Winter Hardscape Care Tips
Caring For Your Patio in the Winter:
Pavers are built to withstand the elements but if you want to keep them in tip-top shape, winter hardscape care is something you should know about. Over the past ten years, Rochester has averaged 96 inches of snow a year annually, making it one of the snowiest cities in the US. Over time, all of that snow and ice puts a lot of wear and tear on surfaces, like roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and patios.
Remember, safety first! Not only for yourself and your family, but also for the Amazon delivery person, the pizza guy, the next-door neighbor, or really anyone who might be walking on surfaces around your home. When it comes time to clear a path and remove the snow away from your patio, we highly recommend using a non-metal snow shovel. Physically removing snow is the best method. Pavers can be plowed and shoveled just like asphalt or concrete pavements.
We do not recommend using rock salt. Sodium chloride, i.e., “rock salt”, is the most harmful to pavers (also concrete and your landscape). Calcium chloride is preferable to rock salt for snow and ice removal. It is less damaging to the concrete pavers. Using a biodegradable de-icer can make your patio and walkway much safer for you and your family without harming the surface or surrounding environment.
Additional Winter Care Tips:
Use Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) products. These de-icers are biodegradable and are much safer for your pets!
Pretreat your surface before it snows. This will prevent ice and snow from building up and helps you use less product in the long run.
Always use a plastic shovel to avoid damaging your surface. Metal shovels can end up scraping your hardscape.
Plowing: Use a UHMW Polyethylene blade edge on the bottom of the plow to avoid scraping the surface.
Avoid chopping ice using metal shovels as their sharp edges can damage your pavers.
Use de-icer sparingly! Don’t allow the product to pile up.
Wash off any excess de-icer that remains after a snow or ice event.