Please help with salting estimate

[coolgreen]

One of my contracts now finds it necessary for me to plow and salt a 200-yard asphalt road leading into the property.

As I do not do any salting, I'm unsure of what to charge for this service.

I figure about 300 pounds of salt should cover it. I've looked into bagged salt at Home Depot - 40 kg bags for about $6. That equals about 88 pounds, or four bags, which equals $24.

With only one contract requiring salt, I am not going to put out the money for a tailgate salter. We will just be shoveling it off the back of the truck.

What would a realistic (Canadian) price be for this service?

I really don't want to get into this aspect of the business, but I also don't want to lose this contract.

I would appreciate any advice you guys with experience in these matters can offer.

[wyldman]

You could hand bomb it off the truck,or use a walk behind spreader.The spreader would do a better job,and wouldn't take as long as you think.

The 300 lb figure is a little high if your salting after plowing.?It may be required to melt off snow though.

When spreading small amounts like that,your better off to charge per application,with the material included.Most places will have minimums for any salting.You need to charge enough to cover your time and materials,and still turn a profit.I'd say $75.00 or so per app.Even that is low for this area.Depends on what they will tolerate.You could go a little less if your just doing it to keep them happy,and keep the account.

[Lawngodfather]

Don't laugh, we made a bracket to fit hitch receiver that would drop down enough for a tow behind spreader LOOOOOOONG time ago.

Bought a cheap rubber tire tow behind lawn spreader.

At the time, it was better than the push spreader we used..

I worked for an asphalt Co back then.

[coolgreen]

Thanks, guys.

I'm already getting a good buck to plow this place, so I think I will have to go in a little lower than $75 per application. If he gets another estimate, it may blow me out of the water.

How much does a decent tailgate spreader go for? I saw one at Canadian Tire for $699. I know it's probably not great, but for one or two places it might be OK.

[Mick]

I just looked in a JThomas catalog I got a couple days ago. There's a single stage Standard model for $399US. Holds 300lbs. Just realize, like anything else, you get what you pay for. But, if you're really not going to get into salting; just wanting to get this account, that might be the way to go. It hooks into a 2" reciever and plugs into the cigarette lighter plug.

[snowjoker]

You may be able to find a decent used tailgate spreader on ebay. Or post a want add in the used equipment section here on this site:)

[Bugthug]

I Had the same question I just guessed and came up with Double cost of the salt and add labor. I try to figure 100 to 125 per hour. so salting that is probably 15 minutes. I say around 75.00 So I am glad I came close to what Wyldman was saying.

[TLS]

You say "we"......that means you have a helper I'll assume.

Get a fertilizer spreader (a good rubber tired one) Make sure it has LARGE openings in the bottom. My Lesco spreader would only flow the real fine salt. Any chunks that came close to dime size would STOP up the whole works. Anyway....Get your guy to sit on the tailgate and hold the handle of the spreader as you drive. Only problem is, 80lbs doesn't go far. So you'll be stopping and reloading spreader a few times.

Shoveling salt is NOT fun, and you'll use WAY more than is needed.

I would suggest a SUV type salt spreader (reciever mount) and then offer this service to others to make it worth while.

[JCurtis]

I have read that 300 - 400lbs an acre is a good figure to use when estimated salting material needed.

However, alot of parameters are in play here... amount of traffic, grade, drainage, is area shady, sunny, ground temp, air temp etc.

all these things and more can play havoc with a figure of how much salt to use on any given area.

You can do a search on the web for the Salt Institute, I dont have the link nearby. IT will tell you all you need to know about salting roads and lots.

[BRL]

600' of road assuming 2 lanes makes 24' wide makes it a little less than a 3rd of an acre of pavement to salt. You'll need 2 passes with any walk behind spreader. You'll use around 100 - 150 pounds per app with that (but you might have to move fast to get the right spread vs the opening size, if you walk too slow you'll be putting down too much possibly). If you shovel out the back you'll probably use double that until you've gotten a lot of practice, and it will take longer than walking it with a spreader.
Been using the Earthway C22R's for years and they are fine for walk behind spreader salt work. Used to get 1 season out of them, but since I started oiling them good, washing them after each storm & giving them a little TLC I've gotten 2 -4 years out of them (use them in the summer too). Or you can get nice SS spreaders in the $4 -$500.00 range also. Angelo's has quite a few options to choose from so check them out.

http://www.angelos-supplies.com/plowparts/

http://www.angelos-supplies.com/plowparts/spreaders.pg

[THREE W]

A few years ago I was in the same position as you, except that it was a commercial lot that wanted salting. No one in my area does this on private property, only people who salt/deice was the public utilities.

First year I used by push spreader on that lot and it worked OK, you will get tired of walking real fast.

I then went to my other accounts and offered the deice service and WOW, they all went for it. Made enough that I went and bought a tailgate unit that I have usedfor two years,make more of a profit by far on deicing than plowing, especially if your in a ice-prone area.

You might check with other accounts you have and see what sort of response you get, maybe you can get into it. Everything I learned from deicing came from this site, I am now looking into converting to liquid next year !!!

[cutntrim]

If you don't want to get into salting, then I'd also suggest using a fertilizer spreader. It should do fine. Or, you could sub someone else to salt it for you if you know someone that has accounts nearby.

Otherwise, you could invest in a tailgate salter and sell salting to your other accounts. In any case, I'd likely charge $80/app for what you describe, and I'm in Southern Ontario.

[VALLEYWIDEPA]

These are national averages. You can Prorate them to your specific area's

Rate guidelines for snow plowing:

60% added to plowing rate for salt and/or sand
80% added to plowing rate for calcium chloride

Good Luck!\0

[BRL]

Please post your source for this "National Average" you have posted. Thank you.

[TLS]

Originally posted by VALLEYWIDEPA
These are national averages. You can Prorate them to your specific area's

Rate guidelines for snow plowing:

60% added to plowing rate for salt and/or sand
80% added to plowing rate for calcium chloride

Good Luck!\0

I always make what I consider a VERY good rate for salting. And just looking at some of last years figures, Every single one is about equal to or less than the plow price. A few were OVER, but those that were, were multiple applications.