Caliber M1000

[River Hill]

I just want to get some confirmations before I make some purchases. I plan on using Caliber M1000 to pretreat sidewalks using a atv sprayer and a backpack type sprayer for steps. It is my understanding I should apply M1000 approx. 24 hours before a storm? Can I do it 4 hours before a storm? I also think I should be applying it at a rate of a 1 gallon per every 800 sq. ft. for sidewalks? I expect it to melt the first 1" to 1.5" of snow? How well does this product work with freezing rain? Also say I was to get 6" of snow, I would guess the snow would not stick to the walks that were pretreated? After removing the snow would I need to apply MAG or some other product or would the Caliber still work or would it be diluted? I just want to make sure my expectations are correct. Most of our storms here in MD are aound freezing, that is why I would choose Caliber over Magic as I have read Magic gets slick at temps over 32.

[szorno]

OK River hill let's see if we can get some of these answered.
I have pretreated as the first flakes fell. Still works fine. The issue become one of tracking in. When it is first down, it is moist, and can stick to shoes and track into buildings. After 8-12 hours depending on humidity, it dries and the tracking subsides to barely noticeable. Your rate of 1 gal to about 800 sq ft is about right. Texture of sidewalk make modify that a bit but start there. It will melt the firt .5 inch for sure, and often the first 1". Plan on shoveling over 1 inch though. The neat thing is that you will peel completely up leavingclear wet sidewalk when done. It also keeps a little residual effect for blow over or the flurries that comes as a storm ends. We generally do not treat after plowing/shoveling. We also do not get much freezing rain, so I can't speak to that.
Hope this helps... :D

[River Hill]

The tracking issue does have me concerned some. Some of the sidewalks I planned on doing are very high profile office parks. We can't even have a curb covered when we leave the lot at the end of a storm. Even if it means someone taking a shovel on all of the islands, all curbs must be seen. I have been inside these office building and the carpet is perfect. Do you know of a product that might dry faster and not have any tracking? I guess my concern is a few of these office parks close at 7:00 pm and open at 5:00 a.m., that does not give me enough time top treat the office parks and let dry.

[szorno]

We had one client cut back on the area we treated because of the tracking. There is a trade-off here as in most of life. Liquid will track a bit but can generally be caught with an extra entry mat. The first plowing or shoveling peels up to black, and there is normally a residual effect too. Granular is crunchy annoying and tracks grains in as a pre-treat, but works pretty well as a post treat. (we use a mag/calcium chloride blend) Salt is highly corrosive and generally nasty to any interior carpet if it makes it that far.
I would warn a high profile customer about tracking, but also tell them it will drastically reduce ice formation and it is not tracked in as bad as granular. You may have to try some of each to come up with what the landlord wants for the tenants.

[River Hill]

I was very excited after reading many claims about this product and I could not wait to give it a try, until I found out the pricing. The cheapest I am able to get M1000 delivered to me in MD, is approx. $4.00 per gallon and that's if I buy it in 55 gallon drums. I really think liquid De-Icers will be the wave of the future. I planned on pre-treating my 5 miles of sidewalks with a ATV sprayer system, but I guess untill the prices start to come down I will stick with traditional sidewalk removal techniques. I planned on giving this product a trial on my driveway and doing some of my sidewalks and looking at the results. If anyone thinks it's possible to make a profit applying M1000 at this cost as a pre-treatment for sidewalks, please let me know how.

[szorno]

I couldn't make it on that $ per gallon. Email me and I will tell you what I get it for. (But I buy it 1500 gal at a time)