Message Board - Artificial Turf: magic ice melt on artificial pitches
3 Dec 2010 by colin mcmullin Last edited 4 Dec 2010
Hi
Has anyone tried the Magic Ice Melt product to help clear a synthetic pitch, and if so what are the implications of cleansing the pitch afterwards off the chemical and possible problems with water coureses (we have a river either side of our synthetic pitch).
Has anyone tried other means to defrost a pitch or like us, do you just leave nature to take its time.
Thanks
3 Dec 2010 by Rob Bradshaw
Hi Colin
Here at One-Leisure in St Ives we have the same problem as you Colin.
I have contacted various pro groundsman today on this issue and also contacted surface companys.
We have looked at a product today from chemaide its called crystal clear which contains urea. Im not to sure whether this product is suitable for artificial surfaces as im waiting on a email from Tiger Turf.
However 2 companys who i did speak to never heard of this product and did suggest using PDF pure dried vacuum salt. They did recomend if this action was to be taken out that 1.5 ton would be the ammount to be used costing in the region of £360.
The other alternative which is proberley the best way is to let nature take its cause.
3 Dec 2010 by Rob Bradshaw
Magic ice from pitchcare looks great product. would be interesting to know if it can be used on artificial surfaces.
3 Dec 2010 by Gateshead Cleveland Hall
Our 3g installed by ERDC has a note in the maintenance instructions against the use of any de-icer containing Urea. It did not say why.
I put a thread on a week ago about clearing snow off a 3G but no-one replied, so dont be surprised if you do not get any help.
4 Dec 2010 by Barry Pace
Guys..be fair........ what you all actually need to do is you all need to pick up the phone and call the people who supplied or made your particular carpet...... They will tell you what can be used and what can't and what will keep your product warranty in place....
It doesn't matter what we think... its what they say that counts...
Lozza:
Maybe a bit of investigative journalism required here.... what is acceptable and what not and why?
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
4 Dec 2010 by Rob Bradshaw
Barry I'm not that stupid mate this is why I phoned 2 maintenance companys and 2 manufactors yesterday. I'm not a groundsman for putting names on websites as I know it can lead to heated debates. This site is for helping other groundstaff out in the industry. It clearly states in the handover documents that snow can be removed carefully.
Does not say anything else. But I will say is tho both carpet manufactors did say you could use pure dried vacuum salt.
4 Dec 2010 by Mal
I did ask Technical surfaces a few years back if icemelt could be used but they said that it would not be suitable as it would reduce the life of the carpet - in effect it would rot the carpet. Of course things change quickly in this day and age with carpet construction and product content so would also advacate going straight to the supplier with information of the product you intend to use.
Geography is everywhere
4 Dec 2010 by Barry Pace Last edited 4 Dec 2010
Rob,,,, didn't say you was .... you wasn't the one saying that help wouldn't be forthcoming from here..... it can't in this instance, the wrong stuff on and the implications to the carpet, user H & S and environmentally are immense...
Info on maintenance, life & Warranty affect and product suitabliity should come from the installer or manufacturer... if you bought a £500,000.00 car you would want to know when to service it and with what surely..
That again is a generalised comment rather than direct reply to you LOL
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
4 Dec 2010 by Rob Bradshaw
Sorry barry if I read it wrong. Fully understand what you are saying. I had product info the lot yesterday faxing it to different companys. It will be good to see the 2 manufactors comments on this. Thanks for your advice anyway barry
4 Dec 2010 by Barry Pace
No Worries.... 
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
4 Dec 2010 by Richard Maryan
Hi Colin been using pure dried vacuum salt for about 15 years on our astros. Works well on snow up to about 25 to 30 mm as long as it has not been compacted by people playing on it. Rob is correct about the amount needed and the cost so it can be expensive, also will get rid of snow but fresh snow fall will still settle if it is heavy enough. I think it depends on the importance of the match or the revenue that might be lost from hirings as to whether it is worth the cost.
4 Dec 2010 by tonybolton Last edited 4 Dec 2010
No such thing as an all weather outdoor pitch.
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother
5 Dec 2010 by Richard Maryan
No mention of an all weather pitch just someone asking for advice about artificial pitch maintenance.
