With the winter season approaching fast, we know that Chicago winters can be very unpredictable when it comes to winter weather. Buildings and Associations should be preparing to get good pricing on snow removal and salt before the snow and cold sneak up on you.
An important decision for buildings every year is what kind of de-icer to use for the season. Common walkways must be de-iced to ensure the safety and comfort of walking around your property. Here are some comparisons of different snow-melting salt options PRG Management has reviewed to help you decide on property management in Chicago this winter.
· Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride
o Price scale: Medium
o Fast acting and effective alternative to the commonly used rock salt. Mostly safe for grass if used minimally to moderately. Melts to -25 degrees F.
· Magnesium Chloride
o Price scale: Medium
o Fast acting and effective alternative to the commonly used rock salt. Mostly safe for grass if used minimally to moderately. Melts to -13 degrees F, and has a higher chance of damaging asphalt or sidewalks.
· Potassium Chloride
o Price Scale: High
o Safest Pet and Garden friendly alternative. Melts to -25 degrees F.
· Sodium Chloride/Rock Salt
o Price Scale: Low
o Basic rock salt. Extremely cheap but toxic to pets, damages surfaces, and not garden-friendly.
· Metal and stairs
o Metal and stairs can be a hassle. There are several options for melting ice on metal stairs to minimize, such as Urea based de-icers or using a brine (liquid de-icer) solution. Another solution would be to use Sand. Sand is not a de-icer, but if you shovel beforehand, sand can provide traction for walking on the stairs along with preventing new ice from forming on top of it.
These are the most common types of de-icer that we at PRG Property Management have worked with in the past. As a premier Property Management company in Chicago, we are more than happy to help your building manage any upcoming winter woes to ensure a safe environment for everyone!