Stock Pileing Sand....

[JDGreenGrass]

I am thinking about haveing some sand on hand for the winter months here in central Maine.

Question....If there is no salt in the sand, will it freeze.?? Which brings me to this question....I wonder if I can get sand with salt.??.....

It would be used for the storms that bring that crappy snow, rain, ice mix that kills the elbow when you go down un-expectedly.

I am sure there is an answer from someone.

Thanks.

 

[aczlan]

if you can keep it dry, it will be fine, but let it get wet and you will have a sandcube until things warm up.
Salt will help, but if the sand gets wet enough, it can leach out.

Aaron Z

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Whaoh, that don't sound good.

How does one keep it dry.??

 

[E/S]

Tarp the pile.

E/S

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Tarp the pile.

E/S

Correct.

What type of material would this tarp be made of.??.....Canvas.?? Plastic.??

 

[techwrtr2]

Really good chance the sand will already be wet when you get it delivered unless you buy play sand by the bag. $$$$$$

 

[pitt_md]

Having just bought sevel 18 ton truck loads of sand i can tell you it does come with enough moisture to make it freeze.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

You can get a salt/sand mixture. I think a lot of Public Works Departments/DOT's use it.

 

[CBW1999]

A Sand/Salt mix won't make a difference. Salt only lowers the freezing temperature of water so, the moisture in the sand would have to react with the salt for that to occur. Since there would not be a complete/even distribution of the salt in the sand, you would still get clumping.

A lot of the highway departments around here will dump the bucket of sand into a slatted grate above the dump truck to sift out the larger frozen chunks. However, they have the advantage of a huge pile to dig into, and beyond the frost layer.

If you have a heated garage, you can always put the sand in a couple of garbage cans to keep it from freezing, I would put them up on a short platform sp the bottom does not freeze. If you can, build a 3 sided box to store it in- insulate underneath, and keep it coveredwith the tarp. That will help some.

I had a yard of sand delivered last winter....it froze solid and the center didn't thaw till late May!:laughing:

 

[Gordon Gould]

The only way that really works is to keep it a heated shed or get and use it before it freezes but thats not a stockpile I guess.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess there will be no sand for me or the neighbor that I was going to take care of.

Sounds like it's back to the 5 gallon bucket.

Though I knew there would be moisture in the sand and I thought of the possibility of freeze, I am surprised that the general population goes the 5 gallon route.

In other words, I surely thought the posters here had a way of stock pileing the sand for the winter months...in a simple sort of way. I wouldn't be surprised if some have sand sheds that they have built but, maybe not. I know I ain't going to build one.

Thanks everyone.

 

[LBrown59]

Whaoh, that don't sound good.

How does one keep it dry.??

 

[LBrown59]

1*If you have a heated garage, you can always put the sand in a couple of garbage cans to keep it from freezing, 2*I would put them up on a short platform so the bottom does not freeze.

1*Garage don't have to be heated.
I have kept 2 30 gallon plastic garbage cans full of sand in this unheated stall for several years and it's never frozen.
2*I have then setting on a pallet .

Thanks for the replies.

I guess there will be no sand for me or the neighbor that I was going to take care of.

Sounds like it's back to the 5 gallon bucket.

Though I knew there would be moisture in the sand and I thought of the possibility of freeze, I am surprised that the general population goes the 5 gallon route.

3*In other words, I surely thought the posters here had a way of stock pileing the sand for the winter months...in a simple sort of way. I wouldn't be surprised if some have sand sheds that they have built but, maybe not. I know I ain't going to build one.

Thanks everyone.

I just told you how i do it .
See Numbers 1 and 2 above.

 

[Johndeere3720]

that is exactly what i was thinking! :confused2: if you stock piled the sand inside it is less likely to freeze. Inside a heated garage, it is fool proof. What about small crushed rock like pea gravel or something similar? I dont know excatly what its called, but my grandpa has it in his horse arena and no mater how wet or cold it gets it never freezes. If your driveway is paved though, you will have to be careful since the rocks could damage the surface of the pavement. Just an idea.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

that is exactly what i was thinking! :confused2: if you stock piled the sand inside it is less likely to freeze. Inside a heated garage, it is fool proof. What about small crushed rock like pea gravel or something similar? I dont know excatly what its called, but my grandpa has it in his horse arena and no mater how wet or cold it gets it never freezes. If your driveway is paved though, you will have to be careful since the rocks could damage the surface of the pavement. Just an idea.

That might work.....small sized rock. Price goes up but there may be something along these lines that is readily available.

No asphalt here. Both drives are gravel.

Thanks for the thought.

 

[Johndeere3720]

That might work.....small sized rock. Price goes up but there may be something along these lines that is readily available.

No asphalt here. Both drives are gravel.

Thanks for the thought.

I think its called 1/4"- But not sure. It should work really well for adding traction to your driveway.:thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

I have same problem.. I have a couple of really bad hills, they ice up, and you go nowhere. (well except in the ravine at the bottom.. 300 dollar wrecker bill) My 0-3/4 crusher run pile was shall we say "unitized". Last year took 20 gallon inside, but did not need most of it. The year before, I worked on the pile with the front end loader for about an hour, maybe got 2 or 3 gallons scraped off of gravel/ice mixture.:laughing: Better than nothing, but not very good. The only time the stuff is not wet is the middle of august, when you "toss" it regulary, and it hasnt rained in a month.
Let me know how you solve it.. I am still putting some in the shop in cat litter buckets.
James K0UA

 

[jpm]

i had the same problem. first year sand with a tarp,rock soild because of snow & ice on top of it. next year with a shed built over it was better but moisture up from the ground and the open end still frozen sand.next year the sand up on pallets with plywood over it and a door much better.a 4n1 bucket helps a alot to pick it up and spread it a round.of course studed snows helps a lot

 

[mjncad]

I think its called 1/4"- But not sure. It should work really well for adding traction to your driveway.:thumbsup:

Pea gravel is generally 3/8"+/- and squeegee is 1/4"+/-...at least around here.

 

[johnrex62]

Bah Humbug! Just move south and when someone mentions ice outside of the context of a drink order or a fishing trip, put on a heavy coat and lock yourself inside for 10 hours.