ice assistance needed

[winterbadger]

Does anyone have any experience keeping steps from icing up?

Our house has lovely slate steps out front. The problem with the lovely slate steps is that the owner is very proud of them and doesn't want us using salt or other chemical ice melters on them. Of course, the result is that a thick coat of ice builds up, which may partially melt during the day but refreezes at night, with the assistance of runoff from the ice-dams on the roof. We put down grit, but that is only of limited usefulness, as the runoff carries it away or refreezes with the grit underneath it.

Advice gratefully accepted...

Comments

[tysolna]

How many steps are there? Can you get planks of wood and put them on the steps? Maybe with a bit of tarpaulin underneath, like in building works - then the steps are safe and you can use salt on the wooden planks.

If the owner balks at that, ask him if he would prefer broken limbs (of the people who might slip on the slate steps, that is).

[winterbadger]

The planks are a good idea, and I will pass that on for next time. The problem right now is, there's so much ice on the steps that if we put planks on them, when someone stepped on the plank, it might slide off. :-(

I'm with you on the alternative. My friend and housemate Kevin (who, for his sins, is not the acting super since the firm the landlord hired to act as her agents took her money and never responded to people's calls) was telling me just on Thursday, "But we *can't* use salt on the steps or on the path [which is concrete] because [the landlady] doesn't want them damaged." Somewhat frustrated, I said, "Well, we're going to have a lawsuit then, the first time that someone slips on the steps--will she like that better?"

And who slipped on the steps and either sprained or broke her ankle (they're off at emergency now getting an x-ray)? Kevin's GF. :-(

I like this house, but the LL tries to do everything on the cheap. She got one of the prior residents to do the painting when apartments went empty. She got one of the other chaps, who is a schools theater teacher and therefore handy with a hammer and saw, to build new steps in the back. She gives us all $25 off our monthly rent if we shovel the snow. The house next door (also flats) has a truck of workmen with a plow and a snow-blower show up when there's snow. Does it cost them more then $25 x 6? I bet it does, but the place is *safe*.

[wolfette]

try using kitty litter. It doesn't have any chemical de-icers but it will add some grit/grip.