Last year, one of the biggest parts of the snow removal business ownerfs arsenal also became one of the most expensive. Thanks to a straining demand caused by local governments and supply, prices for rock salt have skyrocketed to new highs.
With the new prices, rock salt has become a precious commodity for business owners. Any rock salt that wasnft used this winter can be saved safely and easily until next snow season with a little bit of preparation.
The fastest way to lose leftover rock salt is to expose it to the elements, according to A.J. Miller, Morton Ice Melting Solutions Brand Manager. Rainwater and melting snow will cut into a pile of salt, so the first step is to get a cover on top of any open pile of rock salt.
"The coverage is very important," says Nora Kehoe of Khione Solutions. "If you canft do a shed, at least do get a tarp and tie it down or pin it down with cinder blocks."
Coverage makes up the first and one of the most important steps for salt retention for Kehoe.
HIGH & DRY.
The goal is to keep outside moisture, even a little bit, from getting in. Surprisingly, rock salt will often hold up without worry in most humidity levels, Miller says, but itfs the rain or leftover snow that eats away at an investment.
A dedicated covered storage shed may cost more initially, but for many snow removal businesses, it will bring more return in the long run. A shed can provide surrounding walls and easy access that a tarp, even weighted, canft always guarantee.
"If you keep a tarp, you always have to make sure you donft have water running in on the sides. That doesnft work," says Tracy Riehle of Snow Services in Wausau, Wis. "Itfs better to build a dedicated building than store it outside."
Riehle built her storage shed to provide a central hub of operations, near all of her major clients.
Any shed should have at least one pull-down door or cover for easy access, according to Miller. Salt piles should be kept in the center of the shed as much as possible to keep pressure off the walls. Between the weight of the salt piles and the machines collecting the salt, a building can see a lot of damage over the season.
As a material, salt is corrosive to nearly everything that can be used to cover it. "You need to come back and check it periodically," Kehoe says. "You should invest a little time to recycle what you have."
THE PAD.
While considering what goes on top of the salt, remember that itfs just as important to place the salt on a reliable surface. The pad on which the rock salt sits should be a solid material that will keep the salt from reaching moisture or damaging the environment around it.
"The pad absolutely needs to be asphalt or concrete," Kehoe says.
For businesses without much room to spare, a corner of a parking lot will provide enough ground coverage. A designated pad will keep the water out and give easy access, especially if a shed is built on it. Successful salt storage, even in small areas, will confine the salt inside and off the ground directly.
"As long as you keep it closed in, youfll keep it," Riehle says. "It can last over the summer easily if you take care of it."
Water runoff makes a difference not only in rock salt storage, but the surrounding community. Moisture running from the salt coverage needs to be controlled and run to a safe receiving area, such as a storm sewer or drain. Under no circumstances should water from a salt pile reach a reservoir, well or a groundwater supply.
TARPS.
When using a tarp to cover salt piles, the tarp should slope away from the center of the pile at least one quarter inch each foot away, Miller recommends. The tarp should be shaped like a tent, with runoff moving evenly down all sides of the pile.
Though it would seem like an afterthought, runoff is as much as issue for a shed as for a tarp covering. Drainage from a storage shed also needs to be monitored and directed.
Finally, safety needs to be considered in salt pile placement. While many smaller businesses can feel cramped with a stockpile to work around, itfs important to make sure that trucks and workers can easily move around the pile, Miller says.
Whether using a tarp or shed, salt spills should be cleaned up right away to minimize damage to the area and to protect an investment. "Youfve invested a good amount of money into this," Kehoe says. "You need to make sure this investment is going to be there next November."
Kyle Brown is a frequent contributor to Snow Magazine.
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