Guides · Pavers and walls · Winter care
Ice melt for pavers: what each brand’s warranty allows
Which de-icers Unilock, Techo-Bloc, Belgard, EP Henry, Cambridge, Nicolock and VERSA-LOK say are safe, what voids each warranty, and whether you have to seal or register. Pulled from each manufacturer’s own warranty and care documents, side by side with the industry’s de-icer test data.
Checked Nov. 12, 2026 against each brand’s published warranty or care page (linked under each answer). Warranties change; the written warranty for your purchase is what counts. The brands don’t all agree on magnesium chloride, which is why this page exists.
Don’t know the brand? Check the delivery ticket or invoice, or ask your installer. If you still can’t tell, follow the CMHA guidance below.
Rock salt first and sparingly, calcium chloride only for the coldest days, sand or grit for traction, a plastic or rubber-edged blade, and a good rinse in spring. Skip magnesium chloride unless your manufacturer says in writing it’s covered.
How each de-icer treats concrete pavers
| De-icer | Works to about | Freeze-thaw damage | Chemical attack | CMHA says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium chloride (rock salt) | 15°F | Least of the salts | Minimal | Least damaging; use whenever possible |
| Calcium chloride | -2°F | Minimal to moderate | Moderate | Use judiciously when you need faster or colder melting |
| Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) | 19°F | Moderate | Moderate to significant | Not recommended; damage rises with the magnesium content |
| Magnesium chloride | -8°F | Moderate to significant | Significant | Not recommended; highest potential for damage |
From CMHA PAV-FAQ-001-18 (table adapted by CMHA from NCHRP Report 577). “Works to about” is CMHA’s effective temperature: the lowest practical temperature for melting. A 2013 Utah DOT literature review CMHA cites found only minor effects, if any, from sodium chloride and significant deterioration from calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and CMA.
Who says what about magnesium chloride
CMHA (the paver industry group) and Unilock. Unilock’s maintenance guide also bans CMA, potassium chloride, potassium acetate and ammonium nitrate or sulfate fertilizers, saying they rapidly attack concrete.
A Belgard homeowner article (“skip the salt”) and Nicolock’s November 2025 winter article, which recommends magnesium chloride or CMA and says rock salt corrodes concrete.
Cambridge says use only sodium chloride, sparingly, and no blends; Techo-Bloc’s warranty names rock salt as covered. Neither page we read endorses magnesium chloride.
Brand by brand
| Warranty: Transferable lifetime guarantee on structural integrity of pavers and wall units in residential use. Covers deterioration from normal use or the reasonable application of sodium chloride (rock salt). Replacement product only; labor to install it is not included. |
| De-icers: Rock salt (sodium chloride) down to about 20°F; calcium chloride only when needed from 20°F to -2°F. Do not use magnesium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), potassium chloride, potassium acetate or fertilizers with ammonium nitrate or sulfate. Use coarse sand for traction when you can. |
| Not covered or may void: Efflorescence, polymeric sand haze, scratches and chips from snow removal or construction equipment, poor design or installation, and non-Unilock cleaners or sealers (may void). StoneMark products are not warranted against de-icer damage, and de-icers on StoneMark, wet-cast pavers, slabs or coping are not recommended. |
| Sealing: Not required. Unilock says sealers are not needed for structural integrity. |
| Register and keep: Register within 60 days of your dated proof of purchase; keep the receipt. |
Sources: Unilock, Transferable Lifetime Guarantee; Unilock warranty terms (PDF); Unilock, protecting your project for a lifetime; Unilock paver maintenance guide
| Warranty: Transferable lifetime warranty from the delivery date on residential products. Covers structural integrity and abnormal surface deterioration from rock salt (sodium chloride) used to de-ice pavers, slabs or steps. Techo-Bloc replaces affected units only, after a site inspection; installation and replacement labor are not covered. Commercial drycast products get 5 years. |
| De-icers: The warranty names rock salt (sodium chloride) as covered. The warranty text we read doesn’t list other de-icers, so ask Techo-Bloc before using anything else. |
| Not covered or may void: Wet Cast collection products: rock salt damage isn’t covered and the warranty doesn’t transfer. Scuffs from compaction or snow removal equipment; Techo-Bloc says plows need proper spacing, bumpers and rubber blade guards. |
| Sealing: Not addressed in the warranty text we read. |
| Register and keep: Proof of purchase such as an invoice or delivery slip is required. |
