How to Melt Ice on a Driveway Using Reflection Panels
Driveways develop ice on the surface during wet, cold days and can cause you to slip and slide. The sun usually takes care of this problem during the day, but if you have a continuously shady spot, the ice can sometimes last a lot longer. Salt will melt the ice as long as the temperature is above a certain level, but the water will generally freeze again at night when the air gets colder. To get rid of the ice, try applying a little heat to the area by redirecting the sun to the problem location. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Swivel ball brackets
- 2-inch and 3-inch wood screws
- 4-inch by 4-inch posts
- Post hole diggers
- Plywood
- Glue
- Mirrors
Instructions
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1
Find a sunny spot and set up several posts in that location. Dig holes with post hole diggers and insert 4-inch by 4-inch posts that are 4 feet long. Put 1 foot of the length in the ground for stability and fill in the hole with dirt.
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2
Attach swivel ball brackets to the posts with 3-inch wood screws. Use a power drill.
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3
Install a thin piece of 2-foot by 2-foot plywood onto each bracket with 2-inch wood screws.
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4
Glue mirrors to each piece of plywood.
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Point the mirrors up at a slight angle so that they can catch the sun. Make sure each mirror is pointed along the path of the sun, and that each one will catch it at a different time. This way, as the sun moves, it will move across each mirror and then on to the next one and continue to be reflected.
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Set up reflection panels the same as the ones on the post using the swivel ball brackets, except you will install these high up using surrounding trees or other structures. Place them where each one will catch the reflective light on a panel that is installed on a post, and aim them in the general direction of the spot that is located in the shade.
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