Snow and ice management go hand in hand in New Paltz and Ulster County NY. If you are a business owner or landlord then you know the importance of having your sidewalks, walkways and parking lots de-iced. Having an experienced snow removal contractor handle your commercial ice management is a smart move. We can help keep your patrons and tenants safe on your property.

The concept around having a “management program” is really about letting Masseo Landscape deal with the snow and ice while you run your business. This means that we will be continually monitoring your situation. Some of the things we monitor for many New Paltz businesses:

  • Sidewalk & walkway width, maintained to proper snow ordinance specs.
  • Hanging ice hazards around buildings.
  • Line of site obstructions at street entry points. (Avoid potential fines and accidents.)

Sand & Salting Method

Managing ice on a commercial level takes experience. You have to know your products and how they perform under differing conditions. Having product knowledge and experience is the key to having an effective snow and ice management program.

Timing is also a significant component in managing icy conditions. An experienced contractor can anticipate job site conditions based on sun exposure and temperature forecasts. Knowing when to lay down salt or sand on a commercial lot or residential driveway is key to preventing nightmarish situations.

Types of Salt for De-icing

In the northeast we manage icy conditions with two common forms of road salt, sodium chloride (mined rock salt/ table salt) and calcium chloride (manufactured).

Finding a product with an acceptable balance of pros and cons without compromising safety is challenging. There really isn’t a one size fits all solution. Our experience shows us that the best de-icer products combine different compounds.

Sodium chloride is abundant in the U.S. and has the lowest cost. However, it is relatively ineffective in temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. It performs best on roadways with high traffic. The heat generated by tire friction aids the ice melting process. Straight sodium chloride is considered to be  corrosive to cars.

Calcium chloride is more effective in colder climates. It is also considered a more environmentally friendly de-icer because it is less harmful to stress-sensitive vegetation. However, it is considered more corrosive to cars than sodium chloride.

Pretreated salt is the most effective de-icing solution and works far better in sub-zero temperatures than any of  straight road salts by themselves. Pretreated salts blend compounds to get the best results. These products are generally more expensive but they are engineered for performance, so less product is needed between applications and this offsets cost.

What We Use

Over the years we  have tried lots of different products and even mixed in some of our own ingenuity by adding to existing products. Currently we are using a pretreated salt called ClearLane®. We think it provides the best protection and you can learn more about this alternative ice melt on our website.

You can also find out more about our residential and commercial snow and ice management contracts.