It is that time of year again where many contractors have winter weather on their minds. Landscaping professionals and contractors have begun making seasonal changes and are stocking up on their winter essentials, including de-icing salt. In today’s article, we at FSI Landscaping Supply want to share some helpful tips all contractors should know about de-icing salt and de-icing solutions.

Order early

The first tip is to order de-icing salt early. You never want to wait until the first snowfall. There are a few reasons why this is number one on our list. Canadian winters are long and unpredictable. As a professional contractor, it is essential to ensure you have enough stock to fulfill contracts. In the event winter elements arrive earlier than expected it is vital to have an ample supply of de-icing salt on hand. You also want to beat the winter rush, which secures your supply—waiting until the last minute creates a stressful situation for you and your team. Once you have ordered your winter supply of de-icing salt, another helpful tip is to ensure your vehicles and any other tools are up to date before the winter season starts. Salt spreader trucks should be well maintained, and all mechanical components should be thoroughly checked.

 Proper storage

Our second tip is to ensure you are storing your bulk supply of de-icing salt correctly. Humidity, wind, moisture, water, and snow can wash and blow away your stockpile. A bulk supply of de-icing salt should be kept on asphalt or concrete surface. The area should be well covered, and a material skirt will prevent a significant amount of salt from escaping. Smaller supplies of de-icing salt should also be well covered and stored in containers. It is essential to keep your stockpile dry and protected. Any loss or damage due to improper storage is money down the drain and time wasted on replenishing the supply.

 Know your de-icing materials and winter weather solutions

Our third tip is to have extensive knowledge of the varieties of de-icing solutions. Snow plow contractors and landscaping contractors can find various de-icing/ winter weather solutions here at FSI Landscaping Supply. We carry bulk de-icing salt; treated de-icing salt/ bulk Thawrox treated salt, Lake Effect Ice Melter, Sifto Xtreme Ice Melter, and sand. Each de-icing/ winter weather solution is unique. The properties of each solution react differently. Temperature, surface, and application methods should be taken into consideration. For example, Bulk Thawrox Treated Salt performs like rock salt and liquid de-icing solution. While Sifto Xtreme Ice Melter significantly melts ice on contact by creating heat. Sand is used to generate traction and can be applied to any surface regardless of how thick the ice may be. Bulk de-icing salt has been used for many years as an effective solution for winter road maintenance as it lowers the freezing point of water. Understanding the unique properties of each material will allow you to make an educated decision on which solution is best, judging based on weather conditions.

It is never too early to begin winter preparations. Here at FSI Landscaping Supply, we carry bulk de-icing salt and various landscaping supplies to support snow plow contractors and landscaping contractors this winter season. Contact us today for more information!