At David J. Frank it may seem like
there is some down time during the winter, but in reality there is work going
on every day to prepare for the next large snowstorm. Throughout the year our team of professionals
spends much time researching and planning to provide the best materials and the
best service to our customers when the snow starts falling. The time spent bringing this information together
provides our clients with the best services when the winter weather hits. Here are a few things that we consider every
time it snows to keep our clients properties safe and usable!
While we don’t have an on staff meteorologist on staff at
David J. Frank, we do have the latest technology to update us on the current
weather conditions in the winter. When
snow is on its way our management team of snow professionals considers many
factors to determine how service will be completed at our sites. Important things to consider with a storm
event are the start of precipitation, type of precipitation, storm intensity,
expected storm length, wind conditions, temperature, etc. All of these factors have to be taken into account
to make sure that the right amount of service is provided at the right time on
each site. Some sites may need more
service based on the time of day and that also plays a factor in planning how
to tackle a storm. There is a huge
amount of planning that takes place to be ready to clean up after a storm and
all of the factors noted above are important to consider for all aspects of
snow clean-up.
Today we also plan ahead before a storm hits to prepare our sites and keep them safer ahead of time. This includes the use of anti-iceing agents. Anti-icing can be a cost-effective strategy that optimizes chemical usage. It is a proactive approach that should be first in a series of strategies for most winter storms. By applying chemical freeze-point-depressant materials before a storm, you can prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. This can greatly affect how safe a property is during a storm and decrease liability for property owners.
In addition to anti-iceing, we also pre-treat our salt in
many instances to enhance its ability to melt snow and ice. Pre-treating is
mixing a liquid into the stockpile of salt or sand before it is applied. Unlike
pre-wetting, it does not require equipment changes. We also use winter sand and other abrasives
when temperatures are too cold for deicing chemicals to be effective. But be
aware that sand does not melt anything. It provides temporary traction, and only
when it is on top. Sand also clogs sewers, ditches, and streams. As a result,
avoid sand use as much as possible. A salt/sand mix is generally not recommended.
Salt reduces the effectiveness of sand, and sand reduces the effectiveness of
salt. However, a salt/sand mix may be helpful in limited situations such as a
freezing rain event where the salt is washed away quickly. A 25 to 50 percent
sand/salt mix has been documented as effective in increasing friction by
sticking the sand to the surface, like sandpaper.
In the end, the snow professionals at David J. Frank are
always preparing for winter. We know in
Wisconsin every winter is different.
With climate change looming who knows what this winter will bring! When it comes to snow new ideas and new ways
to keep our properties usable in the winter in South East Wisconsin is a
priority at David J. Frank and we look forward to continue to be a leader in
this part of our business for many years to come!
Zach Lieven
Landscape Architect
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