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Snow Removal Service Reviews:When the snow begins to fall in Canada and the United States, homeowners always wonder how rough the winter will be. Some are resigned to clearing their own driveways with snow blowers, shovels, or even their own snow plow. Some of the hardest hit states tend to be the Dakotas, Minnesota, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and Michigan. The good news is that most municipalities offer some kind of snow removal services for the city streets and some parking lots. The unfortunate thing is that driveways and sidewalks get bogged down with snow and when a snowstorm hits that can spell trouble for homeowners. The more snow that falls the harder the job to clear it. That is where snow removal services are invaluable. They have huge equipment (often tractors or large dumptruck style trucks with snow plows on front) that are able to clear driveways in seconds and handle large parking lots in an hour or so. Of course these services will cost you, but being able to get out of your driveway safely and off to work is something most of us will gladly pay for.
 which goes for less than $1500. This self-adjusting plow is easy to install and requires no electric or hydraulic components. Works on concrete, stone, black top, brick, gravel and even grass surfaces. With the purchase you get the 7' blade, hardware kit, push frame, angled interceptor, and model specific front mount. SnowSport is a reputable name in the business and their products rate well with homeowners. Another option is the SnowSport 180 Utility Plow that costs less than $1000 and it attaches to the rear of the SUV or truck. That way you can back out of your driveway and force the snow to the street and not into your garage door area. It features a 1" thick, rubber cutting edge that is durable say owners. Again, no wiring or level controls that you need to operate. Just set the plow into any standard 2" front or rear receiver and start plowing the snow. The aluminum blade is rust resistant and will last. The final solution is to go big with the SnowBear Winter Wolf Personal Snowplow which measures 84 inches across and works great with trucks and SUVs. The custom geared winch lift system allows you to lift and lower the blade at will. It manually adjusts to 3 angles. Not intended for commercial use, although the product appears pretty heavy duty.
How Much Does Snow Removal Cost?:Snow removal pricing varies on location and how much work needs to be done. Expect that a standard two car driveway will run about $50 per storm. If your driveway is sloped or graveled, that could add to the cost of the plow service. Many homeowners go with the most economical option and that is to hire on a seasonal basis. Many of these snow removal companies run from November to April when needed. Some offer tractor mounted snow blowers or front loaders with huge blades. Trucks with a plow attachment are commonplace in neighborhoods. Even if you have a professional company plow your driveway, be sure to discuss with them where the snow bank will end up. No sense in having a driveway clear but the garage door is blocked with 10 feet of snow. Hiring a snow removal service is easy as most are setup to handle hundreds of homes on any given day. Ask them what time of day the plowing will occur. If you need to leave your house in the mornings for work, they need to have your driveway cleared by a certain time. The plowing contract should state specifics like how often, time of day, and seasonal timeframe. You will find that some snow removal companies are also proactive and put down sand or salt. Also, be sure to find out if you get an unlimited # of plows during the season - what is the limit? Some companies set the total # of plows in a season and then anything beyond that is extra ($50 or so). I also read where public works departments will do some private driveways if they have the time. The key word here is "IF". I assume that is your driveway needs a plow that everyone elses does as well and the streets are full of snow. This means you will be waiting for them until all the regular scheduled work is done. Clearing sidewalks and walkways is a lot more time consuming than just running a plow on a driveway. If you want snow removal of your sidewalks or patios or walkways, you are looking at $40 an hour minimum and it could take hours depending on the equipment used. No matter what your needs, ask neighbors, friends, or family and see who they use. Get 3 quotes and get the services they offer written up in an estimate so you can compare apples to apples.
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