Snow Removal for Pavers, Porcelain & Stone | Zwart’s
How to Remove Snow & Ice Without Damaging Your Pavers, Porcelain or Natural Stone
Winter in Southern Georgian Bay means snow, ice, freeze-thaw cycles and plenty of shovelling. But before you grab the metal shovel and a bag of salt, it’s worth knowing that the way you remove snow and ice can have a big impact on your outdoor surfaces.
Porcelain pavers, concrete pavers, natural stone and poured concrete all have different characteristics. A snow removal method that works well on one surface may scratch, stain or deteriorate another.
At Zwart’s Topsoil + Landscape Supplies Ltd. in Thornbury, we work with a wide variety of landscaping and hardscaping materials. Here’s what you should know before the snow starts to fly.
First Rule of Winter Maintenance: Know Your Surface
Before choosing a shovel, snow blower or de-icing product, identify what you’re clearing.
A driveway made from concrete pavers may have different maintenance requirements than a porcelain patio or natural stone walkway. Even products within the same category can have different manufacturer recommendations.
When in doubt, check the care instructions for your specific product before applying a chemical de-icer.
Porcelain Pavers: Avoid Metal Edges
Porcelain is an excellent outdoor material because it is dense, durable and has very low water absorption. However, you still want to protect its finished surface.
What to use:
Plastic snow shovels
Rubber-edged or polyurethane-edged snow removal equipment
Soft or non-metal snow brooms for lighter snow
Manufacturer-approved traction or de-icing products
What to avoid:
Bare metal shovel edges
Metal snowplow blades directly contacting the porcelain
Chipping or hammering at ice with metal tools
Abrasive tools that could scratch the surface
The goal is to remove snow without repeatedly scraping a hard metal edge across your porcelain.
Concrete Pavers: Plastic Is Your Friend
Concrete pavers are designed to handle Canadian weather, but their surfaces can still be scratched or marked by improper snow removal equipment.
It is recommended to use a plastic shovel or protective plastic or rubber edges on plows and snow blowers. Metal blades can scratch the surface and may leave behind small metal fragments that can eventually create rust-coloured marks.
For light snowfall, a stiff non-metal broom can sometimes clear the surface before the snow becomes packed down.
If you use a snow removal contractor, let them know that you have a finished paver surface and ask that appropriate protective edges be used on their equipment.
Can You Use Salt on Concrete Pavers?
This is where the answer becomes a little more complicated.
For many standard concrete pavers, sodium chloride, or ordinary rock salt, may be appropriate when used sparingly. Calcium chloride may also be suitable for certain pavers, particularly during colder conditions.
However, excessive use of any de-icing product should be avoided.
It is generally recommended to avoid magnesium-based de-icers on concrete pavers, as they can be aggressive and may damage some concrete surfaces.
There are also exceptions. Certain wet-cast pavers, slabs, coping and specialty products may have different requirements or may not be suitable for chemical de-icers at all.
Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the specific product installed at your home.
And remember: more salt does not necessarily mean better results. Use only the amount needed, and once conditions improve, sweep away excess material rather than allowing it to sit on the surface.
When Rock Salt Stops Working
Temperature matters.
Ordinary rock salt becomes significantly less effective as temperatures fall and generally loses much of its ice-melting effectiveness around -9°C (16°F).
Other de-icers, including calcium chloride, can remain effective at considerably colder temperatures. However, effectiveness doesn't automatically mean a product is suitable for every surface.
Always check before applying a chemical de-icer.
Natural Stone: Take a More Cautious Approach
Natural stone varies considerably in composition, porosity and finish, so there isn't one de-icing recommendation that applies to every type of stone.
Repeated exposure to de-icing chemicals, moisture and freeze-thaw conditions may affect certain natural stones or their surrounding joints.
A safer winter strategy is to remove snow promptly before it becomes compacted, use plastic or rubber-edged snow removal tools, avoid aggressively chipping ice from the stone and consider traction materials rather than chemical de-icers where appropriate.
If you don't know exactly what type of stone you have, ask before applying a chemical product.
What About Sand?
Sometimes you don't actually need to melt the ice.
Coarse sand can provide traction on slippery areas without relying on a chemical melting agent.
Sand won't melt the ice, but it can improve grip until temperatures rise enough for the ice to be safely removed. This can make it particularly useful around sensitive hardscape surfaces where minimizing chemical exposure is a priority.
Just keep in mind that sand will eventually need to be swept or cleaned away.
Don't Forget Your Gardens and Lawn
Your hardscaping isn't the only consideration when choosing a de-icer.
Rock salt can negatively affect nearby grass, garden beds, plants and some metals, particularly when it is repeatedly applied or when salty snow is piled in the same location throughout the winter.
Be mindful of where you're spreading salt and where you're pushing or blowing treated snow.
Using the minimum effective amount can help protect both your hardscape and the landscaping surrounding it.
Quick Guide: What Should You Use?
Porcelain pavers:Choose plastic or rubber-edged snow removal equipment. Avoid bare metal edges and confirm compatibility before using chemical de-icers.
Concrete pavers:Use plastic shovels or protected plow blades. Certain de-icing products may be appropriate when used sparingly, but always check the manufacturer's recommendations.
Wet-cast slabs and coping:Be particularly cautious with chemical de-icers. Some products should not be exposed to them.
Natural stone:Use non-metal snow removal tools and take a conservative approach to de-icers. Check recommendations for the specific type of stone.
Sensitive surfaces or areas beside gardens:Consider coarse sand for traction instead of automatically reaching for salt.
A Few Extra Winter Tips
Clear snow sooner rather than later. Fresh snow is much easier to remove than snow that has been walked or driven on and compacted into ice.
Don't attack stubborn ice with a metal shovel, pick or sharp tool. You may solve the ice problem while creating a permanent scratch or chip.
Avoid oversalting. More isn't necessarily better, and excess de-icer can end up on your hardscaping, lawn and gardens.
Give your hardscaping a spring clean. Once winter is over, thoroughly cleaning paver surfaces can help remove remaining salt, sand and de-icing residue.
Talk to your snow removal company. If you use a contractor, make sure they know what type of surface they're clearing and what equipment is appropriate.
Protect the Outdoor Space You Invested In
Your patio, walkway and driveway are designed to live outdoors, but proper winter maintenance can help keep them looking their best year after year.
The biggest takeaway is simple: don't treat every outdoor surface the same.
Before using a metal blade, salt or chemical de-icer, make sure it's appropriate for the material beneath the snow.
Not sure what's safe for your pavers, porcelain or natural stone?
Stop by Zwart’s Topsoil + Landscape Supplies Ltd. in Thornbury.
Our team can help you better understand your hardscape materials and the best way to care for them throughout an Ontario winter.
Zwart’s Topsoil + Landscape Supplies Ltd.
496907 Grey Road 2Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
519-599-1027
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