Does Calcium Chloride Ice Melt Damage Concrete

While opinions are not always the same most experts agree that calcium chloride is the best product for those seeking an ice melt that is safe for concrete.

Does calcium chloride ice melt damage concrete.

Most de icers for concrete are chloride combinations usually sodium rock salt or magnesium. Ice melt can make your winter safer and more manageable. In fact ice removal is sometimes required for rentals or public properties. There has been concern that de icers can damage the concrete due to the chemicals that melt the ice.

By using a potassium chloride product you extend the time available for more melted ice water to drain off your concrete or evaporate resulting in less water being absorbed by the concrete. Calcium chloride can cause skin irritation and is high concentrations chemically attack concrete potassium chloride limited to range of temperature use unless mixed with other chemicals magnesium chloride releases less chloride and in general less toxic to plants. The use of deicers to help speed up snow removal and prevent ice more than makes up for the slight damage it may cause to concrete. For example ice melter containing calcium chloride tends to re freeze more quickly compared to ice melter containing potassium chloride.

This exchange is irreversible and severely weakens and destroys structural integrity and longevity 4. It works by preventing snow particles from sticking to each other on the concrete surface. It is less harmful to concrete and vegetation. Calcium chloride and magnesium same family as calcium work against the calcium in concrete sidewalks and parking structures through a process called lon exchange1 where calcium from ice melt exchanges places with calcium in concrete.

It s much easier to replace a driveway than a hip bone. However it becomes less effective as temperatures dip to less than 20 degrees fahrenheit.