When should I start Salt Spreading for Winter?
Due to the sometimes terrible UK weather, especially during wintertime, you may need to know all about salt spreading. Effective spreading of salt, preferably before ice and snow build-up, will help clear roads and pathways. This is especially true when there is a sudden drop in temperature forecast or just taking place.
Road Salt, Rock salt or grit as it is sometimes known, is widely used across the UK to treat roads, paths, pavements and areas such as car parks in order to prevent ice from forming on the treated surface.
This is our guide to salt spreading, including when it should be spread and how much you need to distribute for the most effective de-icing.
What makes rock salt effective?
Rock salt is effective because it actually has a lower freezing point than plain water. Spreading rock salt crystals out across a road, pavement, path or driveway, in the optimum concentration is vital.
This is because all the cars, lorries and pedestrians too, on foot, will crush the crystals further, helping to spread them all out across the ice. The freezing point of the resultant salt and water mix is thus lowered, compared to plain water, preventing ice from developing.
On average, rock salt will have a rather more minimal effect at temperatures below minus 5 degrees centigrade or thereabouts. There will be no real measurable effect on preventing ice from forming when temperatures dip below minus 18 degrees centigrade or so! Ice will start readily forming again, usually between minus 5 to minus 10 degrees centigrade.
This is why spreading salt is important, prior to initial ice formation. Once the ice has formed it is difficult to get the salt to go into a solution with the frozen water, or ice as it is more commonly known!
Types of spreading salt
There are basically two types of rock salt that are available. These are brown grit and white pure salt; both of these materials have their own benefits. Brown rock salt is usually a dry form of rock and salt grit, which enables operators to spread the material more easily.
White rock salt is, as alluded to before, a cleaner product than brown rock salt. It will not leave any residue behind because the crystals will all fully dissolve in water, running of when the ice melts into storm drains and the like.
This makes white rock salt better for use where people are walking on foot, such as around car parks, outside schools, in public places plus around offices, shops and outside other buildings.
When is salt spreading best performed?
It is best to spread rock salt before freezing temperatures occur, and usually when they are first forecast. This will help to stop any snow or rain downpours from being able to freeze. The precaution of spreading rock salt prior to the arrival of colder temperatures will also reduce the amount of rock salt that is required to make treated surfaces safe. When should I start Salt Spreading for Winter?
Due to the sometimes terrible UK weather, especially during wintertime, you may need to know all about salt spreading. Effective spreading of salt, preferably before ice and snow build-up, will help clear roads and pathways. This is especially true when there is a sudden drop in temperature forecast or just taking place.
Any failure to do so may lead to thick accumulation of snow everywhere and you will be left with no choice except taking the help of a professional winter snow removal company.
Road Salt, Rock salt or grit as it is sometimes known, is widely used across the UK to treat roads, paths, pavements and areas such as car parks in order to prevent ice from forming on the treated surface.
This is our guide to salt spreading, including when it should be spread and how much you need to distribute for the most effective de-icing.
What makes rock salt effective?
Rock salt is effective because it actually has a lower freezing point than plain water. Spreading rock salt crystals out across a road, pavement, path or driveway, in the optimum concentration is vital.
This is because all the cars, lorries and pedestrians too, on foot, will crush the crystals further, helping to spread them all out across the ice. The freezing point of the resultant salt and water mix is thus lowered, compared to plain water, preventing ice from developing.
On average, rock salt will have a rather more minimal effect at temperatures below minus 5 degrees centigrade or thereabouts. There will be no real measurable effect on preventing ice from forming when temperatures dip below minus 18 degrees centigrade or so! Ice will start readily forming again, usually between minus 5 to minus 10 degrees centigrade.
This is why spreading salt is important, prior to initial ice formation. Once the ice has formed it is difficult to get the salt to go into a solution with the frozen water, or ice as it is more commonly known!
Types of spreading salt
There are basically two types of rock salt that are available. These are brown grit and white pure salt; both of these materials have their own benefits. Brown rock salt is usually a dry form of rock and salt grit, which enables operators to spread the material more easily.
White rock salt is, as alluded to before, a cleaner product than brown rock salt. It will not leave any residue behind because the crystals will all fully dissolve in water, running of when the ice melts into storm drains and the like road gritting company.
This makes white rock salt better for use where people are walking on foot, such as around car parks, outside schools, in public places plus around offices, shops and outside other buildings.
When is salt spreading best performed?
It is best to spread rock salt before freezing temperatures occur, and usually when they are first forecast. This will help to stop any snow or rain downpours from being able to freeze. The precaution of spreading rock salt prior to the arrival of colder temperatures will also reduce the amount of rock salt that is required to make treated surfaces safe.
