For many people who have opted to have a new, beautiful, sustainably draining resin driveway installed, this has been their first winter with the new surface.

For the most part, the improved SuDS-compliant nature of a resin driveway means that during regularly cold and rainy nights, water will not pool and run down the drive as it would with one made from concrete or heavily sealed stone flags, but instead naturally soak into the surface, slowing down surface water and avoiding flood risks.

However, given the particularly arctic conditions we have seen so far this year, and the tendency for sloped driveways to get a little slippery when snow and ice fall onto them, a natural question for many people looking into them is whether you can use salt to grit the surface.

It is a common choice, but not the best option for a resin drive. Here are the reasons why.

Slippery Salt

Resin drives are usually very effective in winter, because the resin remains flexible, is typically undamaged by even freezing temperatures, and the permeability means that there is less water to ice over and cause a slip hazard.

Sometimes, however, the temperature can be so cold that the surface freezes regardless, and the natural inclination is to reach for a container of salt and pour it on the drive to provide a little more grip and to help any cars trying to safely move on and off of it.

However, salt is not necessarily the best option here, as it can cause damage to the resin drive over time, causing discolouration, wear on the surface or even damage the bonding agent entirely.

Salt works by reducing the freezing point of water, causing the water to melt, but it is far from the best solution. If you intend to use salt, use a very small amount of one designed with driveways in mind.

Instead, use a gritting agent such as sand, granite or crushed stones, which improves grit without reacting in any way with the underlying surface. As well as this, it is cheaper, and could potentially be reused depending on how you sweep it away once the weather improves.

Scatter it evenly, taking into account slopes and shaded spots where the temperatures are often cooler and therefore there is a greater chance of ice forming.

Whatever you use, make sure to wash the surface after the weather improves to avoid any damage that could be caused by gritty or salty residue. It takes an accumulation of damage for there to be any noticeable effect.

Avoid chemical de-icers as well. Not only can they cause damage to the resin surface, but the chemicals can enter groundwater due to resin’s inherent permeability, which can have nasty environmental consequences.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

The beauty of resin drives in winter is that it takes longer for ice to form at a level that can cause problems, and many icy patches can be avoided through regular maintenance.

Sweep away leaves and debris during autumn and gently sweep away snow when it starts to settle, using a plastic snow shovel that will not scratch and damage the resin surface.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]