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Discussion Forum

Ice melt on pavers

hammer | Posted in General Discussion on January 3, 2008 03:29am

Not eactly a building question, but you guys have a broad range of good ideas.

Situation: Our Teen’s party got out of hand and we now have solid ice around the Hot Tub. Yes, were good parents and yes we were supervising the party, but during a water fight it only takes a second to form ice in Minnesota. I think the temp was 1 deg.

How do you safely remove ice from a paver patio? Don’t like salt, it kills the grass and ice melt can sometimes delaminate or cracks pavers? The ice is about 3″ thick.

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Replies

  1. MGMaxwell | Jan 03, 2008 03:31am | #1

    Since I wasn't invited I don't feel like telling you.

     

     

    Actually, I live in Florida and don't have the foggiest idea.

     

    How about "Game ON!"

  2. Stuart | Jan 03, 2008 03:33am | #2

    Wait a couple days....the weather report is for temps in the 30s this weekend.

    1. hammer | Jan 03, 2008 03:43am | #4

      The forecast also say's freezing rain.

      Might not notice it if everything is iced over.

  3. User avater
    IMERC | Jan 03, 2008 03:35am | #3

    wait till spring...

     

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  4. alwaysoverbudget | Jan 03, 2008 03:44am | #5

    here's what i got, blow dryer,propane torch, electric blanket,summer.

     

    for real i have heard a fertilizer high in nitetrigon will melt snow and not kill anything.larry

    spell check couldn't even spell nitro

    if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

    1. hammer | Jan 03, 2008 03:54am | #6

      I got some "HALTS" fertilizer left over. I'll Give that a try.

      Maybe it will halt ice from coming back :-)

  5. barmil | Jan 04, 2008 05:11am | #7

    True ice melt, using the various forms of something-chloride (other than sodium, like calcium) will not hurt your concrete or your plants. I've used it for ages on otherwise fragile concrete with no problem. This from Wisconsin, where we now have 12 inches on the ground and temps below freezing. You have to live with where you are.

  6. WayneL5 | Jan 04, 2008 05:59am | #8

    I'd throw a carpet runner over it to walk on until the weather is warm enough to melt it.  Definitely not salt.  I don't think you can melt 3" with any chemical without hurting the grass.  Fertilizer might melt some, but the amount you'd need for 3" may be too much for the lawn to handle.

  7. NathanL | Jan 04, 2008 06:31am | #9

    There are a varity of safe melt products that are avaiable that will work with out hurting your plants, pavers or pets. Call your local landscape supply yard ( not home depot) and they should be able to help you.  You will want a salt free alternative or it will harm all of the above.  If none of this works post here and I will arrage to get you some of the product we carry but the shipping might be more than you pay locally.

    1. hammer | Jan 04, 2008 06:50pm | #10

      Thanks all for the suggestions.

      I now have rugs over the ice.The weather is warming this weekend. I'll try the fertilizer and did locate a Calcium chloride product.

      Thanks again.

      1. cameraman | Jan 04, 2008 08:26pm | #11

        What are you going to do when the wife finds her good rugs frozen to the pavers???

         

        You might be sleeping on those rugs!

        1. hammer | Jan 04, 2008 08:45pm | #12

          Thats what the Calcium chloride is for... or pray for a fresh snow fall.

           

  8. CAGIV | Jan 04, 2008 08:53pm | #13

    Get a weed burner that will hook up to a propane tank.  Local rental stores around me rent them.  This is only practical if you have a propane tank or can borrow a friend/neighbors.

    http://tinyurl.com/2ftv2k

    Check out what I'm talking about at that link if you do not know what I'm talking about.  It's a link to amazon

    Team Logo

    1. theslateman | Jan 04, 2008 08:55pm | #15

      we're thinking alike this afternoon.

  9. theslateman | Jan 04, 2008 08:54pm | #14

    If you really want to have it gone- melt it with one of these.

    http://www.flameengineering.com/products.htm

  10. DaveRicheson | Jan 04, 2008 09:58pm | #16

    Try a piece of black poly over it. Let old Sol do the work for you, if it gets direct sunlight. Even a solar blanket (bubble wrap) will work. Anything to concentrate the solar  heat available on a cold day. The carpet will insulate that chunk of ice.

     

    Dave

  11. Roger6 | Jan 04, 2008 10:23pm | #17

    Hammer  and the group. I live in Northern WI above the 45th parallel so I have had experience with this sort of thing.  The problem as I see it is not with the melting of ice with whatever product you migh choose but rather when the solution dilutes then sinks into pourus and cracked surfaces and refreezes. The expansion force of freezing water is tremendous. Doesn't move much but can't be contained either.  The freeze thaw cycle causes millions of dollars in damage each year to roads and sidewalks in northern climates.  I would reccomend a good sealer application next summer when the pavers are clean and dry. Won't stop the freezing but will limit the absorbtion.  I have used a sealer from TK Products-TKBSMTO matte finish costs about $10.00 per gallon in bulk. I would also reccomend adding a TK Tri Grip compound for smooth concrete surfaces. 

    A side note: salt does not appear to cause any damage to concrete surfaces as long as it does not ever freeze.   I have a heated garage that my car thaws out in everynight. The road salt-snow mixture has not caused any observable damage in eight years of use.  The concrete was originally sealed with a linseed oil product.  Roger

    1. hammer | Jan 04, 2008 10:41pm | #18

      Thanks Roger for explaining the true problem with ice melting, for those that don't live in Siberia like us.

      I will add a sealer to the porch this summer.

      I always remove the slush and try to dry the surface before it re-freezes. Since the populous suggestion is using a Propane torch. Does this exaporate the melted ice? More likely allows the thawed water to seep between all the pavers where it will cause damage. The ice melters on the other hand leaves a residue that prevents re-freezing. Without the porch sealed I might be best off waiting for Spring.

      1. Roger6 | Jan 05, 2008 10:04pm | #19

        Hammer, I really don't think the propane torch will do a whole lot of good. In addition to creating a lot free water there is a chance of further damage to your pavers by turning the frozen water that has soaked into the pavers into steam and popping the masonary surface. I would think keeping the surface clear of ice and snow best as possible along with careful use of the deicers. No paving surface is worth an injury from a fall. Pavers can be reluctantly replaced but bones take a long time to heal. Roger

  12. frenchy | Jan 06, 2008 12:25am | #20

    hammer,

     anything dark!

       Toss ashes onto it and the ash quickly turns black absorbs suns rays and is a non harmfull way to melt ice..

      I use black walnut shavings but you might not have the quanity I have.. come on over for some if you don't  .  ;-) 

    1. hammer | Jan 07, 2008 07:03pm | #21

      All good ideas.

      I rethought my idea of using the ice melt. With people running barefoot on the pavers, to and from the tub, not sure residual Calcium Chloride would be good on the feet and then getting into the spa water.

      Back to melting it with heat. This is what I did:  I setup an enclosure using metal garage floor drip pans up on bricks then ran my 60K BTU Kerosene torpedoe heater underneath. Then setup my shopvac at the base of the ice. Ran this most of the day and checked every half hour to make sure the shopvac was catching the melted ice. After 4 gallons of kerosene and two empties of the shopvac, the ice was gone. I ran the heater until the pavers were completely dry.

      Not sure how long this will last since freezing rain is predicted tonight. Might drap the area with poly this evening.

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