How Sun and Shade Change Ice on Your Driveway

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

The low winter sun

In southern Ontario the sun sits low in the sky through December and January, so shadows are long. A two-storey house, a tall fence or a row of evergreens can shade a strip of driveway for most of the day. That strip gets almost no solar warming, while a sunny section next to it may warm well above air temperature. The difference is visible after any snowfall: one side dries, the other stays white or glazed.

Which way your driveway faces matters

• South-facing driveways generally get the most sun and clear fastest after a storm.
• North-facing driveways and those tucked beside a house can stay icy for days.
• East-facing areas get morning sun, which helps before the morning commute.
• West-facing areas warm in the afternoon and can produce meltwater that refreezes after sunset.

Neighbouring houses, trees and garages change this a lot, so your driveway may behave differently from the one next door.

Where sunny melt becomes shady ice

The trickiest pattern is when water from a sunny area flows into a shaded one. Snow piled in the sun melts in the afternoon, the water runs downhill into a shadow, and it freezes there long before the sunny section does. Common examples are the strip along the side of a garage, the area under a large tree near the street and the bottom of a sloped driveway that falls into the house's shadow.

How to plan around it

• Pile snow where its meltwater will not run into shaded areas.
• Clear shaded strips right down to the pavement; even a thin layer will not melt there.
• Treat shaded sections first when ice is forecast.
• Remember that ordinary rock salt slows down a lot in deep cold, roughly below -10°C, and shaded pavement is colder than the air reading suggests.
• Consider trimming low branches that shade walkways, if it suits your landscaping.

Tell us about your shady spots

You know your property better than any map. When you request a quote, mention any area that always stays icy. Our crews mark edges, steps and drains before the season and pay attention to snow storage so melt does not run into problem spots.

How our seasonal service handles it

Our seasonal plans run from December 1 to March 31. Clearing is automatic every time 5 cm or more falls, so you never need to call or book a visit. In long storms we come back for return visits, and the City windrow at the end of your driveway is cleared as part of the service. Before the season starts we mark your edges, steps and drains so they can be found under snow. After every visit you get a timestamped photo. We are fully insured with $2,000,000 in liability coverage and registered with WSIB. Seasonal salting is available for $175 plus HST and includes freezing rain and refreeze visits, and seniors and front-line workers save 5% on seasonal plans. Prices are fixed for the season: single or 1.5-car driveways are $650 to $725, doubles are $815, and three-car, paver or stamped driveways are $1,050, all plus HST. We measure your property from City of London maps and aerial imagery and send a fixed quote within one business day. A 30% deposit reserves your spot, with the balance due before December 1.

Want this handled for you this winter? Request a free quote and we will measure your property and send a fixed price within one business day, or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also read more about salting and ice control and how it works.

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.