Thanks to the snowy climate, winter is one of the most picturesque seasons. However, white powder and ice on roads and sidewalks can make everyday life difficult. According to the law, owners of land adjacent to footpaths are obliged to remove snow from them. Is this rule considered always the same? If this obligation also applies to you, see how to quickly and effectively remove snow from givea day without using salt.
How to remove snow from paving?
Property owners have the obligation to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks if the sidewalk is directly adjacent to their property, i.e. there is nothing separating the two areas. For leaving snow on the sidewalk, which endangers other users, the authority can take legal responsibility and award painful fines. However, winter snow removal and de-icing requires attention not only behind the fence – piles of snow, ice and soggy mud also accumulate on the sidewalk near the property and around the house. How to clean the sidewalk so that you can walk safely on the driveway and garden paths despite the adverse winter weather?
In the past, in addition to the traditional method of shoveling snow and sweeping dirt with wider brooms, wood ash was also used to maintain the footpath. The reason was that it was natural and did not harm the environment in any way. Currently, ready-made deicers are used much more often, although their composition is questionable.
If you care about the effectiveness of the chosen method, but at the same time you also care about the well-being of your plants, we recommend with which to sprinkle the paving stones so that the ice melts and the material is not chemically damaged.
Calcium chloride for paving
In winter, people most often de-ice sidewalks and driveways on properties by sprinkling sand or salt, specifically sodium chloride, on the frozen surface. Although sand is a safe and relatively effective solution (the only problem is that it gets dirty), salt not only sticks to shoes, but also harms plants. After it is spread and the snow melts, the “protective” layer disappears, but this has nothing to do with cleaning the soil.
Harmful salt penetrates the soil together with water, accumulates and contributes to deepening the phenomenon of physiological drought. The result of excessive salting is severe damage to the plants, which dry out and die. It is also dangerous for the aesthetic materials from which sidewalks and driveways are made. Although paving stones are quite durable and do not get damaged easily, it is better not to take risks and reach for a safer means than salt.
The calcium chloride mixture removes frost very effectively and you can sprinkle it directly on the paving stones. It works excellently and maintains its effectiveness even at very low temperatures. Why does calcium chloride work so well? First, its chemical properties allow it to absorb moisture, and the heat generated during the initiated processes contributes to the melting of ice layers and melting of snow. It is a great option if you want your garden and its immediate surroundings to look clean and aesthetic in winter – sprinkling the pavement with calcium chloride does not result in the formation of slush.
How to skillfully clean and sprinkle sidewalks?
Do not wait for a large layer of ice to form on the pavement. Take action as soon as the ice builds up. Thanks to the action of calcium chloride, additional layers are not easily covered by the pavement. If defrosting is accompanied by snow removal, try to collect the snow in piles in one place near the curb. In this way, you will not obstruct traffic, neither pedestrians nor drivers. Are you wondering if the calcium chloride you use in the winter can damage the pavers around the house or on the sidewalk? Some salts can actually chemically damage the surface, but you would have to repeatedly sprinkle them on the same places and use an extremely high concentration product.
Also, don’t forget that according to current legislation, you don’t always have to deal with removing snow from the sidewalk between the house and the public road, but only from your own garden. The task of cleaning the sidewalk rests with the municipality if it is separated from your property by a wider strip of lawn, ornamental greenery or a drainage ditch.
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