Gravel Driveway Snow Removal: What Homeowners Should Know

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Why gravel is different

On a paved driveway, a plow blade or shovel slides over a hard, flat surface and takes the snow down close to the pavement. Gravel is loose. If the ground under it has not frozen yet, a blade or snowblower can pick up stones along with the snow and throw them onto the lawn, the garden beds or the road.

Because of that, it is common on gravel to leave a thin layer of packed snow on the surface rather than scraping right down to the stones. That layer protects the gravel, and once it freezes it gives a firm base to drive on. It also means a gravel driveway rarely looks as bare as a paved one after clearing, which is normal.

Early winter versus mid-winter

The first few snowfalls are the trickiest. In late November and early December the ground is often still soft, so stones move easily and ruts form where tires run. Once a few cold weeks have frozen the base, the surface becomes much more stable and clearing is easier. A thaw in January or February can soften it again for a few days.

During soft spells, try to drive in the same tracks and avoid sharp turns on the gravel, which dig in and push stones aside.

Get the driveway ready in the fall

• Fill potholes and low spots before freeze-up. Water collects in dips, freezes, and turns them into ice patches and bigger holes by spring.
• Rake or grade the surface so it is even and slightly crowned, which helps meltwater run off to the sides.
• Mark both edges with tall stakes or driveway markers, especially where the gravel meets the lawn or a ditch. On gravel the edge is very hard to see under snow. Our guide to marking driveway edges before winter shows how.
• Mark anything low and easy to hit: landscape lights, a culvert end, large rocks or a sump pump outlet.
• Move garden ornaments and planters back from the edges, where snow will be piled.

Salt, sand and traction

Salt works on gravel, but it behaves differently. Brine soaks down between the stones instead of staying on the surface, and melting the packed layer can leave the gravel soft and muddy during a thaw. For many gravel driveways, sand or a traction product gives better grip on a hill or curve without breaking up the base. Our guide is salt or sand better for icy driveways? compares the two.

Walkways and steps near the house are usually paved or concrete, and that is where salt does the most good. If freezing rain or refreeze is the main worry, a seasonal salt routine for the walkway and steps often makes more sense than salting the whole gravel driveway.

Long and rural gravel driveways

Many gravel driveways in the townships around London are long, and some run beside a ditch. Drifting is a bigger issue on open lots, and the drifts often form in the same place every storm. If that sounds like your driveway, our guides on country property snow removal and how pricing changes for long driveways are worth a read.

Spring clean-up

Even with care, some stones end up on the lawn by March. When the snow is gone and the lawn has dried out a little, rake the stones back onto the driveway before the first mow. A spring top-up of gravel and a fresh grade are normal maintenance for most gravel surfaces. See spring melt and driveway drainage for what else to check.

Tell us it is gravel when you ask for a quote

We measure every driveway from City of London maps, but maps do not always show what the surface is. When you request a quote, mention that the driveway is gravel and point out anything near the edges that should be marked. That helps us plan the visit properly from the first snowfall.

How a seasonal plan helps

A gravel driveway still needs clearing every storm, and a seasonal plan takes it off your list. A seasonal snow removal plan clears your driveway automatically from December 1 to March 31 whenever 5 cm or more falls. In long storms we come back for return visits, the City windrow at the end of the driveway is cleared, and you get a timestamped photo after every visit.

Prices (all plus HST):

• Single or 1.5-car driveway: $650 to $725 for the season
• Double driveway: $815
• 3-car, paver or stamped driveway: $1,050
• Walkway and steps: from $150, or $175 for a walk plus up to 6 steps; sidewalk $90
• Seasonal salt, including freezing rain and refreeze visits: $175
• Pet-safe de-icer: $120
• Priority early-morning clearing: $125
• Season extension from November 1 to April 15: add $95

Prefer to pay only when you need it? Per-visit snow removal is $70 to $85 a visit. Seasonal plans take a 30% deposit with the balance before December 1, and seniors and front-line workers save 5% on seasonal plans. We carry $2,000,000 in liability insurance, are registered with WSIB and are LPMA members.

Get a quote

Every quote is measured from City of London maps, and residential quotes come back within 1 business day. Ask for a free quote or call or text (548) 639-2069.