5 Dec 2010 by ticky21
so..have i missed the thread (scuse the pun) all together...???..what are you guys trying to do..??...prevent snow from settling or clear the stuff once it has landed, i personally would have thought if you are clearing snow, a rubber blade on a quad or compact tractor would suffice...also...has anyone thought of the "brine" that some road clearing contractors are using now...its put down by a dribble bar and prevents ice to about -10 degrees..wondered how this may affect the material used on artificials
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
5 Dec 2010 by wicketdevil
i would be very carefull of using a blade of any sort on a frozen artificial pitch as the fibres become fragile when frozen. I know when i get back to work tomorrow the pressure will be on to clear the hockey pitch. We treated with vacumn salt before it came down hopefully that will of helped. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
6 Dec 2010 by colin mcmullin
HI everyone,
Thanks for the responses which as suspected started a huge amount of debate which I believe there will never be an answer to.
Barry, as Rob I too have spoken to the manufacturer and supplier, (as well as other specialist companies) with the same vague and non commital answer on general maintenance.
I do not wish to name the company that done this pitch as I may get into trouble with my comments on what I think of the follow up service, but needless to say I have explored a lot of avenues without too much clarity.
The issue we have is not the snow, as I have snow blowers etc which we can use, but the sheer thickness of ice on the pitch.
Our pitch has been replaced and has a thinner shock pad than previously, which was feathered up at the edges top the existing kerbs. This has left a bowl effect that when it snows/ and melts, it sits on the frozen sand infill as it cannot escape. Thus leaving us with an inch plus of sheet ice. This obviously then is extremely difficult to get rid during the current melt/freeze scenario.
I know it is a design issue and as always will do my best to resolve, so many thanks for everyones comments.
cheers
Colin
6 Dec 2010 by Barry Pace
Hhmmm not ideal then at all Colin... you think they would know by now what is ok and what isn't.
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
8 Dec 2010 by colin mcmullin
Hi everyone
Just in case people doubt the problem of having sheet ice, have a look at photo which we have now ahd in this state for nearly 2 weeks.
We get a slight thaw but then another freeze.
Oh for the warmth of the summer.
Colin
8 Dec 2010 by Barry Pace
Stuff the ball games...
get some more water on and open a skating rink one thinks..............
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
8 Dec 2010 by Grassman2011
Punters will have to learn that out door turf and artificial surfaces are not available in weather conditions like this. You can only work with mother nature, not against it. Perhaps some frost covers need to be purchased for future bad weather.
8 Dec 2010 by sculler
used urea some years ago for ice control on an american companys site as the site spec asked for it works really well. used on airfields as it doesn,t rot metal work problemn was it stayed dry and frozen had to keep applying as instructed from usa, think they were scared of people claiming, when it it decided to rain all the urea was washed into drains which went into a enviromental area which was built to allow planning and to look good and guess what it killed the lot great crested newts frogs and toads,fish, seeing the suits from usa in white spraysuits looking at damage with the enviroment agency on a damage limitation was a picture so for me i would be very careful when to use a urea based ice product but if i could i would use it .
9 Dec 2010 by STAFF - John Richards
Dear All - had this discussion in the office yesterday, and with one of the Technical guys from a manufacturer of ice melt.
The urea based products, such as the ice melt granules, are safe to use on artificials.
However, some companies also produce an ice melt in liquid form. These are mainly used at airports, large hard surface areas etc. The liquids contain formates and carbonides which could damage carpets, and also need careful controlling to prevent run-off into water courses.
Hope this helps.
Regards
John Richards
9 Dec 2010 by wicketdevil
I put some down before this last lot without much success . However we had stored it for 12 months is there a limit on how long this will keep. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
9 Dec 2010 by wicketdevil
Hi colin where you based. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
10 Dec 2010 by Mike
Colin
I have been made aware of something that may work for your situation.
I don't think i'm allowed to post suppliers information on here, but if you are interested, give me a ring (481796), and i'll pass on contact details of the supplier to you. As with all things, if you do go for it, it may be wise to score a trial amount first and apply in a corner, or to an offcut if you have any left over, before committing to applying it to the whole pitch - if you don't have any offcuts, I can drop some round as our surface is the same as yours, and I have some rolls spare
Mike
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