{"id":10549,"date":"2022-10-03T07:36:18","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T07:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/?p=10549"},"modified":"2022-10-24T07:22:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-24T07:22:44","slug":"how-to-de-ice-a-gravel-driveway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/how-to-de-ice-a-gravel-driveway\/","title":{"rendered":"How To De-Ice A Gravel Driveway?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Compared to paved, asphalt and concrete driveways, a gravel driveway is cheaper to install and usually easier to maintain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it has one major downside &#8211; it can be difficult to clear snow off a gravel driveway. You risk removing the gravel along with the snow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s not to mean it\u2019s impossible &#8211; it just requires a bit more care and the right tools. In this guide, we discuss the best methods to de-ice a gravel driveway without damaging it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Melt Ice On A Gravel Driveway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Driveway-Planner-10.jpg\" alt=\"How To Melt Ice On A Gravel Driveway\" class=\"wp-image-10550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Driveway-Planner-10.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Driveway-Planner-10-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Driveway-Planner-10-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Driveway-Planner-10-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the easiest and safest ways to get snow off a gravel driveway is to melt it away. The ice melts and flows away without moving the gravel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two ways to melt ice on a gravel driveway: using salt or heat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Deicing salts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Salt is the most <a href=\"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/can-you-salt-a-gravel-driveway\/\">commonly used de-icer<\/a>. It lowers the freezing point of ice, causing ice to melt. There are different kinds of salt you can use depending on your budget and plant or pet safety considerations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Rock salt or sodium chloride is inexpensive and works well to melt ice. On the downside, it can harm plants as well as pets.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Magnesium chloride is more environmentally friendly than rock salt. It also melts ice faster. On the downside, it is more expensive.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Calcium chloride can work at very low temperatures up to -25F, making it ideal for deicing driveways in very cold climates. It\u2019s also less harmful than sodium chloride.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Potassium chloride is not a commonly used deicer. That\u2019s because it only works in temperatures of 25F or higher and works slower than other types of salts.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are on a budget, go with sodium chloride. If you want to protect your plants and lawn or you want a fast-acting de-icer, get magnesium chloride. If you live in a cold climate or want a less harmful (but still affordable) alternative to rock salt, use calcium chloride.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mix the salt with sand and apply it on the driveway. This will make the driveway less slippery.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another tip is to apply the de-icer salt just before it snows. This will be more effective in keeping the driveway ice-free compared to applying salt on top of the snow.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Heated driveway mats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don&#8217;t want to use any salt on your driveway, the other option is using heat to melt the ice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heated mats are typically used on walkways but you can also lay them down on a gravel driveway. They are tough enough to drive over.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest advantage of heated mats is that they melt the snow as soon as it falls, thus keeping the driveway clear all the time. Two, it\u2019s a hands-free de-icing method.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you lay the mats down and plug them in, there\u2019s nothing else you need to do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their disadvantage is that getting enough mats for a long driveway can be expensive. Operating these mats will also increase your power bills since they run on electricity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this reason, I recommend heated mats for shorter driveways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also heating systems that are installed under driveways. But these are not ideal for gravel driveways. Because gravel is loose, it doesn&#8217;t conduct heat effectively. Gravel also shifts around, which can damage the heating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Plow A Gravel Driveway?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Plowing snow off a concrete or paver driveway works really well since these are smooth and firm surfaces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s trickier to plow snow off a gravel driveway. If you are not careful, you\u2019ll scrape away gravel along with the snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/how-to-snow-plow-a-driveway\/\">To safely use a snow plow<\/a> on a gravel driveway, make sure the plow blade has plow shoes attached. Plow shoes keep the blade raised above the ground, preventing it from digging into the gravel.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adjust the shoes such that the plow is floating half an inch above the gravel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your plow doesn&#8217;t have shoes, you can use a plumbing pipe to achieve the same result. Here\u2019s a video showing how to do this hack.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"ATV Snow Plow Hack For Plowing a Gravel Drive\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RYE3Qf-3WVk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With that done, now you can get started clearing the snow. Here are some tips to keep in mind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Go slowly especially if you are dealing with wet and compacted snow. If you are too rough or quick, you might push gravel off the driveway.