Sources: Techo-Bloc TechoSpec 2025 warranty (dealer-hosted PDF); Techo-Bloc warranties (dealer-hosted PDF)
| Warranty: Lifetime transferable limited warranty: pavers and walls are guaranteed to meet ASTM C936 and C1372 for the product’s life. Belgard replaces product that fails to meet spec at no charge after investigating the claim within 10 business days. Replacement labor and consequential damages are not covered. Residential use only. |
| De-icers: Mixed messages. Belgard’s technical guide says its pavers resist damage from deicing salts such as rock salt when properly used, while a Belgard homeowner article says to skip salt and use a paver-safe de-icer like magnesium chloride. CMHA rates magnesium chloride the most damaging (see the table). |
| Not covered or may void: Splitting, chipping or breakage from impact, abrasion or overloading; installation that doesn’t follow CMHA or Belgard’s installation manual (voids the warranty); commercial use. |
| Sealing: Not addressed on the warranty page. |
| Register and keep: Original proof of purchase required; registration is encouraged. |
Sources: Belgard, Lifetime Transferable Limited Warranty; Belgard Technical Resource Guide 2025, snow and ice removal (online copy); Belgard homeowner winter article
| Warranty: Lifetime limited warranty with proof of purchase (invoice or delivery slip). EP Henry supplies replacement units free for products with structural defects. Removing, hauling and reinstalling are not covered. Any lawsuit must start within one year of when the defect was or should have been found. |
| De-icers: EP Henry says no concrete product is truly de-icing salt proof and points to the industry guidelines: mix salt with sand, don’t over-apply, use salt for ice and not snow, remove loosened ice, and wash the pavers in spring. |
| Not covered or may void: Commercial use; breakage from impact, abrasion or overloading; improper installation; efflorescence and polymeric haze; compaction scuffs; non-proprietary cleaners or sealers (may void). |
| Sealing: Not required, but non-proprietary sealers may void the warranty. |
| Register and keep: Fill out the Lifetime Warranty Form when the project is finished. |
Sources: EP Henry, Lifetime Warranty; EP Henry, Can I use de-icing salts on my pavers?
| Warranty: Fully transferable limited lifetime warranty with valid proof of purchase. Cambridge replaces defective pavingstones or wallstones installed to CMHA guidelines; installation and replacement costs are not covered. Claims must be made within one year of discovering the defect, with the unit returned to the dealer. |
| De-icers: Sand is preferred for traction. If you use a de-icer, use only sodium chloride (rock salt), sparingly, and avoid blended products. Clear loosened snow and ice promptly. |
| Not covered or may void: Efflorescence, pyrite staining, polymeric haze; custom colors and Blue or Shell pigments; wallstones without ArmorTec; installs on Alliance Gator Base; plow scuffs without rubber blade guards; natural stone and porcelain (no warranty); vehicles on units longer than 4 times their width. |
| Sealing: Not required for pavingstones. |
| Register and keep: Keep valid proof of purchase. |
Sources: Cambridge Pavingstones warranty
| Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty on the structural integrity of its products in residential use, transferable to the next owner. Nicolock notes some exclusions apply. |
| De-icers: Nicolock’s Nov. 2025 winter article recommends magnesium chloride or calcium magnesium acetate and says regular salt (sodium chloride) corrodes concrete. That is the opposite of CMHA’s guidance, so get Nicolock’s answer in writing for your product. |
| Not covered or may void: Not listed on the registration page we read; ask for the full warranty document. |
| Sealing: Not addressed on the pages we read. |
| Register and keep: Register on Nicolock’s warranty registration page. |
Sources: Nicolock warranty registration; Nicolock winter care article (Nov. 5, 2025)
| Warranty: We couldn’t find a homeowner warranty published on versa-lok.com. VERSA-LOK units are made by authorized regional manufacturers (Chaney Enterprises is one), so the warranty comes from whoever made your block. |
| De-icers: Wall caps along walks and drives get the most salt. With no brand guidance published, follow CMHA: rock salt first, calcium chloride only when needed, no magnesium chloride or CMA. |
| Not covered or may void: Ask the dealer for the producer’s written terms before you buy. |
| Sealing: Ask the producer. |
| Register and keep: Ask the dealer which plant made the block and keep the delivery ticket. |
Sources: VERSA-LOK; Chaney Enterprises, VERSA-LOK manufacturer
Winter habits that keep the warranty intact
Use de-icer on ice, not as a substitute for shoveling, and only as much as the label calls for. Once ice breaks loose, shovel it and the leftover salt off so it doesn’t concentrate.
