Ready or Not...
At the risk of jinxing us all, let's talk about how to clean up the white stuff that falls from the sky during winter - and tips to stay safe while doing it.
Ice-melting products should not be applied to concrete that has not cured for at least one year. Doing so could cause scaling, aka flaking, of your concrete surface. Only shoveling is recommended during the first year.
For concrete that has cured for over one year, the safest products to use are blends of Magnesium, Calcium, and Sodium Chlorides. Using an ice-melting product with just one of these chemicals can cause damage to the concrete.
Once the weather turns frightful, follow these recommendations from the National Safety Council to shovel safely:
- Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
- Take it slow - stretch before you begin
- Push the snow rather than lifting it
- If lifting is necessary, only partially fill the shovel and lift with your legs, not your back
- Do not work to the point of exhaustion
|