get traction. When sand is driven on, it will work its way into the ice or packed snow. When you use a combination of winter sand and salt products on your property, you are maximizing both traction and melting. Salt will help melt the ice, while sand will allow vehicles to move across your property until the salt has a chance to work.
Pros and cons of winter sand and salt products.
Salt Products– Depending what products that you are using, salt may corrode your property. In its natural form, salt is corrosive. Salt is the necessary evil of winter. We need salt and other ice melt products to keep our roads and properties safe. Undoubtably salt and other ice melt products have saved many lives over the years. If you are a property owner, the last thing that you want is an accident on your property. Sometimes accidents are unavoidable. but it is still in your best interest to take reasonable steps to make your property safe.
Sand Products- One of the best options for winter sand and salt products is a combination of the products. Salt mixed with sand will provide the best traction source. Salt will also keep the sand from freezing in the spreader. Sand does have its down falls because it makes a mess. Sand can be tracked inside your property. In the spring you will also have a sand mess to clean up in your parking lot. Sand and salt applications are much cheaper than straight salt applications. You will have to determine if the cost saving is worth the clean up in the spring.