Use plastic shovels and plows with rubber blade guards. Scuffs and chips from snow equipment are excluded by Unilock, Techo-Bloc, Cambridge and EP Henry.
Wash the pavers in spring; salt left behind keeps working after the snow is gone. Keep de-icer off plants and metal.
From CMHA PAV-FAQ-001-18, EP Henry and the brand warranties above.
To see how many days a year your patio freezes and thaws, check freeze-thaw cycles by state.
Questions
What ice melt is safe for pavers?
The concrete paver industry group, CMHA, says rock salt (sodium chloride) is the least damaging and should be used whenever possible, with calcium chloride only when you need something faster or colder. It does not recommend magnesium chloride or calcium magnesium acetate because they can chemically degrade concrete. Whatever you use, use as little as works and don’t use it in place of shoveling.
Does rock salt void my paver warranty?
Not with the two brands that spell it out. Unilock’s guarantee covers deterioration from the reasonable application of rock salt, and Techo-Bloc’s covers abnormal surface deterioration from rock salt on pavers, slabs and steps. Both carve out wet-cast lines: Techo-Bloc excludes rock salt damage on Wet Cast products, and Unilock excludes de-icer damage on StoneMark and advises against de-icers on wet-cast pavers, slabs and coping.
Is magnesium chloride safe for pavers?
The answer depends on who you ask. CMHA rates magnesium chloride the highest potential for damage and says not to use it, and Unilock lists it under do not use. Belgard and Nicolock homeowner articles recommend it as paver-safe. If your pavers are one of those brands, get the manufacturer’s answer in writing; otherwise follow CMHA.
Do I have to seal pavers to keep the warranty?
Not with Unilock, which says sealers aren’t needed for structural integrity, or Cambridge. Unilock and EP Henry do say non-proprietary cleaners or sealers may void the warranty, so use the products the manufacturer names.
Do paver warranties cover labor?
No. Unilock, Techo-Bloc, Belgard, EP Henry and Cambridge all replace the product only; tearing out and reinstalling is on the owner or the installer’s own workmanship warranty.
Do I need to register my paver warranty?
For Unilock, yes: within 60 days of the dated proof of purchase. EP Henry asks for its warranty form when the project is done, and Belgard and Nicolock offer registration. For every brand, keep the invoice or delivery ticket.
Sources: CMHA, Effects of Deicing Chemicals on Interlocking Concrete Pavers (PAV-FAQ-001-18); CMHA, Operation and Maintenance Guide (PAV-TEC-006-22); Unilock, Transferable Lifetime Guarantee; Unilock warranty terms (PDF); Unilock, protecting your project for a lifetime; Unilock paver maintenance guide; Techo-Bloc TechoSpec 2025 warranty (dealer-hosted PDF); Techo-Bloc warranties (dealer-hosted PDF); Belgard, Lifetime Transferable Limited Warranty; Belgard homeowner winter article; Belgard Technical Resource Guide 2025, snow and ice removal (online copy); EP Henry, Lifetime Warranty; EP Henry, Can I use de-icing salts on my pavers?; Cambridge Pavingstones warranty; Nicolock warranty registration; Nicolock winter care article (Nov. 5, 2025); VERSA-LOK; Chaney Enterprises, VERSA-LOK manufacturer. Checked Nov. 12, 2026.
Muthler Landscaping & Construction · Lock Haven, PA
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