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investment-biker t1_ja7ua9k wrote

So this will finally be my first winter storm with a driveway. I'm right on the border between 1-3 and 4-6", probably with some sleet. What do I need to do? Just salt?

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iceydabber t1_ja7xxh1 wrote

Big brush attachment for weed Wacker or old fashion snow shovel to remove snow then salt after the storm is over and done shoveling. Good luck. The sooner you deal with sleet, wet snow, the less likely it'll freeze solid where you don't want it. Bigger snow storms might be easier to shovel twice, in the middle of the storm and again right after it's over.

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qwertyasdf_ t1_ja7yl3l wrote

So no salt before the snow touches down?

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alyinct t1_ja85o5v wrote

Don’t make the mistake I made with my sidewalk in my first year as a homeowner — if you salt first, the bottom layer will thaw into a slushy mess while the snow is still falling, but then it will turn into ice, making it harder to remove even if the rest of the snow layer on top is fluffy. You want to use salt to break the crust on top of the snow to make removal easier, not create a bottom crust.

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glacialerratical t1_ja8720d wrote

The salt helps keep your nice, freshly-shoveled driveway from icing over once the snow has stopped, and helps the remainders melt more quickly in the sun. But it's not going to melt 6 inches of snow. Plus you don't want to dump it all in your yard if you can help it.

The plow trucks use it, but they're also using sand and plowing.

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investment-biker t1_ja7yz8a wrote

I'm also surprised - salt after, not before?

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himewaridesu t1_ja9y70i wrote

Always after unless you want a bigger mess to clean.

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iceydabber t1_jacael5 wrote

if its just a small flurry, yes pre salting will help. but, if its a full snow storm its a waste of time and money because it will be over whelmed with snow and melt underneath doing nothing or will be shoveled or plowed into a snow bank and have to salt again. if you dump a lot in one area it may work.

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Shm0des t1_ja7yyky wrote

This is personal preference and different from other advice you might get, but if you are able to shovel (and depending on the size of your driveway), I would keep a shovel handy and shovel every 2” or so just to make it less labor-intensive. It’s easier to push around an inch or two than to do 4-6” all at once. If it starts as sleet, I would try to shovel that off as soon as it changes to snow so it doesn’t ice over and make your life more difficult. If it starts as snow, I would shovel off the first inch or so and wait for it to finish to do the rest. Finish off with salt at the end to keep any deleterious material from freezing over. Just salting is good for an inch or so. Good luck!

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AmishCableGuy t1_ja8erv6 wrote

This time of year there is more daylight and it is warmer. You don't have to work as hard because it will melt faster. Snow in December isn't going anywhere

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