A Pre-Winter Snow Checklist for Westmount Homes

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Walk your property before the snow

The best time to plan for snow is when you can still see the ground. Walk around your driveway and front yard and look for anything that could be damaged or become a hazard once buried. In an established neighbourhood like Westmount, that often means raised driveway edges, cracked concrete, old steps, garden beds right beside the asphalt and basketball nets or decorations close to the driveway.

Make a note of anything that sticks up, anything fragile and anything that collects water. These are the things a snow crew needs to know about.

Take a few photos on your phone while you are at it. Pictures of the driveway edges, lawn and walkway before winter give you a clear record of what everything looked like, which is handy in spring when you are checking for any winter wear.

Edges, steps and drains

Before the season we mark edges, steps and drains so the crew can see exactly where the driveway ends and the lawn begins. Drains matter because a buried catch basin or downspout outlet can send meltwater across the driveway, where it freezes overnight. If you know where water pools in spring, tell us when you book.

• Trim back shrubs that hang over the driveway.
• Move portable basketball nets and planters off the driveway edge.
• Point out downspout outlets and drains near hard surfaces.
• Check that exterior lights by the driveway work for dark mornings.

Pick a snow storage spot

Every snowfall adds to the pile. In a typical Westmount front yard, the best spot is usually the lawn on the side away from the front walk, not right beside the street where it blocks the view of cars backing out. Keep snow away from the house foundation, gas meter and window wells. Choosing early prevents the pile from slowly creeping into the driveway by February.

If you share a driveway or the space between homes is tight, talk with your neighbour about where each of you will put snow. A quick conversation in November avoids frustration later when both piles end up in the same narrow strip.

Choose the right plan

Seasonal service runs December 1 to March 31 and is automatic every snowfall of 5 cm or more. You do not need to call, we make return visits in long storms, clear the City windrow and send a timestamped photo after every visit. Single or 1.5-car driveways are $650 to $725 plus HST, doubles $815, and three-car, paver or stamped driveways $1,050. If you would rather pay per storm, per-visit clearing is $70 to $85.

Add-ons include walkway and steps from $150, seasonal salt at $175 including freezing rain and refreeze visits, pet-safe de-icer at $120 and priority early-morning clearing at $125. Seniors and front-line workers save 5 percent on seasonal plans.

Think about the people using the walkway

Families have a lot of foot traffic: children, grandparents, friends, delivery drivers. Steps and walkways are where most winter falls happen. If anyone in your household has mobility concerns, or if a parent lives with you, adding walkway service and salt is often the most valuable part of the plan.

Ice is often a bigger risk than snow. London winters bring freeze-thaw cycles, so meltwater from a sunny afternoon can refreeze on the walkway overnight. Seasonal salt covers freezing rain and refreeze visits, not only snowfalls, which is exactly when the steps get dangerous.

Book before December 1

A 30 percent deposit holds your spot, with the balance due before December 1. Quotes are measured from City of London maps and aerial imagery and come back as a fixed price within 1 business day, so there is no need for a site visit.

Get a fixed price for your Westmount property

Ten minutes walking your property in November can save a lot of trouble in January. Request a free quote and we will measure your property from City of London maps and aerial imagery and send a fixed price within 1 business day, or call or text (548) 888-8702. Visit our Westmount snow removal page or compare snow removal prices.

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.