Ugh, My Driveway

[midaycare]

We have a super tough driveway in the winter. It's hilly, steep and gets icy. This morning I had 2 parents gets stuck in my driveway. One parent we diverted to another driveway to park and walk over so she wouldn't hit the other 2 stuck cars. Then she's annoyed because she has to walk so far (I would be too) in this freezing cold weather.

Any tips besides salt? It's $50 for 200 lbs, and it takes 100 lbs for 1 day on a really icy day.

[Unregistered]

I fill 5 gallon buckets with sand from my sandbox in the fall, then mix it with ice melt salt for traction. In the spring I buy some fresh sand for the sandbox so the sand purchase does double duty.

[daycarediva]

I was just going to say mix it with sand. Can you do the end of the driveway and a path to walk? How long is the driveway?

We are moving and the house has a 300ft long driveway. It's been a PITA so far this winter but the sand/salt mix helps!

[Play Care]

I warn parents about my driveway during the interview and let them know that if they don't have 4 wheel/AWD they are NOT making it up during storm conditions.
The guy who plows out the driveway does drop sand when it's icy, but there are times it doesn't really help.
No one has ever complained, but if they did I would give them the option of paying for commercial plow service for my Christmas gift.

[midaycare]

I warn parents about my driveway during the interview and let them know that if they don't have 4 wheel/AWD they are NOT making it up during storm conditions.
The guy who plows out the driveway does drop sand when it's icy, but there are times it doesn't really help.
No one has ever complained, but if they did I would give them the option of paying for commercial plow service for my Christmas gift.

I warn about this too, but I still feel guilty. Most people tend to start when there's no snow on the ground and really have no idea what they are getting into.

[Blackcat31]

We have a super tough driveway in the winter. It's hilly, steep and gets icy. This morning I had 2 parents gets stuck in my driveway. One parent we diverted to another driveway to park and walk over so she wouldn't hit the other 2 stuck cars. Then she's annoyed because she has to walk so far (I would be too) in this freezing cold weather.

Any tips besides salt? It's $50 for 200 lbs, and it takes 100 lbs for 1 day on a really icy day.

Is the issue ice or is it because it's too snowy?

My driveway (at my house) is almost a mile long, has two flat curves and one the curves while going up a fairly steep hill.

Granted we don't have daycare parent traffic on our driveway but I understand the perils of having a long driveway, living in a snowy climate and needing to account for more than one vehicle on the driveway at a time.....

So curious if the issue is ice so the driveway is slippery or if it's an issue of clearing snow so the driveway is driveable... depending on the issue, the solution we use varies.

[midaycare]

I was just going to say mix it with sand. Can you do the end of the driveway and a path to walk? How long is the driveway?

We are moving and the house has a 300ft long driveway. It's been a PITA so far this winter but the sand/salt mix helps!

Our driveway is 1/10th of a mile, so a little over 500 feet. We do have it plowed, but that doesn't help with ice. Sand is impossible to find starting in about August here. We live on huge beaches and sand dunes, but they are currently covered with snow And I think taking from them is illegal anyway.

Maybe a gravel mix?

[midaycare]

I fill 5 gallon buckets with sand from my sandbox in the fall, then mix it with ice melt salt for traction. In the spring I buy some fresh sand for the sandbox so the sand purchase does double duty.

Good tip for next year!

[Snowmom]

This reminded me of crazydaycarelady's driveway/gate issue last year. ::

I sympathize! I'm dreading when dh leaves on business trips next month. That means I need to get up and do the plowing. Yuck!

[laundrymom]

Our driveway is 1/10th of a mile, so a little over 500 feet. We do have it plowed, but that doesn't help with ice. Sand is impossible to find starting in about August here. We live on huge beaches and sand dunes, but they are currently covered with snow And I think taking from them is illegal anyway.

Maybe a gravel mix?

You should be able to order it from your local gravel yard or building supply company sand is a common mix item for mortar and concrete and I believe that most places generally stock those your round if not they be happy to order for you

[Ariana]

I used to live WAY up north and we never used salt on the roads we used sand. Sand mixed with salt is great because the salt melts the ice and then the sand gets trapped in the ice making traction. Salt only works in warmish temperatures.

Another idea is that Eco Traction. I am not sure if they sell it in the USA as it is manufactured in Canada but it is some sort of lava rock that melts the ice in the sun and is very much like gravel. It works really well and I prefer it to salt. It is very expensive though so if you have sand/gravel use that instead.

[Ariana]

You should be able to order it from your local gravel yard or building supply company sand is a common mix item for mortar and concrete and I believe that most places generally stock those your round if not they be happy to order for you

I would think anything that can create traction would work. Just peruse the hardware store and buy a bag of anything "sand" like...could be limestone, mortor mix. I think anything might work.

[midaycare]

Is the issue ice or is it because it's too snowy?

My driveway (at my house) is almost a mile long, has two flat curves and one the curves while going up a fairly steep hill.

Granted we don't have daycare parent traffic on our driveway but I understand the perils of having a long driveway, living in a snowy climate and needing to account for more than one vehicle on the driveway at a time.....

So curious if the issue is ice so the driveway is slippery or if it's an issue of clearing snow so the driveway is driveable... depending on the issue, the solution we use varies.

It's the ice. We have someone to snow plow for us in two or more inches. The issue is the steep hill, combined with when the temp drops and the less than two inches turns to ice. If you don't have a good winter vehicle, it's near impossible to get up the hill.

Salt makes it possible when it's above -15. But it is expensive!

[midaycare]

You should be able to order it from your local gravel yard or building supply company sand is a common mix item for mortar and concrete and I believe that most places generally stock those your round if not they be happy to order for you

Okay, great tip! I'm just picturing play sand type sand. I'm not savvy in this way at all. But if you want to have a conversation about historical figures, IEP'S, natural medications, or literacy in education, I'm your gal. In other words, I'm not very useful

[midaycare]

I used to live WAY up north and we never used salt on the roads we used sand. Sand mixed with salt is great because the salt melts the ice and then the sand gets trapped in the ice making traction. Salt only works in warmish temperatures.

Another idea is that Eco Traction. I am not sure if they sell it in the USA as it is manufactured in Canada but it is some sort of lava rock that melts the ice in the sun and is very much like gravel. It works really well and I prefer it to salt. It is very expensive though so if you have sand/gravel use that instead.

Interesting! I thought salt was "the" thing.