Treat icy walks and steps safely

Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026

24/7 Express Handyman Service treats icy walks and steps in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber. Up to 40 times the price of rock salt is what calcium magnesium acetate costs, a deicer safer for plants and concrete. (Will De-Icers Kill My Lawn? | USU Extension)

What ice treatment costs

Salt Lake City & Millcreek	from $205
Park City & Summit County	from $225
Heber Valley & Wasatch County	from $225

Ice treatment in Salt Lake City & Millcreek starts at $205: the 2-hour minimum at $95/hour ($190) plus the $15 fuel surcharge, with no dispatch fee. Time past 2 hours is billed in 30-minute steps. Larger parts are billed at cost plus 25%.

Full price sheet and estimator

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(801) 999-0827 Text photos

Answered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.

24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.

Quick answers

Which ice melt is safest for concrete?

Calcium magnesium acetate is the gentlest common choice: it is safer for plants and not as corrosive to concrete, but it can cost up to 40 times more than rock salt. Rock salt can pit concrete, and calcium and magnesium chloride are easier on plants but highly corrosive to concrete surfaces.

Does ice melt kill grass and plants?

It can. Common deicers are salt derivatives that can burn leaves on contact and build up in soil where drainage is poor, competing with plants for water. Shovel first, use deicer sparingly, and keep salty slush from being piled onto lawns and planting beds.

Is sand better than ice melt on steps?

Sand adds traction but does not melt ice, so it suits ice that cannot be scraped to bare pavement. Sidewalk snow rules often accept either approach: remove ice to bare pavement when possible, or treat it with ice melt, sand or a similar material. Sweep leftover sand up in spring.

Deicing salt scattered across a concrete sidewalk beside a snowy lawn — Photo: dankeck, CC0

What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site

Walks, steps and landings scraped toward bare pavement before any deicer goes down
Deicer matched to the surface and nearby plantings, spread sparingly, with sand or grit on steps for traction
Downspout extensions turned away from walks and loose handrails tightened so meltwater and footing stop being a hazard

How it works

Look at the concrete, pavers or wood and the plantings next to them before choosing a product
Break and scrape ice, then treat only what stays bonded, starting with steps and landings
Point meltwater away from walks where a downspout extension or splash block can do it, and check handrails
Referred out: heat cable, heated mats or snow-melt systems go to a licensed electrician, and heaved or spalled concrete goes to a concrete contractor

When to stop and call

If steps or a landing stay glazed with ice that will not scrape off, keep people off them. 24/7 Express Handyman Service can break the ice, treat the surface and fix the drip or downspout that keeps refreezing it.

What happens next

The written scope and price come first; nothing starts until you approve it, and repeat storm visits are agreed in writing ahead of time.
Photograph the damage before anything is moved and keep every receipt; 24/7 Express Handyman Service provides an itemised invoice your insurer may ask for. The dispatch fee and job cost are paid by you on the day.

Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.

Sources

Will De-Icers Kill My Lawn? | USU Extension — retrieved 2026-09-23
Snow Removal | MyStreet, Salt Lake City — retrieved 2026-09-23

All sources