Protecting Your Cambridge Pavers Investment: Essential Winter Snow Plow Damage Prevention Strategies

Winter weather poses significant challenges for homeowners with beautiful paver installations, but with proper preparation and maintenance techniques, you can protect your investment from costly snow plow damage while ensuring safe, accessible surfaces throughout the cold season.

Understanding Snow Plow Damage Risks to Cambridge Pavers

Cambridge pavers with ArmorTec technology resist chipping, salt damage, and snow plow impacts while maintaining their color through multiple winter seasons, making them an excellent choice for harsh climates. However, even the most durable pavers can suffer damage from improper snow removal techniques. When a snow plow comes along, it doesn’t take much of an edge for damage to occur. Even a small piece of concrete walkway that sticks up an inch or two could be hit by snow removal machines.

The most common types of damage include chipped edges, displaced pavers, and damage to joint sand. Unlike concrete that cracks and requires full replacement, individual pavers can be replaced if damaged, which makes Cambridge Pavers a smart long-term investment for winter climates.

Pre-Winter Preparation Strategies

Proper preparation is crucial for preventing snow plow damage. To avoid this winter landscape damage, conducting a pre-winter walk-through with your commercial snow removal professional can help ensure they spot and flag these risks with snow stakes or safety cones. This same principle applies to residential properties.

Key preparation steps include:

Inspecting paver surfaces for loose or uneven stones that could catch plow blades
Marking paver edges with reflective stakes or markers to guide snow removal equipment
Ensuring proper drainage to prevent ice buildup that could complicate snow removal
Communicating with snow removal contractors about paver locations and special requirements

Essential Equipment Requirements for Safe Snow Removal

These areas require rubber-edged plow blades to protect the pavers from winter landscape damage. Rubber-edged blades have more give than traditional steel blades, meaning paver surfaces can be cleared without the risk of significant damage. This is absolutely critical for protecting your cambridge pavers investment.

If you decide to get your driveway plowed, make sure the plow has a rubber-edged plow blade to protect the pavements. Additionally, attach a runner or “shoe kit” to the plow blade if you’re using a snow plow. This will prevent direct contact with the Ecoraster surface, minimizing the risk of damage. Alternatively, a rubber, plastic, or other protective-lipped edge can offer similar protection.

For snow blowers, when using a snow blower on Ecoraster surfaces, it’s essential to adjust the blades to hover approximately 1-2cm above the surface. This same principle applies to Cambridge Pavers to prevent direct contact damage.

Proper De-icing Techniques for Cambridge Pavers

Salt selection is crucial for paver protection. Unlike asphalt, concrete pavers are especially susceptible to salt damage. Our teams using calcium chloride to treat poured concrete walkways, and paver surfaces should be treated in the same manner.

However, rock salt can damage concrete pavers, as it’s made up of moisture that absorbs into pavers and can refreeze at a later point. As winter progresses, the moisture from the salt will continue to freeze, melt and refreeze with each temperature change. Additionally, salt can be abrasive and corrosive, causing damage to the surface of your pavers if applied steadily over a period of time.

Better alternatives include:

Magnesium chloride is a highly rated product that’s efficient in its ability to melt ice without damaging the surface of your pavers
The most affordable way to melt ice and snow on pavers is by sprinkling sand on top of the afflicted area. While sand won’t harm your pavers, you should consider the potential post-winter cleanup
Calcium chloride as a safer alternative to traditional rock salt

Professional Snow Removal Best Practices

Make sure to show your commercial snow and ice removal professional any paver areas you have that need cleared during winter. Before the season gets underway, make sure your snow removal provider has been notified of all paver walkways, patios and driveways to ensure proper removal is communicated to team members.

Professional contractors should understand that paver areas need a rubber-edged plow blade — a regular blade can pull pavers up or damage them. Some pavers require a different, gentler ice melt product, too, especially if they’re made of clay.

Valley Supply Corp: Your Partner in Cambridge Pavers Protection

For Nassau County homeowners investing in Cambridge Pavers, Valley Supply Corp has been the trusted source since 1956. Since 1956, we’ve been providing the Nassau County community with the largest selection of masonry supplies, including a full-line of Cambridge Pavingstones. As one of the region’s first Premier Cambridge Pavers Distributor, when you shop with us, you’ll have access to all of the incredible Cambridge ArmorTec products.

Valley Supply Corp. is one of Cambridge Pavingstones’ most knowledgeable and longest designated Premier Distributors. Nearly 20 years ago, when Cambridge Pavers first came onto the masonry supply scene and started to expand their distribution in Nassau County, they paid us a visit because they knew that we were Nassau County’s most trusted masonry supply store.

Long-term Benefits of Proper Winter Maintenance

Investing in proper winter maintenance pays dividends. Pavers can be individually replaced and typically last 25-50 years with minimal maintenance. When you factor in property value increase of 20-30%, pavers often pay for themselves.

The flexible joint system allows for ground movement without cracking. Belgian block borders provide additional protection against snow plow damage while creating crisp edges that make snow removal easier. This combination creates a driveway that actually improves with proper winter maintenance.

Conclusion

Protecting your Cambridge Pavers from snow plow damage requires proactive planning, proper equipment, and the right maintenance approach. By implementing rubber-edged plows, using appropriate de-icing materials, and working with knowledgeable professionals, you can maintain beautiful, safe surfaces throughout winter while preserving your investment for decades to come. Remember that quality materials from trusted suppliers like Valley Supply Corp, combined with proper winter maintenance techniques, ensure your pavers will continue to enhance your property’s value and appearance year after year.