How Do You Prevent Plow Damage to Mailboxes and Fences?

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Mailbox and fence damage is one of the most common complaints during winter, but a lot of it can be prevented with a bit of planning before the season starts.

Marking the exact location of mailboxes, fence posts, and any low-lying obstacles with visible stakes or flags before the first snowfall helps plow operators see them clearly, especially once snowbanks build up and everything starts to look the same.

Mailbox posts that are already loose or weathered are much more likely to get knocked over from the spray of snow coming off a plow blade, even without direct contact. Reinforcing or replacing a wobbly post before winter reduces this risk significantly.

Clear, consistent markings make a big difference, since an operator working in the dark during a storm relies on them to find the edges and obstacles once snowbanks build up.

At Thames Valley Snow, we mark edges, steps and drains on every seasonal property before the season, so obstacles are identified before the first storm.

Know Your Problem Spots

Most plow damage happens in a few predictable places: the corners where the driveway meets the road, the edge of the lawn along curved driveways, fence posts close to where snow gets stacked, and mailboxes sitting right beside the curb. Walk your property and look at where snow naturally has to go. If the only place to pile snow is against your fence, that fence is going to take pressure all winter.

Mark these spots with tall, flexible driveway markers that will still be visible above a snowbank in February. Short garden stakes disappear after the first big storm.

Mailboxes and the City Plow

Not all mailbox damage comes from your driveway contractor. The City plow throws heavy snow off its wing as it passes, and a curbside mailbox takes the full force. Setting the post back slightly from the road, using a sturdy post, and making sure the box is securely fastened all help. The City windrow left across your driveway is also cleared on our seasonal plans, which keeps operators from having to push hard into the curb area repeatedly.

Fences, Lawns and Decorative Surfaces

Leave a buffer between where snow is stacked and the fence line when you can, and tell your provider where you prefer piles to go. Lawn edges along driveways are easy to scuff, so markers along the full length of the drive are worthwhile. For pavers and stamped concrete, ask how the contractor protects the surface: on 3-car, paver and stamped drives we use a raised rubber-edge blade near decorative surfaces. More on our stamped and paver drives page.

Keep a Record

Take a few photos of your mailbox, fence and lawn edges before winter. We send a timestamped photo after every visit, which makes it easy to see what the property looked like after each clearing. Thames Valley Snow also carries $2,000,000 liability coverage.

What to Expect From a Seasonal Plan

Every seasonal customer gets the same basics: service from December 1 to March 31, automatic visits at 5 cm or more, return visits in long storms, the City windrow cleared, and a timestamped photo after each visit. Quotes are prepared from City of London maps and aerial imagery within 1 business day, and we carry $2,000,000 liability coverage, are WSIB registered and are LPMA members.

Plow Damage FAQ

What markers work best?

Tall, flexible fibreglass driveway markers with a reflective tip stay visible over snowbanks.

Will you mark my property?

Yes. For seasonal customers, edges, steps and drains are marked before the season begins.

Protect your property this winter with a free quote, or call or text (548) 888-8702. See residential snow removal for details.

What's included… and what's extra

A Thames Valley Snow seasonal residential plan starts from $650 for a standard driveway. It covers clearing the driveway every time snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your agreement, plus the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. Larger driveways are priced on our snow removal prices page.

Popular add-ons, priced per season: walkway and steps $150–175, salting $175, priority service $125, pet-safe salt $120, driveway extension $95 and city sidewalk clearing $90. Add only what your property needs; everything is listed on the quote so there are no surprises. Get your fixed price or call or text (548) 888-8702.