How do I take care of granite steps and paving in winter?

As you well know, winter brings with it both the magical atmosphere of the winter holidays, as well as ice, snow and cold temperatures. Sidewalks and pavement can easily become a high slip and fall hazard when not properly maintained and prepared. The pavement surface still suffers during the winter, such as cracks, splits or even collapses after a hard winter. That's why our team comes up with some recommendations for your paving.

The main source of pavement damage is water. Water has the property of penetrating into the smallest cracks in the pavement. When the weather gets cold, water will freeze and cause your paver to expand. That's why many people cover their paver with a thin layer of sand during the winter to absorb any potential moisture. Other people prefer to put rock salt to protect the pavement from freezing, but it is not good. Salt is corrosive and abrasive, which can cause damage to the surface of your pavement if it is applied consistently over a long period of time.

But if you still want to use salt for your paving, then you can use calcium chloride or magnesium chloride. Calcium chloride is a fast-acting salt product that withstands frost down to -10 degrees. Magnesium chloride is a popular product that is effective in melting ice without damaging the pavement. Although these 2 products are more expensive than rock salt, you could save money on paving replacement if you use them.
Another possibility to protect the pavement in winter is to use chemical products with a sealing effect, which prevent the penetration of moisture. But the best thing is to waterproof it at the time of purchase. Before laying the pavement, it must be waterproofed with special chemical solutions so that it does not get cracks over time. These cracks appear due to the penetration of water inside the stone and the reduction of its strength. Waterproofing is recommended to be done once every 3 years. With us, waterproofing is a special service that anyone can benefit from. You need to call a consultant who will give you all the details about this service.

These were our recommendations for your paving, and if you have some tips from your own experience, feel free to drop us a line and share with us.