Maintaining Your Driveway
Our Driveways Derby team understand that keeping your driveway in good condition is important. That is why homeowners should make sure they carry out regular maintenance in order to fully care for their drives.
Wednesday 18 February 2015
Driveways Derby | 9 Eco-friendly Ways to De-Ice Your Driveway
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Why
de ice your driveway
Even now the driveways derby team know that we are receiving
very bad weather; snow and ice has been a particular problem. Having a clear
and safe driveway is important for homeowners and also in terms of driveway
care and maintenance.
Salt is the main product
used to remove snow and ice however it can prove to be more harm than good.
There are various alternatives to salt you can try that can work just as well.
Problems
with Salt
·
Environment: Excess
salts build up in the soil, just as they do with chemical fertilizers.
· Plants
& Wildlife: It can be harmful to your garden plants and
shrubs. For example salt residue prevents plants from absorbing moisture and
nutrients.
· Water
contamination: Salts can leach heavy metals, which
eventually make their way into water supplies.
· Pets
& Animals: Salt can be dangerous for pets and wildlife
who can suffer allergies and salt burns.
How to de ice your driveway
Shovel
Snow
When the snow stops the best
course of action is to start removing snow by shovelling.
Go
Electric
If you prefer to use a snow
blower, get an electric model. Gas-powered blowers generate a lot more air and
noise pollution.
Snow
Melt Mat
If you're installing a new
driveway or replacing an old one, lay down electric wires to heat the driveway
from below and radiate heat upwards. Yes, you pay for electricity, so it's not
as "eco" as shovelling by hand.
Get
a Grip
To create better grip and
traction try scattering sand or even birdseed. Though it won’t melt the snow it
allows for better grip on icy surfaces.
De-icer
De Ices work by losing the
ice from below enabling you to shovel the snow more easily. However limit the
amount that you use, just piling on de icer will not clear the path and will be
harmful to your driveway in excess.
Pick
Your Salt Carefully
Salt is effective at
removing snow and ice from your driveway. If you do have to use it then choose
which type carefully. Try to avoid those that have high contents of potassium
chloride and sodium chloride. Calcium chloride salts are better but still have
their disadvantages. When using salt avoid using it near garden plants,
wildlife and pets.
Avoid
Cat Litter or Wood Ashes
Neither melts snow and ice,
and they have a tendency to make a mess.
Avoid
Products that Contain Nitrogen-Based Urea
They're more expensive and
are not effective once the temperature drops below 20°F. It also can cause water contamination that can
be harmful if it gets into the water supply.
Get
the Boot
Wear boots that have a solid
toe and bottom treads to help increase your grip on icy surfaces.
Our
Thoughts
Our driveways derby team
value the importance of keeping your driveways clear and maintained to improve their
longevity. By following some of these useful tips for de icing your driveway
without the use of salts you can prevent damage to your driveway.
Tuesday 17 February 2015
Driveways Derby | Clearing Paths and Driveways
Clearing Paths and Driveways
The driveways Derby team know that winter is far from over for some people and this can make looking after your driveways more difficult. Ensuring you keep your driveways clear is important to maintaining there life and keeping yourself and people in the home safe when stepping out. This article can help with ideas and tips on how to keep your paths and driveways clear when the weather takes a turn for the worse.
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