Introduction
Property managers often compare pre-treatment (anti-icing) to post-treatment (de-icing). Both have a place—choosing the right tactic depends on timing, temperature, and storm type.
Key Points
- Pre-treatment uses brine to prevent bond; best before light/moderate events.
- Post-treatment uses salt or blends to break bond after accumulation begins.
- Pavement temperature, timing, and precipitation type drive the decision.
- Pre-treatment reduces total salt use and speeds clearing when well-timed.
- Post-treatment is essential during heavy, prolonged, or rain-to-snow events.
Practical Advice
Use pre-treatment when forecasts are confident, pavement temps are above ~15°F, and precipitation starts as snow. Brine creates a brine film that keeps snow from bonding, making plowing faster and cleaner.
Rely on post-treatment when timing is uncertain or storms begin with rain that would wash brine away. In deep cold snaps, supplement with calcium or magnesium blends to keep melting effective.
Track results by event: note start temps, materials, and outcomes so the playbook improves every storm.
Conclusion
Ask your contractor to propose pre-treat windows for your sites and a fallback plan for rain-to-snow.
Show technical details
Technical Overview
- How brine prevents bonding. A 23.3% salt solution lowers the freezing point and leaves a thin film so first flakes stay slushy; plows clear more cleanly.
- Why salt needs moisture. Salt works by making brine on contact; in deep cold there’s less liquid water, so treated salts or calcium chloride keep melting active.
- Timing rule. Anti‑icing only works if it stays on the surface. Rain before snow washes brine—switch to post‑treat.
- Temperature bands. Many plans change materials below ~15°F pavement temperature.