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Start plowing from the middle of the driveway while pushing the snow to the sides. Use a V-blade or an angled blade to clear the snow to the sides.<\/li><li>Keep an ear out in case the blade starts scraping gravel. Immediately stop the plow and adjust its height.&nbsp;<\/li><li>For very thick snow, don\u2019t attempt to clear it in one pass. Multiple passes will make your work easier and protect the gravel.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Don&#8217;t use the snow plow if there\u2019s less than 2 inches of snow on the driveway. Either wait for more snow to fall or use another more delicate method to clear the snow such as de-icing salt or a shovel.&nbsp;<\/li><li>After you\u2019ve finished plowing, use a shovel, rake, snow\/leaf blower, or broom to remove the remaining thin layer of snow on the gravel.&nbsp; <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Use A Snow Blower On A Gravel Driveway?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/how-to-snow-blow-a-gravel-driveway\/\">use a snow blower<\/a> on a gravel driveway. It is especially great for clearing a long driveway that would take forever with a shovel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, as with a snow plow, there\u2019s a risk of picking up gravel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To avoid this, adjust the skid shoes on your snow blower. Lower the shoes to raise the auger a half inch to an inch above the gravel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That way, the auger will pick up only ice and leave the gravel untouched.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some augers are also adjustable. This is common in 2 and 3-stage snow blowers. Raise the auger such that it\u2019s not resting on the ground.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you are done blowing snow, you\u2019ll be left with a thin layer on the gravel. Use salt or a shovel to get rid of it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also just leave it and let it melt in the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a helpful video on how to use a snow blower on a gravel driveway.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SNOWBLOWER ON A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C0JKXJnRkrE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Shovel Snow Off Gravel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If all you have is a snow shovel or even a regular shovel (<a href=\"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/remove-snow-from-driveway-without-shovel\/\">here<\/a> is what to do if you don&#8217;t have it), you can use it to clear snow off a gravel driveway. If the ice is thick and packed, use a metal shovel to break it up.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since it is labor and time intensive, shoveling snow works best for smaller driveways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is figuring out how deep the snow is. Choose one spot and push the shovel into the snow to see how far the gravel surface is.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you know where the gravel starts, you can shovel just above it to avoid scooping up gravel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As with other methods, you\u2019ll inevitably leave a thin layer of snow on the driveway once you are done. You cannot shovel it without picking up gravel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can leave it to melt, use a de-icing salt or brush it away if it is soft and light.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><em><strong>Tip: <\/strong>If the snow is soft and has yet to compact, you can also clear it away using a rake. A roof snow rake works really well.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Use A Leaf Blower For Snow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you can use a leaf blower to get rid of snow from a gravel driveway. A leaf blower is especially ideal for fresh snow that\u2019s still soft.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, there are several issues with using a leaf blower to de-ice a gravel driveway.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>One, you can only use a gas powered leaf blower. Because electricity and water don&#8217;t mix, you cannot use a corded or battery powered leaf blower.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Secondly, most gas leaf blowers are strong enough to fling gravel. So you have to be careful not to blow away gravel with the snow.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Find a throttle setting that clears away the snow but doesn&#8217;t blow the gravel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, however, I recommend using a leaf blower only on paved, concrete or asphalt driveways. For a gravel driveway, stick to one of the methods we have discussed above.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whichever method you choose to clear your gravel driveway, the priority is to ensure you don&#8217;t damage the driveway.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my opinion, de-icing with salt is the best way to keep your gravel driveway clear in the winter. It doesn&#8217;t take too much work, doesn&#8217;t require expensive machinery, and it doesn&#8217;t carry away the gravel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you are concerned about the environmental impact of salt, a plow or a snow blower can also work as long as you use them correctly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And for a small driveway, a shovel or rake is enough to get rid of the snow. The trick is to shovel or rake the ice regularly to keep it from getting too thick or hard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Compared to paved, asphalt and concrete driveways, a gravel driveway is cheaper to install and usually easier to maintain.&nbsp; But it has one major downside &#8211; it can be difficult to clear snow off a gravel driveway. You risk removing the gravel along with the snow.&nbsp; That\u2019s not to mean it\u2019s impossible &#8211; it just &#8230; <a title=\"How To De-Ice A Gravel Driveway?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/how-to-de-ice-a-gravel-driveway\/\" aria-label=\"More on How To De-Ice A Gravel Driveway?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10549"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10549"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10693,"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10549\/revisions\/10693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivewayplanner.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}