Rock Salt for Paths and Driveways

The winter weather presents us with some undesirable conditions to negotiate from low sun to mist to frost, snow and ice. Your path, driveway and pavement de-icer duties beckon.

Getting from A to B in one piece shouldn’t resemble a military mission or an ice dancing spectacle. Secure a solution which costs little but could save you and your visitors from a lot of pain. The HSE states, unsurprisingly, that slips, and trip related accidents rise in autumn and winter, please don’t become a statistic.

Speak to our experienced and knowledgeable specialists at our Tadley, Newbury and Windlesham depots about your best ally this winter: rock salt.

Rock salt

£5.40 per 25kg bag.

Rock salt is arguably your best defence against accidents and its low cost must be more attractive than dicing with danger every time you step outside?

Rock salt, also called road salt, is different to standard winter grit; winter grit is normally a salt and sand mix and leaves a sandy residue. The salt content in the rock salt efficiently de-ices the road, path or driveway it is applied to and the grit which remains offers purchase underfoot and tyre.

Distributing rock salt as a path, driveway or pavement de-icer should not be left until the last moment; the salt needs time to dissolve for optimum efficiency. Compacted snow and ice are harder to treat so they require action before any pedestrians or drivers are expected on the surface.

Existing snow or ice will melt down as the salt dissolves, and any new potential covering will be stopped from settling. Rock salt is simple, inexpensive and proven to work well. The Highways Agency uses rock salt on public roads.

Stocks can run low in extremely adverse weather so please try to plan ahead. We keep a generous supply of driveway grit/salt in our depots but being prepared and knowing that your rock salt is already stored in a shed or garage delivers peace of mind, whatever the weather throws at you.

After rainfall, early morning dew and even on dry surfaces, when temperatures decrease, the risks increase; it’s best to use rock salt whenever there is a chance of safety being affected.

The HSE also suggests having effective lighting installed so you can see where any hazards may lie, clearing leaves and moss from driveways and paths reduces the slip risk too.

You may also find that laying a covering or temporary roof can lessen the amount of ice, snow and frost on the ground. A tarpaulin (pulled over the landscaping material and removed pre-traffic) or a timber construction like an arbour or archway can be a great addition to your exterior space. Functionality, safety and an aesthetically pleasing result.

We stock tarpaulin in three sizes:

• 2m x 3m - £6.25.
  
• 3m x 4m - £7.95.
  
• 4m x 5m - £13.50.
  

If you aren’t confident with driveway grit/salt or pavement de-icer practices, please have a chat with one of our team members. We want to help you be safe and enjoy peace of mind this season.