Road s alt prevents slippery roads and sidewalks becoming dangerous in winter. But what types of grit are there and what are their advantages and disadvantages? We compare road s alt, lava grit and Co.
Getting safely from A to B in winter is sometimes not that easy. To prevent accidents, there is a clearing and gritting obligation in Germany: house owners and tenants must ensure that adjacent public footpaths remain free of snow and ice. But while the snow can be removed with pure muscle power, many quickly resort to road s alt, especially on frozen ground. However, this has a reputation for being extremely harmful to the environment. But is this rumor true and is there perhaps even an environmentally friendly alternative? We will tell you here which grit is best suited for private use.
What kind of grit is there?
Road s alt is probably the most well-known agent that is used in the fight against snow and ice in winter. But in addition to the well-known road s alt, there are other grit in winter that help with snow and ice: so-called deadening agents do not melt the ice, but they ensure better grip and thus a lower risk of slipping. Grit, sand or ash are well-known as grit in winter. But sawdust, lava granules or fir branches can also be suitable for spreading in winter. In addition, mixtures of s alt and various deadening agents are offered, which promise a quick and permanent reduction in slippage.
Advantages and disadvantages of road s alt and co
Many people are looking for an environmentally friendly road s alt that is an alternative to road s alt, which is considered to be harmful to the environment. Sand, gravel and co cannot melt the ice, but they ensure that the risk of slipping on the sidewalk is reduced and you can walk home safely. In addition, grit without s alt is significantly more environmentally friendly, as it does not seep into the ground and thus does not disturb the soil balance. Find out what advantages and disadvantages the alternatives differ from each other in detailYou now.
1. Road s alt
Spreading s alt is still one of the best-known ways of clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in winter. In fact, it's the only method that actually melts ice - sprinkling s alt on ice lowers its melting point, causing it to begin to thaw even at sub-zero temperatures. However, the s alt has some disadvantages when spreading: The grit gets into the ground with the seepage water and accumulates there and in the groundwater. Many plants, including street trees, cannot tolerate the increased s alt content in the soil and water and die. Spreading s alt in winter thus pollutes the environment. Many animals also do not tolerate road s alt because it irritates their paws and can lead to inflammation. Road s alt can even have negative consequences for cars: Aluminum components in particular oxidize more quickly when they come into contact with road s alt, and rust formation is also accelerated. For these reasons, many municipalities have already banned the use of road s alt on public roads or made recommendations for other road s alt.
2. Gravel and grit as gritGravel or grit are already a widely used grit for the winter in many communities and can be purchased inexpensively in many hardware stores. The sharp-edged surface guarantees a secure hold even on icy ground. Both variants are significantly more environmentally friendly than road s alt. If you opt for a regional product without heavy metal contamination, the sidewalk gritting has almost no negative effect on the soil and groundwater. In addition, gravel and grit are considered to be particularly sustainable, since the grit can be swept up after the last frost and reused next year. However, it is only suitable for pet owners to a limited extent: with their sharp edges, gravel and grit can injure the sensitive paws of four-legged friends. Many homeowners are also not impressed by the environmentally friendly alternative, because the sharp stones tend to get stuck in the soles of shoes and can then scratch the floor in the house.
3. Lava as grit
Lava grit has become increasingly popular lately. No wonder, after all it has numerous advantages: Similar to gravel and grit, it reliably ensures slip resistance, has hardly any negative effects on the environment if it comes from regional mining, and can be used after the winterto be brought together again. In addition, the lava granulate has another special feature: Its grains do not have any sharp corners, but are slightly rounded. This not only protects animal paws, but also avoids scratches in the parquet. In addition, porous lava rock absorbs some of the moisture, reducing the risk of slipping. The Eifel lava grit is particularly recommended. This not only scores with its regional degradation, but does not necessarily have to be removed in spring. In fact, the porous material has a soil-improving effect similar to expanded clay, which gardeners in particular can take advantage of.
4. Sand as gritApart from road s alt, sand is one of the most commonly used materials for spreading in winter. The grit is particularly attractive for many because of its low price. In addition, you have the option of sweeping up and reusing the sand after winter. If that is too much work for you, you can sweep the remaining grit into the joints of the garden path or into the nearest bed without a guilty conscience, because sand is not harmful to the he alth of the soil. However, fine-grained grit is not quite as slip-resistant in winter as coarse-grained materials and must therefore be sprinkled more often - you should therefore always make sure to use particularly coarse-grained sand, such as gravel sand. Sand also often leads to a higher degree of soiling of shoes and clothing, as mud quickly forms if it is permanently wet.
5. Ash as litter
Due to the lack of alternatives, ashes were a popular scattering material, especially during the war. As a waste product that often occurs in houses with a chimney, the ash can be put to good use. In addition, it can later be swept into adjacent beds for disposal; because you can use the ashes as fertilizer. However, the high pH value of the ash must be taken into account - this can also have a negative effect on adjacent beds and plants if used regularly. In addition, not every ash is suitable as grit: while pure wood ash contains almost no toxins, coal ash or ash obtained from the burning of painted wooden parts can be contaminated and thus damage the environment. In addition, ash has the disadvantage that, due to its fine grain size, it can be walked on quickly and therefore has to be sprinkled on frequently in order to have an anti-slip effect. Many also bother that ash is visible on the sidewalk and shoesdirty.
6. Sawdust and fir branches as gritIf you are looking for an environmentally friendly grit, you will quickly find sawdust or fir branches. Both have the advantage that they can be easily swept up and then composted when the weather thaws. Nevertheless, the use of woodcuts as grit should be treated with caution. Since sawdust in particular tends to soak up water and then no longer has any anti-slip effect, this material is only suitable to a limited extent for scattering snow. With fir branches, you also have to make sure that there are no tripping hazards, for example from protruding branches. In addition, many municipalities do not accept wood chips and fir branches as grit - if an accident occurs, the homeowner may have to pay for the damage.
The best grit for winter
Sustainable and still non-slip - this is what the perfect grit for the winter looks like for many. The lava grit performs particularly well in these criteria: thanks to its coarse grain size, it provides sufficient protection against black ice and is therefore well suited for gritting in winter. In addition, it is considered to be particularly environmentally friendly because it can be reused or incorporated into surrounding beds as a soil-improving measure. Sand is also suitable as an environmentally friendly alternative to road s alt, which scores particularly well with its low price. However, you should pay attention to a particularly coarse grain size and regular sprinkling in order to obtain sufficient protection against slippery surfaces. Spreading s alt in winter, on the other hand, does not prove to be environmentally friendly - since the grit causes a high level of soil and environmental pollution, this type of sidewalk gritting should only be used in emergencies.
Tip: If you are already looking for sustainable grit in the DIY store, you should look out for the "Blue Angel". The federal government's independent environmental label identifies particularly environmentally friendly grit.