Outdoor Stairs to an Upper Unit or Deck: Winter Safety

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Want the driveway and front walk taken care of while you look after the stairs? Request a free quote. Residential quotes are measured from City of London maps and come back within 1 business day.

Why outdoor stairs ice up first

• Cold from both sides. Open stairs lose heat from above and below, so they freeze sooner than a walkway on the ground. Our guide on why steps and walkways get icy before driveways explains the same effect at ground level.
• Wind and drifting. Stairs along the side of a house often sit in a wind tunnel, and snow drifts onto the treads even after a storm has stopped.
• Roof drip. Stairs under an eave or a roof edge collect meltwater on sunny afternoons that refreezes at night. If snow slides off the roof above, see roof snow sliding onto steps and walkways.

Before winter: a quick stair check

• Handrails are firm all the way down, with no loose posts or brackets. People hold the rail much harder on icy days.
• Lights at the top and bottom work, and the bulb or motion sensor is not blocked by snow or ice.
• Gutters and downspouts near the stairs are clear, so water does not run across the treads. Why ice forms under downspouts has simple fixes.

Clearing the stairs safely

• Start at the top and work down, so you are always standing on a step you have already cleared.
• Mind where the snow goes. Do not push it onto the walkway, a lower door, a window well, a vent or the gas meter below. Our guide to keeping furnace vents and gas meters clear explains why those spots matter.
• Choose de-icers with care. Some products can damage wood, composite or concrete. Check the stair or decking maker's care guide before using salt, and use grit or sand for traction when it is very cold. If pets use the stairs, see ice melt products that are safer for pets and plants.

Agree who looks after the stairs

In a house with an upper unit, a basement suite or a family member living upstairs, the stairs can fall between the cracks. Settle it before the first storm: who clears the stairs, who salts them, and who checks them first thing in the morning. For rentals, check what the lease says, and landlords may want to ask their insurer what they expect. Our guides on snow removal for rental properties, basement apartments and side entrances and multigenerational homes and in-law suites cover the rest of the property.

The landing and the path at the bottom

The bottom of the stairs is where people step off onto the ground, often while looking at their phone or carrying groceries. Keep a full-width landing clear, connect it to the driveway or front walk, and keep snow piles away so meltwater does not run back across the landing and freeze. Raised decks need the same care: the deck stairs are only as safe as the patio door threshold above and the path below. See hot tubs, decks and patio doors in winter.

How a seasonal plan helps

The stairs are usually best handled by whoever lives up there, but the ground-level paths can be taken care of. If the outdoor stairs are part of the route to a door, mention them when you request your quote so we can tell you what can be included. 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 is cleared, and you get a timestamped photo after every visit. Edges, steps and drains are marked before the season, so they are easy to find under the snow.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Can you clear outdoor stairs to a second-floor unit?

Tell us about the stairs when you request your quote, including how many steps there are and where they lead. Walkway and steps service starts from $150, and a walk plus up to 6 steps is $175.