How To Get Rid Of Ice On Sidewalk

greg123 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 1, 2004; 6455 posts; 844 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 5th, 2017 11:49 am

How to get rid of ice/frozen end of the driveway

Snow truck went by when the weather was above 0C then freezing rain and today's temperature drop, I ended up with 15cm of ice/slush/hard packed snow which is scrapping bottom of my car every time I go over.

With no super warm weather in the next week, what's the easiest way to get rid of it? Salt/ice melt won't help since the weather is too cold?

Jan 5th, 2017 12:15 pm

hulk007: Sr. Member; Sep 9, 2013; 633 posts; 473 upvotes; Ottawa

Jan 5th, 2017 12:15 pm

Jan 5th, 2017 12:19 pm

dirtmover: Deal Addict; Nov 2, 2005; 4369 posts; 1634 upvotes; WFH

Jan 5th, 2017 12:19 pm

Jan 5th, 2017 12:21 pm

azn_dan: Deal Addict; Feb 10, 2006; 3505 posts; 727 upvotes

Jan 5th, 2017 12:21 pm

get an ice scraper or a spade. That's what I used for the ice storm we had a few years back. Just be careful as you can easily damage an asphalt driveway.

Jan 5th, 2017 12:34 pm

MacGyver: Deal Addict; Mar 8, 2002; 4232 posts; 875 upvotes; Ottawa

Jan 5th, 2017 12:34 pm

For that amount of ice, you'll need a pick axe. A few swift blows will break it up so you can move big chunks out of the way.

Jan 5th, 2017 2:58 pm

jdmfishingonly: Deal Fanatic; Oct 13, 2008; 5314 posts; 2117 upvotes; Durham

Jan 5th, 2017 2:58 pm

#1 ... when the snow plow comes ... right after they pack the snow and crap at the end of the driveway ... pull out your shovels and it's party time ... happy shovelling.

Since you decided to leave the snowbank the way it is ... then too bad, so sad ... shovel it or put massive amount of road salt to kill it. Putting the regular Road Salt would be ok ... the road/cement belongs to the government so even if breaks and crumbles ... it's not your issue.

Or pour some buckets of HOT water and then shovel it away ..

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Jan 5th, 2017 3:41 pm

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 12470 posts; 7056 upvotes; Brampton

Jan 5th, 2017 3:41 pm

If you can't do it in one shot. Create little trenches and start putting salt(icemelter if you have it) down. The extra surface area will help the salt get in there.

Jan 5th, 2017 9:24 pm

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 22669 posts; 8822 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Jan 5th, 2017 9:24 pm

Its not below -18C in Toronto currently so salt will work.
Try a bag of it, it will melt holes in the ice, see if that makes it easier to remove with a spade.
You can also use a bucket of hot water and add salt by the handful until no more will dissolve (stir with each addition), and pour slowly and carefully on your ice. Repeat as needed.

If you have spade bits or hole saw bits you can drill the ice for inserting salt or brine to destroy the structural integrity of the ice.

You can also hook up a garden hose, and blast it for a few minutes (assuming the tap will flow once turned on), plain water will still melt ice, though you will end up with more ice in the end which will be even more spread out. Be sure to shut off the water in the basement again and drain the outside faucet.

People have also been known to use a chainsaw for ice sculpting (i would avoid trying an electric model) or even a sledge hammer.

You sir are a genius, i now want one of these, and i have no ice that even needs melting

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

Jan 5th, 2017 11:33 pm

Faith24: Deal Addict; Feb 29, 2012; 2654 posts; 1457 upvotes; Richmond

Jan 5th, 2017 11:33 pm

Jan 6th, 2017 5:48 pm

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 22669 posts; 8822 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Jan 6th, 2017 5:48 pm

I suspect this will have unintended side effects

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

Jan 6th, 2017 6:33 pm

gh05t: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2004; 9750 posts; 2003 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 6th, 2017 6:33 pm

Get an Ice chopper at Canadiantire, Home Depot etc.
It's like a flat spade with a sharper straight edge.
It will not fail.

