Clearing Your Home's Sidewalk and the truth on Rock Salt.

CLEARING YOUR HOME’S SIDEWALK:

Does Salt really hurt?

By EFynch, homeowner advice

Baltimore, MD- Does salt really hurt the concrete around your home?

The short answer, yes. The old fashioned rock salt is cheap and plentiful but in most cases can damage your concrete driveway, patio and sidewalk. Concrete is porous and when salt is applied it can be absorbed, freezes, etc.- causing flaking and cracking. If the concrete was done properly, the chances of this happening are reduced however in our estimation (based on gut feelings and not facts), 90% of the concrete that we see may be subject to salt degradation!

There are also cases where too much salt can be applied to correctly cured concrete so therefore no sidewalk is immune- we recommend avoiding rock salt in any case where concrete (or pets) are present.

As an alternative, you want to find a product which contains Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium Chloride or (the more expensive) Glycols as the main ingredient. There are several “hybrids” that may contain a mixture of all these materials with some Sodium (salt). They are effective at lower temperatures, reduce the risk of concrete flaking and help reduce the cost vs. pure Calcium Chloride. We recommend testing these hybrid products before broadly applying to concrete areas.

Finally, if you really want to test the limits and choose an environmentally friendly option try: Sugar Beet Juice, Vodka, Vinegar/ water.

Of course don’t forget,  sand or kitty litter don’t melt ice but provide traction and are worth considering. It’s what they do in snowier climates and it works just fine!

SIDE NOTE- A common misconception is that Rock Salt can hurt your asphalt driveway. This is NOT TRUE (*but if can hurt concrete). Asphalt is okay with Rock Salt and there is now evidence to suggest it will shorten the life. Keep the driveway sealed and there should be no problems. In fact, salt can help your driveway because one major factor in most crack and pot hole growth is ice expanding inside the crack.

Thank you for checking us out. We are EFynch.com and would love it if you sign up here for regular updates like this (we never sell your information to 3rd parties).


EFynch is a Baltimore based home improvement community which provides information and references for Maryland and Washington D.C. Homeowners, Handymen, Plumbers, Electrician, Roofer, Landscapers, Painters, etc. We are here to help you collect information and bids, not sell your contact info. We are for the little man and believe in buying local.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

NOTICE- Legal Disclaimer. The information provided above is for discussion purposes only. EFynch recommends you consult with the original installer of any material on your property prior to taking any action which was discussed or inferred in this blog post. EFynch take no liability of damage which may occur to your property as a result of actions which you have personally taken due to the information provided here. EFynch does not actually provide any physical work to be performed on your property and therefore we always insist you discuss these topics with a local and licensed pro.

Popular posts from this blog

The Big Fuzzy Bumble Bee- What are they? Do they Hurt? How to Kill them.

Image
 EFynch is a handyman and homeowner community board based in Baltimore, Maryland. We provide advice, guidance, and help facilitate communications so, as a homeowner, you can manage any project like a pro! (Baltimore, MD ) Every spring my home is flooded with big, bumbling, furry, clumsy bees. It literally looks like the early stages of some biblical catastrophe. When I first saw them, I didn't know what to do. They'd swarm, swoop, dive, and worst of all- they were living behind my gutters and in my deck digging holes in the wood! I immediately turned to social media where, just as expected, I received a host of conflicting information in which each respondent was more sure than the previous one. So, I rolled up my sleeves, put on my reading glasses and after intense research I compiled the information below and I hope this helps. Grab your tennis rackets and a can of WD-40, because we're in for a wild safari! 1. What are they? They are commonly known as wood
Read more

Shovel your driveway for convenience. Shovel the sidewalk or be FINED!

Image
By: Teris Pantazes of EFynch.com Timonium, MD: After every snowstorm you will ultimately hear the scrape of distant shovels and snowblowers. These are your good neighbors who are out clearing their driveways in order to avoid busting their Phisteris' or just taking a terrible slip.  But I have to tell you, it doesn't end there. As a dog owner (actually, 2 mutts in my household!), I take them out for an stroll every evening. I constantly encounter a lack of sidewalk clearing and because I don't want to be a nosy neighbor, I politely trudge through the snow risking my own demise. Therein lies a problem because without resolution, you are opening yourself to fines and even worse, HOMEOWNER LIABILITY. I live in Baltimore County. But, I have also managed properties in Prince George's, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, and Washington D.C.  I can tell you without any hesitation of doubt that within each and these jurisdictions- THE SIDEWALK IS THE HOMEOWNERS
Read more

Hire a Handyman- Risk Identity Theft- The Pay Per Lead Industry you don't know exists

Image
Baltimore, MD: You've seen the ads on TV. By using that service the trusted home repair advisor who has made the "list" is only a click away. Your home improvement/ handyman fears are now diminished and the smiling (sometimes made up) personality is assuring your comfort. However, there is a glaring problem and it has to do with profits and the security of your personal information.  *The "Before We Start Disclaimer": Not every online home improvement company does what I am about to describe but, it is prevailant. It generates fast and easy income and even us at EFynch had once been heavily advised to participate. But in truth, it is simply sleazy (IMO)- we are not participating in this practice. Pay Per Lead is the horrible and deceptive practice that even the well-known brands in home improvement use. They collect your information (often without your knowledge) and then sell it to local contractors. Sometimes for a hefty fee and without your kno
Read more