Naked sidewalks, walkways, and driveways via de-icing materials

I was looking at my stats a minute ago and realized the blog I wrote about finding innocent sellers at home in the Ann Arbor area, naked, was the one that overwhelmingly had the most number of comments.  Let's see if "naked" works the same magic here.

The topic is not about naked really, it is about de-icing materials.  They do make your surfaces naked of ice but it is far less sexy than the commonly recognized naked, I know.  Today at my BNI meeting (Business Network International) one of our members talked about the differences between the de-icing agents that can be used on surfaces.  Some are good at certain temperatures.  Some will not pit your concrete.  Some are colored so you can see what you have spread.  Some will melt ice dams on your roof and not damage the shingles.  Some are environmentally friendly to your plants that line the paved surface you hope to clear from ice.  It was a VERY informative 60 second commercial.  (Those of you in BNI groups know exactly what I mean there.)  Many of us wanted the details and pricing so the representative sent out a mass email to the members to be sure she didn't miss anyone.  I would like to share my new-found knowledge.

Rock Salt:  economical, effective snow and ice melter

Extreme Melt:  Sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium.  Fifteen naturally-occurring trace minerals and soil buffers that protect vegetation.  Easy to apply, less corrosive, instant traction.

Landscapers Choice:  Melts to -8 degrees.  Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA).  No adverse affect on soil, vegetation, or environment.  Biodegradable and nitrogen enhanced to provide plant support and boost spring growth.

Beneath Zero:  Melts to -15 degrees.  Naturally occurring crystal/liquid product.  Prewetting technology (Swift liquefy).  Fast acting, less corrosive.  Safer for pets, vegetation, rooftops, concrete, asphalt, metal, environment.

Mercury (Calcium Chloride/CMA):  Melts to -25 degrees.  Highly visible SolarGlo orange marker for less tracking and waste.  Dustec dust control.  Nothing melts snow and ice faster.  Safe on concrete and vegetation.

Another of our BNI members commented that this was good information to have for her homeowner's insurance clients - slip and fall is a lawsuit waiting to happen.  I'm thinking it is good information to include in our buyer and seller packets so our clients can protect rather than damage their properties in the sincere effort to do the right thing.  For those of us in northern climates, ice is no joke.

Thanks to Lisa Amador of Bushel Center of Hollow Trucking, Belleville, MI for providing this information.  Her company provides all kinds of landscape supplies.  Contact her at lamador@hollowtrucking.com.

Thanks also to Kristine Reed of CM Insurance, Ann Arbor, MI for noting the liability issues regarding home ownership and icy conditions.  She is an independent insurance broker and can be contacted at Kristine@cminsurance.com

Goods and service providers interested in joining a BNI network group, please consider my Ann Arbor chapter, The Referral Source.  We have many open categories we would like to fill.  Please contact me for details, and visit the BNI websites below for BNI information.

www.bni.com

www.bni-mi.com