Salt + Brownstone steps = no good?

salt corrosion is a slow process, and can be mitigated by not grossly over-using salt, as most people do. Ice melters are supposed to aid you in removing existing ice, and preventing an over-night freezeover once the melting starts. Most people use salt in the same way the DOT uses it on roadways – so that it melts *all* the ice, and then they add some more later to create a traction surface… and this is wrong. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are both pretty tough on concrete, brick, mortar, and etc… but if i had to choose one, i would choose calcium chloride based melters. not as harsh on porous surfaces and less staining. Magnesium chloride’s main benefit is that it melts and dissolves faster… but the drawback is that this makes it less effective for over-night ice protection (and often leads to over-application to compensate) Personally, I’ve used pawsafe and safe-paws, since I and my tenants have dogs. While it’s not the only ice melter that’s safer in terms of corosion – it’s one of the more available ones. It is more expensive, but used properly (ie: a little more shovel work needed) i hardly need more than 2 (large) bags over the course of a snowy winter, and *never* ever have a slippery front of steps – so cost is negligible. My parents, who are the “spray and pray” salters, will go through 4-5 large bags during their winter, with similar frontage and fewer steps. That said – pawsafe type, and other glycol melters are slower working.

Goatcrapp

in Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks and Steps 11 years and 4 months ago

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stickerhappy | 11 years and 4 months ago

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With all the snow, I thought I recall hearing that standard rock salt is not good (may eat away and damage it) for melting the snow/ice on brownstone stoop steps- is that true? If not, what do people use to keep the snow melted? I usually just use the cheap rock slat from Lowe’s. Thanks for any advice!

asimplenoise | 11 years and 4 months ago

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I was going to post this same question, thanks for beating me to the punch. I look forward to some helpful insight from the gang here. I’ve got a huge bag of Mag Chloride from costco which is somehow different from standard rock salt I believe

brokelin | 11 years and 4 months ago

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We always used salt on our brownstone stairs and stoop, with no damage…but then, we didn’t need salt all that much in Brooklyn, especially as we were on the sunnier side of the street (the one that gets southern light) where snow melted more quickly. But then, we did have out brownstone stairs and stoop redone shortly after I moved in, so they weren’t very old…perhaps salt takes a toll over decades, I don’t know..

nalusurf | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Just found this link to the NY Landmarks Conservancy. It gives some good tips and suggestions about what ingredients in salt to avoid. They say that damage from salt is a very slow process so as to the effects on newly resurfaced steps, it may not show for quite sometime. I am going to employ some of these tips as well. http://www.nylandmarks.org/programs_services/technical_assistance/projects/dont_salt_your_steps_winter_technical_tips/

BobMarvin | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks for that link nalusurf. I posted it on our local PLG listserve.