Whenever an unexpected storm is about to hit, people rush out to purchase supplies. When it comes to planning for the winter season, however, too many fail to make the necessary preparations.
Even though we know that the colder months will bring snow and ice, people have a tendency to assume that rock salt and other ice melting materials will be available in their hour of need.
As evidenced by last year’s rock salt shortage, this is not the case. Businesses, schools, churches, municipalities and other organizations need to be ready for another cold winter, and that means stocking up on rock salt in bulk.
Doing so will ensure that you’re ready to handle whatever Old Man Winter throws our way and will enable you to save a significant amount of money.
The Importance of Being Prepared
Generally, we think of “winter” as including the months of mid-to-late November through the end of February. During especially harsh seasons, however, the freezing temperatures may drag on much longer than expected. In situations like these, it’s extremely important to have an ample supply of rock salt on hand.
Many distribution and supply companies only anticipate the needs of a “typical” winter. This is what happened last year. Because we experienced frigid conditions well into what should have been spring, these suppliers ran short on their stock of rock salt and everyone was impacted by the deficit.
Rock salt was very difficult to come by, and when it could be located the prices were heavily inflated. Without taking the time to plan ahead and purchase rock salt in bulk before the cold arrives, you could be setting yourself up to face these same problems again this year.
Buying Rock Salt in Bulk
Regardless of what your specific needs are, you won’t have a problem being able to purchase the perfect rock salt in bulk – as long as you do so in advance. Those who prepare early on in the game will have their pick of a wide variety of different ice melting solutions.
Many organizations like schools, daycare facilities, and churches like to work with rock salt that is specially formulated to be safe for use around children while still being highly effective.
Cities and businesses may be looking for materials that have been designed to minimize any negative environmental impact and that won’t cause harm to surrounding vegetation.
Still others may have a vested interest in finding a product that will reduce tracking and damages to indoor flooring. There are ice melting products to serve virtually any need, and all can be purchased in bulk.
Depending on the size of your property and your exact requirements, you should buy rock salt by the pallet or by the truckload.
Proper Storage
There’s little point in buying rock salt in bulk if your storage techniques will cause the materials to become damaged. Too many people make the mistake of believing that they can simply toss rock salt in the corner of a shed or garage, but you may want to assess these facilities before doing so. Water and moisture can wreak serious havoc on de-icers.
If the structure in which you’re planning to store your rock salt is not properly sealed and is prone to leaks or runoff water, you’ll need to either address these issues or find another location.
Bags of rock salt can often be well-preserved inside of unused waste cans and sealed by a lid. Large storage bins may be another solution.
Choosing a Rock Salt Supplier
Before buying rock salt in bulk, it’s wise to learn more about your prospective suppliers. You need to give your business to a company that offers a variety of ice melting products at fair and competitive rates.
You’ll find that many of the national chain retailers will typically sell limited brands of rock salt by the bag. Because people know that these types of stores will sell rock salt, they will frequent these retailers throughout the winter.
This means that big box stores are the most likely to sell out of supplies first.
In addition to running out of products, stores like these generally don’t offer bulk delivery services. The smartest option is to buy from a direct supplier like Braen Supply that offers a variety of ice melters, affordable products, and bulk delivery services throughout your local area.
We have everything you need to keep your property safe throughout the winter. Braen Supply bulk delivers rock salt throughout NJ, NY, PA and CT.
Photo courtesy of NCDOT.
