Ice Melter on Colored Concrete

Maybe the contractor was concerned about damage to the texture and not the color?  Concrete-safe alternatives are not as effective at thawing snow and ice, which is why they are not recommended for stamped concrete. The water in any grooves can repeatedly thaw and freeze, resulting in thermal expansion. I know little about concrete, but I understand there is a rule-of-thumb that it takes about one month to fully cure to maximum hardness per one inch of thickness. 

Just my two cents worth, which probably isn't worth a penny.

I was given a container of non-salt ice-melt by a neighbor that has a concrete driveway because it was damaging the surface.  This is a fertilizer-based, "safe for concrete" product. Not colored, other than some ingredient has a slight tan color.
I don't imagine they are all the same but be careful and get some real-world use experience as you are attempting to do.

Just saw Peter's post and it could well be that this stuff is making the freeze-thaw problem worse. I do know that after many years the neighbor's concrete driveway is in excellent shape but all it sees is sand sometimes.

Yes Bill, the contractor suggested plain sand, I am the H&S guy at work, I just worry that plain sand may not adequately eliminate the risk of a customer or employee slipping on the underlying ice.

Maybe mix the sand and ice melt 50/50.  This way the ice melts and the sand provides traction if it starts to freeze again.  

Start at 50/50 and move up and down with the amounts until you dial it in.

Mike

I find the effectiveness of sand roughly depends on 2 things.
First, is the coarseness/size of the sand grains. I find the fine stuff they sell at places like the building supply store to mix mortar etc. with to be too fine for a real good job. Certainly much better than nothing, though. I go out in the spring, after several days of sunny, drying weather and sweep up the road sand before the street cleaner comes along. It is much coarser and works better - and is free with a bit of work. I use it on my concrete paver stones and also as the main anti-slip mechanism for my asphalt driveway although it does get some salt in places at times.
Second, is the temperature. If it is really cold such as below -20C/0F and colder the ice gets too hard for the sand to grip it and it just slides to some extent on the hard ice surface. Of course, that is the temperature salt starts to lose its effectiveness and some of the melters do so at even higher temperatures.
Can you check at some other commercial properties in your area to see what they use?

I read where someone said cat litter is better than sand -- as it also soaks up the blood after you slip and fall.

The best way to avoid a slippery sidewalk is to remove the snow before anyone walks on it. 

Your contractor should seal the fresh concrete after a  a short period of time.  This will help prevent the water and salt from entering the concrete.  Concrete is porous and water can get down beneath the surface.  Then when it freezes the water expands and fractures the concrete.

If you want a better sand to use, use masonry sand.  The grains are sharp and will dig into the ice, unlike play or fill sands.

When it does come time to use melting products, it all depends on what form of frozen water you have on the concrete.  Ice melters work great for colder temperatures, after the snow is cleared, and only if the ice is thin.  These products tend to have small crystals or flakes.  If you have a thick layer of ice, you need larger rock salt.  It will provide traction as foot traffic mashes it into the ice, and breaks up the ice.  If you just use a small-crystal ice melt, they will just burn through the ice without substantially weakening the ice or melting it   It may even form a liquid layer under the ice, but leave a thick layer of ice on top with small holes in it.

And, if you remember back to your HS chemistry class, it’s the MASS of the solute that gets dissolved that is proportional to the decrease in freezing temperature.  But too much product is harmful to infrastructure and green things later…

Addy protocol:  been commercially plowing/blowing snow and spreading salt or ice melt since 2008…

Jason

admin wrote:

I read where someone said cat litter is better than sand -- as it also soaks up the blood after you slip and fall.

I tried cat litter, once, and it does work for anti-slip but if there is any liquid it turns into the worst gummy mess you will ever encounter.