Next to the sandblasting sand, a patch of gravel appeared – we asked for tips on caring for a slippery backyard

The changing winter weather has drastically increased the demand for sandblasting products.

The variable winter weather has raised the demand for sandblasting products to its peak. We asked hardware stores about the most popular ways to combat slipperiness in your own backyard.

Crushed stone has risen alongside the traditional gravel.

– Many people know crushed stone by the name of lexasora. It is a more expensive product and is suitable for slightly different conditions, continues Huttunen.

The sand is chosen according to the weather

The changing winter weather has brought very different weather to the winter. A long period of freezing weather brings a hard ice cover to sidewalks and yards. The milder winter weather melts the snow and ice, causing a water cover to form on the surface of the ice.

– Lekasora is lighter and remains floating on the surface of the ice. The gravel remains under the ice, so it is better to use traditional gravel in long-lasting frosts, and in milder weather it’s better to use loose gravel, explains Huttunen.

When storing sandblasting materials, the most important thing is that they do not get wet. Moisture turns the gravel into a closed lump, which cannot necessarily be broken even with an iron shovel.

De-icing is then its own chapter and there are different options for that too, from traditional road salt to newer ice-melting materials.

– Different manufacturers have different deicing agents at different prices, but what they have in common is that they are urea-based, work even in severe frosts and are safe, Huttunen specifies.

Traditional road salt is also available, but it is no longer recommended for yards or steps, as it, for example, embrittles concrete surfaces.