Snow Piling, Drainage and Refreeze on Commercial Parking Lots

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

The piling decision is really a drainage decision

Most people think of piling as a space problem: where can we put all this snow so cars can still park? That matters, but the bigger question is what happens when the pile melts. On a sunny afternoon, even in January, the edges of a pile start to soften and water runs downhill. As soon as the sun goes down, that water freezes. If it ran across a walkway, a drive aisle or an entrance, you now have a sheet of ice in exactly the place people walk.

Good piling starts with knowing which way your lot drains and where the catch basins are.

Know where your catch basins are

Catch basins are the grates in the pavement that take surface water into the storm system. When snow is pushed on top of them, melt has nowhere to go. It pools around the pile, spreads across the lot and freezes in a wide, flat sheet. Before the season, mark every catch basin with a stake and show it on the site plan. Piles should sit downhill of walkways and well away from drains, so meltwater can reach the basin without crossing a path.

Keep piles away from doors and walkways

Piles placed next to entrances or alongside sidewalks drip onto the walking surface every time the temperature rises. They also block the view of pedestrians stepping out between cars. A simple rule helps:

• No piles beside entrances, ramps or steps
• No piles on top of or uphill from walkways
• No piles in accessible spaces or their access aisles
• No piles against fire routes, hydrants or exit doors
• No tall piles at lot exits where they block drivers’ sight lines

If the only open space is next to a walkway, it may be better to lose a few parking spaces at the far end of the lot.

Plan for a full lot later in the winter

Early in the season there is lots of room. By February, the good spots can be full. Talk with your contractor about the plan for that point. Options include stacking piles higher in an approved area, using a section of the lot that is rarely needed, or relocating snow off site. Agree in advance how relocation would be priced so there is no surprise when it is needed.

Watch for problem spots and adjust

Even a well-planned lot will have a few places that ice up repeatedly, often because of a low spot in the pavement, a downspout or a pile that has shifted. A timestamped photo log from each visit makes these spots easy to see over time. Once you know where they are, the crew can salt them on every visit and you can consider a permanent fix in the spring, such as redirecting a downspout. Our salting and ice control page explains how we handle refreeze.

Put it in the contract

Piling areas should not be left to whichever operator is on shift. Mark them on a site plan, attach the plan to the written contract, and review it after the first big storm. Clear expectations protect the pavement, the landscaping and the people using your property. See our commercial snow removal page for what we include on each site.

Get a written quote for your site

Thames Valley Snow piles snow away from doors and drains on every commercial site and records each visit in a timestamped photo log, so problem spots get noticed early. Request a measured price through our quote form, or call or text (548) 888-8702. A written quote usually comes back within 2 business days.

What's included… and what's extra

Commercial snow service is priced per site from paved area, walkway length and opening time. A typical contract includes plowing at the agreed trigger depth, clearing before opening, hand-cleared entrances, sidewalks and ramps, and a timestamped photo log of every visit.

Common extras are quoted separately so you only pay for what the site needs: salting and de-icing per event, extra sidewalk or ramp coverage, after-hours or priority service, and snow relocation when piles run out of room. See commercial snow removal or request a site quote by calling or texting (548) 888-8702.