Deicing New Concrete

Cma is considered no more corrosive than tap water and does not harm vegetation or ponds lakes and streams.

Deicing new concrete.

De icers should not be used on new concrete wait until it is at least one year old and it has been treated with a sealer to reduce the amount of salt that can penetrate the surface. In fact concrete sealers of any type have been proven to increase the lifespan of salt treated concrete three to five times. If your concrete has rebar or wire mesh in it the liquid brine solution can cause the metal to corrode rust metal expands when it rusts this could also cause the surface to pop or scale. When you spread rock salt on your concrete to melt snow and ice the salt dissolves the snow and makes a salt water mush.

Deicing salts have no direct effect on sealers. You can always use straight abrasives such as sand on any new concrete and minimize the likelihood of spalling no matter what the quality. Use more of the mixture on the parts of the stairs that get the most foot traffic and less on the edges. Spread a thin layer of the magnesium chloride and sand mixture over the concrete stairs.

The melting action of the salt allows water to enter the concrete. But before i get to the de icers let me talk about a new kid on the block the ice that is simply not slippery eco ice grip. Sealers for decorative concrete often fail in areas where deicing salts are applied or that receive drip off from parked cars. If deicers must be used then it is important that the owner of the new or susceptible concrete understands the risks associated with freeze point depression deicers and freeze thaw cycles.

It does take concrete at least 30 days and sometimes up to a year to reach its full strength. Considered the most environmentally friendly concrete deicer. Some deicing salts for concrete are corrosive sodium chloride rock salt and calcium chloride are two. If the temperature then drops and the water freezes the growing ice crystals can blast apart the concrete.

First the good news. Cma was produced for new concrete less than 2 years old. Cma is a combination of dolomitic lime and acetic acid the principle component of vinegar. Just use some sand in the meantime and clean the concrete off regularly.

Many ice melting products and salt products can and will damage concrete.