Liquid Deicing for Parking Lots and Sidewalks: Pre-Treating, Post-Treating and Seasoning
Liquid deicing can improve winter maintenance on parking lots, sidewalks and parking structures by preventing snow and ice from bonding to pavement, improving mechanical removal and reducing the amount of granular deicer needed after a storm. Contractors can use liquid brine for pre-treatment, post-treatment and inter-storm applications, while pre-storm “seasoning” can help establish a treated surface before winter weather arrives.
For snow and ice management operations, these strategies can help improve application consistency, reduce material waste and deliver a cleaner level of service.
Liquid Deicing: Key Takeaways
Pre-Treatment
Apply liquid deicer before or near the beginning of a storm to prevent or weaken the bond between snow, ice and pavement.
Post-Treatment
Apply liquid after plowing to address remaining ice and help maintain pavement conditions.
Interstorm Treatment
Reapply liquid during an extended event or when changing weather conditions create a new risk of icing.
Pre-Seasoning
Repeatedly treat pavement before and during the season to build chloride and additives within the pavement pores.
Key takeaway: Liquid deicing strategies can be combined throughout a winter event and season based on weather, pavement conditions and operational needs.
Pre- and Post-Treating Parking Lots
Pre-treating parking lots, sidewalks and parking structures with liquid brine before a snow or ice event helps prevent or weaken the bond between snow, ice and pavement. This allows mechanical snow removal to be more effective and can reduce the amount of additional deicer needed after plowing.
Pre-treatment is a proactive application made before or near the beginning of a storm. Its primary purpose is to prevent or weaken the bond between snow, ice and pavement.
Post-treatment is applied after snow removal or between storm events to address remaining ice and help maintain pavement conditions.
Using liquid for both applications can provide several operational benefits:
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More consistent material application
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Greater control over application rates
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Less granular material left behind
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Reduced salt tracking into buildings
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Potentially less deicing material needed
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Improved efficiency for snow and ice removal crews
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Calibrated liquid systems and GPS rate control can further improve consistency by helping operators apply a defined amount of material regardless of vehicle speed.
Definition
Anti-Icing: Anti-icing is the application of a deicing material before or near the beginning of a winter weather event to prevent or weaken the bond between snow, ice and pavement. By treating the surface proactively, contractors can make subsequent snow and ice removal easier.
Pre-Treat vs. Post-Treat
Both approaches can play an important role in an effective liquid deicing strategy.
Pre-Treat
Applied before or near a storm
Post-Treat
Applied after snow removal
Learn more: Salt Brine for Ice Prevention: How It Works and When to Use It explains how brine works and when it can be most effective.
What Is a “Seasoned” Lot?
Definition
Seasoned Lot: A seasoned lot is a pavement surface that has received repeated liquid treatments to build chloride and additives within the pavement pores before and during the winter season. When managed correctly, this can improve the effectiveness of subsequent treatments.
Seasoning can be particularly useful in areas that are more susceptible to snow and ice, including:
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Sidewalks
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Parking garages
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Shaded areas
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North-facing areas
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Other low-traffic surfaces
How to Season a Lot
A seasoning program typically involves multiple liquid applications before the winter season or before the first significant snow or ice event.
The BOSS approach recommends:
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Applying 40–50 gallons per acre of brine with at least 5% additive
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Completing approximately 5–6 applications
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Allowing the surface to dry between applications
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Using the process on traditional asphalt or concrete surfaces rather than permeable asphalt or pavers
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Seasoning is not a replacement for storm-specific pre-treatment or post-treatment. Instead, it can help prepare the surface so subsequent treatments can work more effectively.
How a Seasoned Surface Works
Apply liquid brine with additives multiple times before winter begins.
Chloride and additives penetrate and accumulate within the surface pores.
Ongoing treatments keep the surface treated and ready throughout the winter season.
Treatments can help reduce bonding and make snow and ice removal easier.
Liquid Deicing for Sidewalks
Sidewalks are another opportunity for contractors to use liquid deicing in place of traditional bagged ice melt.
