Single pour
New or replacement slab
The elements are fixed to the reinforcing and covered in the same pour as the slab.
- Planned with the concrete contractor
- Elements sit near the top of the slab
- The simplest case for even heating
Snow melting: Concrete
Snow melting in concrete driveways and walkways
In concrete, the heating is tied in near the top of the slab before the pour, then covered by the finished concrete. It is planned alongside the concrete work, not added afterwards.
Where the heating sits in a concrete slab
The elements go in near the top of the slab, held on a frame so the spacing stays even while the concrete is poured.
- Finished concrete
- Snow melt cable tied to rebar or a metal frame, near the top of the slab
- Wire chairs or blocks holding the frame at height
- Compacted crushed-stone gravel base
How installation goes
The order of work matters: the elements are protected and tested as the surface goes on.
Base and reinforcing
The concrete contractor prepares a compacted crushed-stone base and places the mesh or rebar.
Elements fixed to the frame
The electrician attaches cable or mats to the frame at the design spacing and props the frame to the specified height.
Leads, conduit and sensor
Cold leads run in conduit to a junction box, and a slab sensor can be placed in an open area at this stage.
The pour
Concrete is poured with care around the elements, without heavy equipment over exposed cable.
Testing before and after
The electrician tests the elements during the pour and again once the slab has cured.
New slab or existing slab
The route depends on whether the concrete is about to be poured or is already there.
Retrofit
Existing slab
The manufacturer describes two routes for concrete that is already in place.
- A new layer of concrete over cable laid on the existing slab
- Or cable set into cut grooves in the finished concrete
- Depends on the condition and thickness of the slab
Mat or cable in concrete
Both are installed in concrete. Open rectangles suit mats; shapes, curves and stairs suit cable.
Open areas
Snow melting mat
Heating cable pre-spaced on a mesh, laid on the frame across open slabs.
- Suited to rectangular driveways, walkways and patios
- Spacing is built into the mat
- Comes in set widths and lengths
Shapes and stairs
Snow melting cable
Loose cable tied to rebar or mesh, laid to the shape of the slab.
- Suited to curved layouts, steps and ramps
- Can be laid at different spacings by design
- Takes more installation time
Concrete questions
Direct answers. Your design confirms the details for your property.
Can snow melting be installed in a concrete driveway or walkway?
Yes. In new concrete, heating cable or mats are fixed to reinforcing mesh or rebar near the top of the slab before the concrete is poured, so they end up inside the finished slab.
How deep are the heating elements in concrete?
The manufacturer’s method places the elements near the top of the slab, not deep, so the heat reaches the surface. Your design and the concrete contractor confirm the exact depth for your slab.
Can I add snow melting to an existing concrete slab?
Often. The manual describes two routes: pouring a new layer of concrete over heating cable laid on the existing slab, or cutting grooves into the finished concrete for cable. An assessment of your slab confirms which is possible.
What about expansion joints and railings?
They are planned in the design. Heating elements are not run across expansion joints, and posts and railings are pre-sleeved so the concrete does not have to be drilled through the heating layer.
Who does the work on a concrete surface?
The concrete contractor prepares the base and pours the slab, and a qualified electrician fixes, connects and tests the heating elements. MeltGrid coordinates the design and both trades.
Other surfaces
The installation method changes with the surface.
Can this go under an existing driveway? See retrofit considerations
Planning snow melting for concrete?
Tell us about the surface and the area. We come back with a design and an estimate.