David Combs wrote:

Near the house, our due-North-pointing front walk is shielded from the sun by some
nice bushes. Thus that part NEVER sees the sun.

When it snows, starts melting a bit,
and then the weather turns *really* cold

And with no sun, it stays solid for days and days and days.

I once bought a bag of road-salt (that's my just-now-made-up name
for it), and tried it on the "patio" at our front door --
the beginning of the sidewalk out to the street.

Totally shaded.

Was slate.

DAMN -- that stuff ATE INTO THE SLATE. Little inverse-volcanoes(sp?),
cones down into the slate.

That was 5 or 10 years ago. Obviously, I didn't try that again.

Now, I've been hearing that calcium-chloride pellets melt the ice,
and yet do NOT hurt slate, etc.

So I bought a 25lb bag of the stuff.

Before I sprinkled some on the front walk, I decided
to read the instructions.

OOPS!

Bag says it's "Not recommended for":
concrete less than one year old
precast steps
prestessed concrete
masonry (stone, brick, mortar joints)

The concrete will "spall", water will get into
anything porous and then freeze and expand and
destroy the surface, etc.

Please, what's YOUR experience with the stuff?

Or maybe with yet some OTHER product?

Thanks!

David

Check out potassium acetate. For example, look at the write-up on
"Natural Melt" at:

http://www.roadsolutionsinc.com/deicing-products.htm

It's relatively expensive but safe. I got some at a local farm supply
place.