Salt and concrete

[Talitha2]

Hi everyone,

I'm back with more water problems.
I've just noticed that an area at my back door step and pathway is wet, say 1.5M x 1M, we've had no rain and rest of pathway is bone dry.
Now, I do have pipes coming from the bathroom directly above this area. I've ran all the taps up there, flushed toilet and have no drips at all from pipes.

My next thought is, could it be the salt I poured all over that exact area a week ago. I saw a slug on my back door step one night and was afraid that he/she was trying to get into my house so I poured a 1.5kg bag of salt all over that area as a defence. I absolutely hate slugs with every fibre of my being and always keep cheap table salt in the house as I find them now and again on my pathway ugh. I usually pour salt directly on them but this night I was petrified of an invasion as he was so close to my back door and he was huge.

I can't figure why this area is damp. There's a night and day difference to the surrounding area; and there is still some wet salt clumps visible. And now I'm also worried that that damp will attract more slugs. I can't cope with them.
Could salt be the cause of this much dampness on concrete, drawing up moisture? Or could I have a slow leak somewhere?

[Simpo Two]

Talitha2 said:

I saw a slug on my back door step one night and was afraid that he/she was trying to get into my house so I poured a 1.5kg bag of salt all over that area as a defence... I was petrified of an invasion as he was so close to my back door and he was huge.

I think some perspective is required. They're not going to force the door open and eat your dog.

1.5kg of salt is ridiculous, sorry. Salt is hygroscopic - attracts water - so you've totally over-reacted to one issue and caused another one. And you'll end up poisoning the garden as it runs off.

[Talitha2]

So to answer my question, it is the salt causing this?
Only you never said.
This forum has a reputation over all DIY sites for not being condescending, which is why I come here.

I have 3 pedigree indoor cats and the last thing I want is one of them picking up a slug. I'm not worried about my garden; I'm worried about a slug making it's way into my house and what caused the damp in that area.

[hidetheelephants]

Wash the salt away and maybe use a trowel next time instead of getting all biblical on them? It is hygroscopic and given high humidity will attract and retain moisture.

[xx99xx]

1.5kg of salt on 1 slug?????

Do you deploy Semtex when any ants penetrate the threshold?

Sorry can't answer the damp question, other than suggesting that atmospheric humidity is being absorbed into the salt and keeping it damp.

[FMOB]

Sounds like someone did a whoopsie with the salt on that slug.

Frank is that you?

[netherfield]

I'm 70+ and I've never seen a slug come in the house.

If you're worried regular worming of your cats should put your mind at ease.

[LennyM1984]

netherfield said:

If you're worried regular worming of your cats should put your mind at ease.

...Or a flamethrower

[alangla]

netherfield said:

I'm 70+ and I've never seen a slug come in the house.

If you're worried regular worming of your cats should put your mind at ease.

To be fair to the OP, I get slugs in the house fairly regularly and can’t figure out how they’re getting in. Occasionally find them on the rug in the dining room but no amount of tracing of slug trails will reveal their entry point.

OP, if you want a less extreme option to a gritter load of salt, maybe try laying the copper strips that are sold for keeping slugs out of plant pots across the door threshold.

Either way, you have my sympathies. Nothing worse than coming down in the morning to find a trail where one of the slimy little bds has been trekking across your carpet or rug during the night. Even more so if it’s an occasion where you’ve found and evicted one before going to bed and another one has come in.

[Bill]

xx99xx said:

1.5kg of salt on 1 slug?????

Do you deploy Semtex when any ants penetrate the threshold?

Sorry can't answer the damp question, other than suggesting that atmospheric humidity is being absorbed into the salt and keeping it damp.

There's only one way to be sure...

We also get slugs indoors.

[Magicmushroom666]

If your using salt by the kilo, you can buy big 25Kg bags from here:

https://www.peacocksalt.com/winter/white-de-icing-salt/

I bought this for de-icing and killing weeds and havent had any side affects from using it in the garden.

[B'stard Child]

Won't someone think of the poor hedgehog that eats a 99.9% saline infused Slug!! It'll want a serious amount of water to quench that thirst!!!

[E63eeeeee...]

Never mind the slug insanity, there are actual people who think PH isn't condescending?

Must try harder.

[Snow and Rocks]

Assuming this isn't a wind up, then yes, salt is hydroscopic so will attract and retain water. You see a similar effect here in Aberdeenshire where the council have got carried away with the gritting - the salt covered road stays wet when all around is long dry.

[mac96]

alangla said:

netherfield said:

I'm 70+ and I've never seen a slug come in the house.

If you're worried regular worming of your cats should put your mind at ease.

To be fair to the OP, I get slugs in the house fairly regularly and can’t figure out how they’re getting in. Occasionally find them on the rug in the dining room but no amount of tracing of slug trails will reveal their entry point.

OP, if you want a less extreme option to a gritter load of salt, maybe try laying the copper strips that are sold for keeping slugs out of plant pots across the door threshold.

Either way, you have my sympathies. Nothing worse than coming down in the morning to find a trail where one of the slimy little bds has been trekking across your carpet or rug during the night. Even more so if it’s an occasion where you’ve found and evicted one before going to bed and another one has come in.

There is something worse you know. It's coming downstairs in bare feet in the dark and stepping on something cold and slimy!

[Actual]

I'm with the OP as I hate slugs.

Every damp night we get about 50 slugs on the paths and grass and they climb the doors and windows.

As I'm working on the house and only have the external garage back door I am in and out all evening and the dogs also go on the grass.

It seems that slugs can begin the evening around the size of a micro dot but within a few hours are capable for growing large enough to take on our dogs. Yuck.

For slugs in the house I think that the tiny slugs get attached to footwear and then get transported into the house.

I'm off to get 1.5 Kg of salt!

[Talitha2]

Thanks to all who replied, and especially to those who get me. They are vile!
And, I've never had them enter the house!
This is preventative for me, as I would die.

And my cats are wormed every 2yrs, they are indoor, with a built on catio off the ground. They don't get exposure to any danger. I only worm them in case they catch a flying creature.

Slugs can make their way under closed doors and present as food or intrigue for a dog or cat resulting in death.
My back door area is still wet but no slugs have been seen since. I can only hope that salted concrete will keep them away.
I live beside a river, in a glen.
I only wanted to know if it was salt causing the moisture or a leak. Now I know. And for those who think I went overboard, they are extremely hard to eradicate. I wouldn't ever harm an ant or a spider, or any living creature, only them. I'll worry about the grarden and path next spring.


My faith in this forum is restored.

Edited by Talitha2 on Saturday 9th November 20:48

Edited by Talitha2 on Saturday 9th November 20:56

[AndrewT1275]

I think you are worrying too much.

My cat comes in with a slug attached to his fur at least once a fortnight and isn't dead yet.

And you should probably be worming your cats every 3 months, not every 2 years.