We tried the mats for the first time last winter, mostly just on the main walkway. I used heavy-duty outdoor tape around the edges and honestly, it held up better than I expected—no shifting, even with the kids running back and forth. There was a bit of water that got underneath after a big thaw, but as long as I kept the edges clear and checked for ice buildup after storms, it didn’t freeze up under there. After a few months, the mats still worked fine, though I did notice some minor wear at the corners. Not perfect, but way less hassle than shoveling every morning.
Interesting to hear about the tape holding up—did you notice any issues with the adhesive once things got really cold? I tried a similar setup on my front steps last year, but I kept running into problems with the corners curling up after a couple of freeze-thaw cycles. Maybe it was the brand of tape, or maybe just the way the steps are built... Did you find the mats made a difference in your overall ice buildup, or did you still get patches forming where the water ran off?
Yeah, the adhesive definitely struggled once we hit those deep freezes—corners started peeling up just like you described. I tried two different brands and honestly, neither held up great after a couple of icy nights. As for the mats, they did help with the main walking area, but I still got slick patches where meltwater ran off and refroze. I guess unless your steps are perfectly level, you’re always gonna have some trouble spots... Nature finds a way, right?
I hear you on the corners peeling up—mine did the same after a couple nights below zero. Even with the mats, I still had to chip away at some icy spots where water pooled. Maybe it’s just the reality of winter steps unless you’ve got perfect drainage... which I definitely don’t.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—those corners just don’t stay put once it gets really cold. Honestly, I’m not convinced these mats are worth the money unless your steps are already in great shape. I tried taping mine down and even that didn’t stop the water from sneaking underneath and freezing. It’s like the mats help a bit, but if you’ve got any low spots or bad drainage, you’re still chipping ice. Maybe there’s a better solution out there, but I haven’t found it yet...