De-icing a wood deck
- Thread starter RonJ
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m1gunner
US Veteran
Salt will make it stay wet longer, also cause it to swell somewhat. Kitty litter or play sand would be a more neutral product. If it is in the sun (probably wouldn't be icy), throw a dark tarp on it.
CW Spook
US Veteran
I thought you said, "Deicing a wood duck"... I was going to suggest 350 degrees.
Andy Griffith
Member
I wouldn't molest the deck with chemicals or abrasives
Put down as many cheap brown Wal-Mart towels as it takes to cover the critical walking surfaces while the area is icy. Way cheaper than one ER visit for a busted wrist (or worse), and the deck won't show signs of an assault when the daffodils are up.
Put down as many cheap brown Wal-Mart towels as it takes to cover the critical walking surfaces while the area is icy. Way cheaper than one ER visit for a busted wrist (or worse), and the deck won't show signs of an assault when the daffodils are up.
buck460XVR
Member
If it's treated wood, salt won't hurt it. The wood will not absorb any more melted ice than it does rain water. I'd be more concerned with damage to the surrounding plants and lawn. Kitty litter is clay and will track into the house, same as sand.......i.e. mud. Most treated wood already has salts in it, that's why squirrels and porcupines love to chew on it.
charlie sherrill
SWCA Member
Wait until it thaws out before you walk on it. You're in Georgia, it won't take long.
Depending on the outside air temperature, use a power washer. I have deiced an entire driveway in 34 degree weather with a 3600 psi power washer. It thaws out ice rapidly and will not re-freeze if the temp is above 32 degrees.
truckemup97
Member
Propane. .
thearborbarber
Member
I use a coupe of handfuls of sand on mine. They once melted I use a broom and clean the sand off.
enfield
US Veteran
I keep a bucket of sand around for just such an occasion. Everything else gets tracked into the house, why not sand?
m75rlg
US Veteran
Stay away from the salt! It won't hurt the wood, but it will damage all the metal nails, screws, bolts, plates and hangers holding the deck together.
The treated wood itself is hard enough on the hardware. I've worked on more than one where the nails were rusted to nothing and permitted failure. Even when you use galvanized hardware, a nick or break in the galvanizing will let rust start.
It is not a terribly unusual occurrence to hear of decks somewhere on the coast collapsing, usually with a number of drunken college students on spring break, from hardware failure causing serious injuries and occasional deaths.
don p
Member
You could always drink copious amounts of beer and we all know the outcome of the kidneys being full will be, de-iceing.
Look at all the fun we could have with the beer. Write your name in ice?
Look at all the fun we could have with the beer. Write your name in ice?
I think Charlie's already drank all the beer!
Thanks for the replies. We finally had to resort to salt. We got partial melting which just made a thin layer of water on top of the ice. Treacherous footing!!
