What this service is
Plowing removes snow. It doesn’t remove ice, and it can’t do anything about the thin refrozen layer that forms after the sun hits a wet lot and the temperature drops back through freezing. That layer is what people fall on and cars slide on, and you often can’t see it.
De-icing is a materials problem, and in Bismarck the material matters more than it does further south. Rock salt is the industry workhorse and it’s cost-effective down to somewhere around 15-20°F. Below that its melting action slows sharply, and spreading more of it is mostly spending money to put grit on the ground. A North Dakota winter spends a great deal of time below that line.
So we use treated salt rather than straight salt. Each grain is pre-coated with a liquid de-icer that starts melting on contact, instead of waiting for the salt to pull enough moisture out of the air to get going. That coating keeps it working well below the point where plain rock salt gives up. It also helps the salt stick where it lands rather than bouncing off the pavement or blowing away, so more of what goes down stays on the lot and does its job. The result is ice control that holds up across a whole Bismarck winter rather than only the mild end of it.
Our process
We apply after every plow. On a full-service contract, treated salt goes down on the lot each time we clear it. Ice control isn’t a separate call-out you have to think about.
We read pavement temperature, not just air temperature. Asphalt holds and loses heat differently than the air above it, and it’s the pavement that decides whether product works.
We apply at the rate conditions call for. Over-applying costs money, tracks into the building and is hard on landscaping. Under-applying leaves you with an icy lot and no benefit.
We target what ices first - entrances, drive lanes, slopes, drainage paths, and the shaded strips along the north side of buildings that stay frozen after everything else clears.
What affects the price
- Area treated and how much of the lot is in what’s included
- Number of applications - a freeze-thaw winter takes more than a steady cold one
- Whether it’s bundled into a full-service seasonal contract or billed per application
- Slopes and drainage - water that runs and freeze agains needs repeat treatment in the same spots
When to schedule it
Alongside plowing, on the same contract. Ice control is not an optional extra in North Dakota. A lot that’s plowed but never treated will still ice up, and you’ll have paid for snow removal and kept the liability.
Questions
Questions we get asked
Short, plain answers. If yours isn’t here, call or text (701) 390-0630 and just ask.
Does salt still work in a Bismarck cold snap?
Plain salt mostly stops melting ice below about 15-20°F, and Bismarck gets a lot colder than that. So we use treated salt instead. The liquid coating on each grain starts melting on contact and keeps working at temperatures where plain rock salt stalls out.
Why treated salt rather than plain rock salt?
Because ice control shouldn’t depend on the weather being warm enough for plain salt to work. Treated salt starts faster, works colder, and stays where it’s spread instead of bouncing or blowing off the lot.
How often will my lot be treated?
On a full-service contract, after every plow.
Will it damage my pavement or landscaping?
Used heavily, any ice melt is hard on concrete, on the grass beside a lot, and on vehicles. We put down the right amount rather than the most, which is most of the answer.
Get a free estimate
Tell us about your property and we’ll get back to you. Serving Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln.