So, you want to know how much salt you need for a parking lot. We will give you the easy answer just below, but you need to know the correct answer is “it depends.” So, look at the quick, baseline answer, then keep on reading.
Baseline Answer:
2.3 pounds or more per 1000 square feet at 30°pavement temperature for a light snow or icing.
Now that you have a baseline, you need to remember thatweather conditions and the type of salt you use will change how much salt youneed.
The colder it is, the more salt you need. Going from 31° to 16°can potentially TRIPPLE your salt usage.
The more precipitation you need to cut through, the more saltyou need. You need less for a ¼ inch ofsnow versus a ½ inch of ice.
If there is heavy icing, you will need more product. How much more product depends on how much icethere is.
If you salt without plowing, you will need more than if youplow and then salt.
Pretreating pavement with a brine solution can save you saltover pretreating by spreading rock salt.
Prewetting salt can reduce salt usage by as much as 30%.
Treating pavement with brine is usually best forpre-treating and for ice. Coarse saltusually cuts through snow compaction best and is often favored by contractors forknocking out snow.
All other things being equal, calcium chloride and magnesiumchloride will need less salt than straight rock salt. Both magnesium chloride and calcium chloridehave more melting power. For example, rock salt can only melt ice down to 15°F,but calcium chloride can work in temperatures as cold as -15°F.
In the end, you need to use your head. As you get experience, you will get a betterfeeling for how much salt you need to spread for each situation.
A few other points to remember.
Your biggest cost waster is overspreading by spreading morematerial than necessary or by placing material where it is not needed. When you put too much salt down, not only doyou waste money, but that salt has to go somewhere so you likely just tossedyour money (salt) in the river. Try toavoid overspreading.
Some people find it helpful to buy salt that has color sothat it is easier to see when you spread it to help minimize over-application.
Quality applicators will spread evenly saving you time and salt. Don’t get a cheap spreader just so you canwaste money on salt. This rule appliesto everything from V-box spreaders to small walk-behind spreaders. Make sure you buy quality equipment.
Get your salt or deicing products from a good supplier. If you buy salt from us, we can give you agreat deal on products and we can answer some of your questions about using de-icingchemicals (like calcium chloride) or what to do in specific weather situations.
The Wisconsin Salt Wise partnership has a handy little saltapplication calculator here. Be sureto scroll to the bottom of the page to find the calculator.The state of Minnesotahas a handy