Applying liquid to sidewalks can help prevent snow and ice from bonding to the surface, reducing the need for scraping and shoveling. Because liquid leaves no granular product behind, it can also reduce salt tracking into buildings and help provide a cleaner customer experience.
Liquid can be applied to sidewalks using a variety of equipment, including:
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Walk-behind spray units
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Horse reels
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Snowrators
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Utility tractors
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ATVs and UTVs
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Side booms on spray trucks
For larger operations, on-site refill tanks or dedicated refill systems on sidewalk crew trucks can help crews spend less time transporting and loading material.
A commonly recommended sidewalk application is an 80% salt brine / 20% additive blend, with the specific blend and application rate determined by conditions, equipment and product recommendations.
Liquid Deicing Across the Property
Different areas of a property can benefit from different liquid treatment strategies.
Parking Lots
Sidewalks
Parking Garages
Shaded / High-Risk Areas
Learn more: How Does Liquid Deicing Impact the Environment? explores how application control and reduced unnecessary salt use can benefit contractors and the properties they serve.
Case Insight: What Can Liquid Treatment Improve?
One customer using liquid brine for pre- and post-treatment across 12 retail locations reported:
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28% less total salt used
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30% faster post-storm cleanup
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Fewer complaints about salt tracking and stained floors
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The customer also reported a noticeable improvement in the cleanliness of treated properties, including less leftover material after treatment.
Case Insight
Reported customer results demonstrate the potential operational benefits of combining liquid pre- and post-treatment. Actual results will vary based on weather, pavement conditions, application rates, equipment, timing and operator practices.
The takeaway isn't that every operation will achieve the same results. Instead, the case demonstrates how liquid treatment can become part of a broader strategy for controlling material use, improving cleanup and delivering a cleaner level of service.
Choosing the Right Liquid Treatment Strategy
Different liquid applications serve different purposes throughout the winter season.
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Treatment |
When to Use |
Primary Goal |
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Pre-treatment |
Before or near a storm |
Prevent or weaken snow and ice bonding |
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Post-treatment |
After plowing |
Address remaining ice and maintain pavement |
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Inter-storm treatment |
Between events |
Maintain treated surfaces |
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Seasoning |
Before and during the season |
Build treatment capacity within pavement |
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Sidewalk treatment |
Before or after winter events |
Reduce bonding, residue and tracking |
The most effective approach may combine several of these strategies rather than relying on one application method for every property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pre-treating and post-treating with liquid deicer?
Pre-treatment is applied before or near the beginning of a storm to prevent or weaken the bond between snow, ice and pavement. Post-treatment is applied after snow removal or between storms to address remaining ice and help maintain pavement conditions.
What is a seasoned parking lot?
A seasoned parking lot is a pavement surface that has received repeated liquid treatments to build chloride and additives within the pavement pores before and during the winter season. Seasoning can improve the effectiveness of subsequent treatments but does not replace storm-specific pre-treatment or post-treatment.
Can liquid deicing be used on sidewalks?
Yes. Liquid deicing can be applied to sidewalks using walk-behind sprayers, horse reels, Snowrators, ATVs, UTVs and spray-truck side booms. Liquid treatment can help reduce snow and ice bonding while minimizing granular residue and tracking into buildings.
Does liquid deicing eliminate the need for salt?
No. Liquid brine is still a salt-based deicing material. The advantage of liquid application is the ability to control when, where and how much material is applied. When conditions allow, that control can help reduce unnecessary material use.
Explore More Liquid Deicing Resources
Go deeper on liquid deicing, brine, applications and best practices.
Get the fundamentals of liquid deicing, including applications, equipment and important considerations.
Understand how salt brine works and when it is most effective for preventing snow and ice from bonding.
Explore the advantages, limitations and operational considerations of adding liquid deicing to your snow and ice management operation.
Learn how more precise application and anti-icing strategies can help reduce unnecessary salt use.