Jan 6th, 2017 6:56 pm

greg123 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 1, 2004; 6455 posts; 844 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 6th, 2017 6:56 pm

AV-Fishing wrote: ↑ #1 ... when the snow plow comes ... right after they pack the snow and crap at the end of the driveway ... pull out your shovels and it's party time ... happy shovelling.

Since you decided to leave the snowbank the way it is ... then too bad, so sad ... shovel it or put massive amount of road salt to kill it. Putting the regular Road Salt would be ok ... the road/cement belongs to the government so even if breaks and crumbles ... it's not your issue.

Or pour some buckets of HOT water and then shovel it away ..

The snow plow comes at night usually after 12am... in the morning it was already solid

Jan 6th, 2017 6:58 pm

greg123 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 1, 2004; 6455 posts; 844 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 6th, 2017 6:58 pm

gh05t wrote: ↑ Get an Ice chopper at Canadiantire, Home Depot etc.
It's like a flat spade with a sharper straight edge.
It will not fail.

I actually bought one yesterday, not doing much, probably axe would work better, will try and get one this weekend. Dumped a bag of salt across the highest point at lunch all the way across, didn't seem to do much.

Jan 6th, 2017 7:05 pm

jdmfishingonly: Deal Fanatic; Oct 13, 2008; 5314 posts; 2117 upvotes; Durham

Jan 6th, 2017 7:05 pm

greg123 wrote: ↑ The snow plow comes at night usually after 12am... in the morning it was already solid

I guess every area is different .... I'm in Oshawa and they come mid-afternoon

Jan 6th, 2017 7:07 pm

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 22669 posts; 8822 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Jan 6th, 2017 7:07 pm

greg123 wrote: ↑ I actually bought one yesterday, not doing much, probably axe would work better, will try and get one this weekend. Dumped a bag of salt across the highest point at lunch all the way across, didn't seem to do much.

What kind of salt are you using, it will melt ice down to -18C unless its not sodium chloride.
Perhaps if you try any of my suggestions above you should try a different brand of salt, one that is actually salt.

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

Jan 6th, 2017 9:21 pm

fungery: Sr. Member; Nov 5, 2013; 624 posts; 122 upvotes

Jan 6th, 2017 9:21 pm

If the next snowfall is coming soon, pay $20 to $30 to the driver of your neighbour's snow removal company to get rid of ice dam for you. His tractor could blast it away in minutes.

Jan 6th, 2017 11:00 pm

foodyforlife: Deal Addict; Jan 6, 2015; 2860 posts; 781 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Jan 6th, 2017 11:00 pm

AV-Fishing wrote: ↑ I guess every area is different .... I'm in Oshawa and they come mid-afternoon

Snow plows don't come at a set time. They plow the sidestreets after X cm of snow and after the highways are plowed.

Jan 7th, 2017 11:55 am

gh05t: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2004; 9750 posts; 2003 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 7th, 2017 11:55 am

greg123 wrote: ↑ I actually bought one yesterday, not doing much, probably axe would work better, will try and get one this weekend. Dumped a bag of salt across the highest point at lunch all the way across, didn't seem to do much.

Technique matters.

Also giving the salt enough time to start working, forming a brine etc and getting into and under the ice may make the job easier.
Easiest done when the sun is out as well despite the chill.
Also all salt products do not work the same and may be different from ice melters.

Feb 16th, 2019 2:20 pm

JackiG66038: Newbie; Feb 15, 2019; 1 posts

Feb 16th, 2019 2:20 pm

AV-Fishing wrote: ↑ #1 ... when the snow plow comes ... right after they pack the snow and crap at the end of the driveway ... pull out your shovels and it's party time ... happy shovelling.

Since you decided to leave the snowbank the way it is ... then too bad, so sad ... shovel it or put massive amount of road salt to kill it. Putting the regular Road Salt would be ok ... the road/cement belongs to the government so even if breaks and crumbles ... it's not your issue.

Or pour some buckets of HOT water and then shovel it away ..

The snowplow came in the middle of the night and it was already frozen when I got up!