While this winter so far has been the most mild we have seen in years, knowing how unpredictable and brutal Canadian winters can be, it wouldn’t be surprising if we experienced a flurry of snow with below freezing temperatures. When this inevitably happens, we need to start thinking about ways you can prepare your property for thick ice and injuries that can come from slips and falls.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether people visit for a New Year’s party, your Amazon driver brought your late Christmas presents, or you are returning home at 1am from a New Year’s party after one too many, protecting yourself from slips and falls, and a lawsuit, should be a major priority. Of course, the title of this article is just a joke; this is not real legal advice. As a law student, that will put me into a lawsuit of my own. We can, however, mention the obvious way to keep out of any trouble involving your property, which is to make sure the ice is taken care of and leaving zero room for anyone to slip and break something.&nbsp;&nbsp;Number one, shovel properly. If you shovel relatively soon after snow falls, the chances of snow hardening and turning into slippery ice below the surface will decrease. If you are able to scare fresh snow off your property before it has the chance to solidify and harden, you should be okay going forward. Simply putting salt on a snowy surface will be quite less efficient than shovelling and proving a clean base for salt to do its job. It’s good to be thorough.&nbsp;This includes the sidewalks around your property. Many municipalities will help clear snow on the sidewalks, but in other jurisdictions it is the responsibility of the homeowner. Takes time to understand the local rules and your obligations under your town or city’s bylaws.&nbsp;&nbsp;When salting your property, note that there are several types of salt that may serve your purpose differently. If you have pets and don’t want them to experience sore paws or you want to protect your New Years shoes, you can find less abrasive salt types. Calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium magnesium acetate are all good options if you need salt that won’t ruin your pet’s paws and digestive health, are good for the environment, and won’t ruin the concrete of your driveway. These are more expensive than rock salt, or sodium chloride, a type of salt known to be bad for your driveway and you pet’s or children’s health if they get it in their mouths.&nbsp;&nbsp;For safety reasons, don’t use your bare hands when spreading salt across your driveway. Not only will it irritate your cold dry skin but should you fail to wash your hands and get your fingers in your mouth, you’re now ingesting toxins. Dump the salt out evenly across your property. If you pile salt onto thicker patches of ice, you will just risk driveway damage. Excessive salt does not melt the ice faster, but it will damage your driveway faster. Kelmann Restoration mentions that the salt you choose should not just depend on environmental, safety, and damage prevention concerns; you need to choose a type of salt that will work below certain temperatures. As an example, calcium chlorate that we mentioned earlier has been known to work for temperatures as low as -25°F.&nbsp;&nbsp;A final important note takes us back to concrete damage. The most brutal and bumpy road you drive on across town has likely experienced this damage from salt. Concrete absorbs water, and when ice melts it falls within concrete’s pores. When the water freezes, it stays in the pore. When it melts again, it causes the pores to expand and crack. Rock salt has been known to accelerate this cycle to a point where it spins out of control and causes significant damage. The main reason it is used by businesses and many people is because it is the cheapest option. Whether you believe your concrete or yourself should bear the cost is up to you.&nbsp;Say warm and stay safe.

Keeping Your Home’s Porch Safe for You and Your Guests

Homeowner Winter Safety Tips from RIFO, prevent slips and falls in unpredictable Canadian winters in 2024

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