Professional Snow Plowing & Removal

Ontario winters are no joke. The Greater Toronto Area typically receives between 100-150 centimeters of snow annually, with temperatures regularly dropping well below freezing from December through March. For homeowners and business owners alike, this creates both safety concerns and legal responsibilities. Snow and ice accumulation on your property isn't just inconvenient it can create liability issues if visitors are injured due to inadequate maintenance. Understanding how professional snow removal works, what to expect from service providers, and how to prepare your property for winter can save you significant stress and expense.

The physics of snow removal are more complex than most people realize. Fresh powder snow is relatively easy to clear it's light, fluffy, and pushes aside readily. But snow conditions change rapidly. Wet, heavy snow can weigh five times as much as powder, requiring significantly more equipment power and placing more stress on surfaces. Partially melted and refrozen snow becomes ice, which can't be plowed at all and must be treated with de-icing agents. Snow that sits too long becomes compacted into hard pack that's extremely difficult to remove without damaging the underlying surface. This is why timely service matters snow cleared promptly is much easier and faster to remove than snow allowed to sit and transform.

Commercial snow removal operates differently from residential service. Business properties have different requirements: they often need to be cleared before opening hours, may require continuous service during extended storms, and face stricter liability standards. We work with property managers and business owners to develop snow management plans tailored to their specific needs. This includes determining trigger depths for service, identifying priority areas (handicap access, fire lanes, entrances), establishing salt/sand application protocols, and setting up documentation systems that provide legal protection. Many commercial clients require proof of service with date and time stamps we provide this automatically.

Salt and ice melt products are essential tools in winter property maintenance, but they're often misunderstood or misused. Standard rock salt (sodium chloride) is effective down to about -10°C but becomes less effective at lower temperatures. Calcium chloride works at much colder temperatures (down to -25°C) but costs significantly more. Magnesium chloride is gentler on concrete and vegetation but also pricier. We select appropriate products based on conditions and client preferences. It's worth noting that all chloride-based de-icers can damage concrete if overused, particularly on new concrete less than one year old. We apply products judiciously and offer eco-friendly alternatives for environmentally sensitive clients.

The timing of snow removal service is a common source of confusion. Most contracts specify a trigger depth typically 5cm (2 inches) at which service is initiated. This means we don't come out for every flurry; light dustings that melt on contact don't require removal. Once the trigger depth is reached, we begin clearing operations. For ongoing storms, this may mean multiple visits we clear periodically during long storms rather than waiting until the end when massive accumulation becomes difficult to manage. Residential customers are typically serviced once the storm ends, with priority given to contract customers over one-time requests.

Equipment selection matters for quality snow removal. We use appropriately sized equipment for each property oversized equipment can damage residential driveways, while undersized equipment takes too long on commercial lots. Our fleet includes pickup trucks with straight plows for residential driveways, larger trucks with V-plows for commercial lots, skid steers and loaders for stacking and removal, and ATVs with plows for tight spaces and walkways. Rubber edge blades protect decorative concrete and interlocking pavers. We also deploy hand crews for walkways, steps, and areas machines can't access safely.

Preparing your property for winter snow removal is something we help clients with every fall. This includes marking obstacles like garden borders, low walls, sprinkler heads, and other features that could be damaged or that might damage equipment. We identify where snow should be piled away from walkways, doors, and areas where melting water could cause problems. For new concrete driveways and patios installed that season, we recommend reduced salt application to protect the curing surface. Taking 30 minutes in November to walk the property with our team prevents problems that could develop throughout the winter season.