Salt free ice melt.
Best de icer for stamped concrete.
Good ice melt choices for concrete are calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.
When you are looking for the best concrete deicer you have to take into consideration your environment temperatures and the corrosive properties of the melting agent.
If we re talking about pure melting power then the best deicer for concrete is calcium chloride.
Calcium chloride these round white pellets when used in a high enough concentration may chemically attack concrete.
This will also eliminate the need to shovel these areas as the snow can be left to melt in the springtime.
Magnesium chloride the best safest and newest deicing slat on the market.
Experts agree that calcium chloride is the best ice melt for concrete surfaces.
While potassium chloride is good for the environment it damages the concrete and typically costs 3 5 times more.
Calcium chloride will melt snow and ice on concrete in temperatures as low as 25 degrees fahrenheit.
The dissolving process is exothermic and generates heat of up to 60 degrees celsius.
Being a hygroscopic compound it absorbs moisture and thereafter starts dissolving.
It will work in temperatures as cold as 13ºf.
For areas that will be in use during the winter you need to choose a salt free ice melt such as safe paw ice melter to prevent discoloration.
Another good de icer is cma or calcium magnesium acetate which doesn t wash away as easily as the others and has a lower environmental impact.
Potassium chloride will only work if the air temperature is about 15ºf.
Homeowners with stamped concrete should avoid salt based ice melts at all cost.