It’s a fair question as a lot of the times it doesn’t look like anything has been done. That’s why, we now post the gritting schedule on Connect when sites are due to be gritted. It’s available after 1pm, so you can easily check if and when gritting is happening at your site.
Most of the doubts come from commonly believed myths about gritting. Continue reading to clear up the confusion on some of them.
Myth #1: If I can’t see grit, it hasn’t been spread
The word “gritting” is a bit misleading as we don’t use grit at all. Instead, we use pure white marine salt (sodium chloride). It’s cleaner and harder to spot than the brown salt used on roads. But more effective, and cost‑efficient too.
Often, you won’t be able to see the salt after it’s been on the ground for a few hours. That’s because the salt dissolves into water to prevent ice from bonding to the surface. In wetter conditions or busy areas, it dissolves faster. But even when you can’t see it, it’s still working.
Myth #2: Grit works instantly
Salt doesn’t melt ice the moment it touches the ground. What it does is lower the freezing point of water, stopping ice from forming or sticking. To really work, it needs movement — cars driving over it or people walking on it help grind it into the road surface.
That’s why we grit overnight, so the salt is already in place and ready to work as traffic arrives. So, if you site still looks icy after being gritted, don’t worry – the salt is working, but may need a little time to do its job.
Myth #3: Grit stops all ice and snow
Salt is great for frost and thin layers of ice, but when snow builds up more than 50mm, (roughly the height of a golf ball), gritting alone won’t be enough. The snow needs to be ploughed first. Remember, gritting is about prevention. It helps reduce slipperiness and stops ice bonding, but it can’t clear deep snow without ploughing.
If you need to arrange a snow clearance, please call our Helpdesk on 0808 196 2045, this service is chargeable.
How can you tell if your site has been gritted?
Rest assured, if gritting was scheduled at your site as per the schedule on Connect, your site will have been gritted – even if you can’t see the salt. But here are a few signs you can look out for:
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Tiny salt crystals at the edges of paths or car parks.
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Better traction underfoot – even if it looks icy, you’ll feel less slip.
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Timing – we grit sites overnight, if you have overnight staff or CCTV, they may be able to confirm the visit took place.
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Contact our helpdesk - Our team can check the portal to confirm whether your site has been gritted.
Want to learn more?
Read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) page so you know exactly what to expect when temperatures drop.
