Snow removal and concrete heaves

[Simpleton7016 3]

New problem for me. My previous house had a nice new asphalt driveway. Our new (used)house has large concrete slabs. And though smooth and level in the summer, I have recently discovered that the entire slabs "heave" in the winter. Rather, I should say we (my three year old and I found this out). He was on my lap helping me blow snow from the comfort of my enclosed cab. I was going quite slow when the snowblower edge caught on one of the "heaved" portions of concrete. Unexpectedly, we both lunged forward and we ended up hitting his forehead on the windshield. Unharmed, but frightened, he wanted to go inside. I finished the snow removal but did get caught on several different areas. And the heaves were fairly random in that sometimes the thrower got 'caught' when I was going east, and other times when I was going west. I count at least 5 trouble areas. What do I do about these? Has anyone ever found a fix? If it is my plowblade, I get stuck on only two of them because the spring trips do there job on the others. Do i just continue to plow for awhile until the blade beaks of the trouble areas? I would rent a concrete grinder in the summer, but the driveway is smooth in the summer. I sure as heck won't do it in the winter. I know someone out there has an ingenious solution. I was thinking maybe of pouring water on the trouble areas and letting ice build up to allow the blower to go over the areas....but that is an awful lot of screwing around for something that could melt any given day. The heaves are not very high....we are not talking about the San Andreas Fault or anything. Just a half inch to an inch in most places. Thoughts?

[tracktor312 0]

I have seen rubber cutting edges on plows but a snowblower is a differant animal maybe you can try makeing a hard rubber edge and see what happens or maybe mount a set of wheels on blower to ride on ground

[firefoxz1 4]

Blow or plow at an slight angle to the joints. That's the only suggestion I can think of at the moment. The rubber scraper bar sounds interesting though.

[BLT 725]

What about extending out your skid shoes or make a special pair that will ride up and over your trouble spots. Also this has been an unusual season for the surface, big November - December rains, freeze, thaw, freeze and thaw coming up again. This will play some weird things on the concrete.

[dcw06 0]

I made my own shows for both of my blowers.They are longer and wider,and I also set up the blowers about 1/2" or more to keep out of the gravel.That might be to high for some,but I do 3-4 driveways and sometimes the county road up to the highway.I can blow west going from gravel over the cement basketball court,back to gravel,across the road into the neighbors drive up to their garage and never had it catch.

[IronPony 3]

I would think about maybe doing some mud jacking this summer to prevent the heaves next winter. Don't much about it but it might work. Moister in the ground under the slabs is causing the heaves by freezing and expanding.

[tracktor312 0]

I just seen on another site a guy who cut a piece of pvc pipe just a slot down one side and slid it on his cutting edge so he could snowblow on a gravel drive . He says it works great sounds like a cheap solution