Why Steps and Walkways Get Icy Before Driveways

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Steps lose heat from more sides

A driveway slab sits flat on the ground, and the earth underneath holds some warmth through the winter. Steps are different. Concrete or stone steps, and especially wooden or metal stairs and landings, are exposed to cold air on the top, the front and sometimes the sides and underneath. They cool down quickly and stay colder than the ground around them. Like a bridge deck on a highway, they can freeze while nearby pavement is still just wet.

Water collects where you walk

Steps are surrounded by things that drip. Roof edges, eavestroughs that overflow, railings and door overhangs all shed meltwater right where people step. Snow tracked off boots melts at the doorway and runs back down. Treads that tilt slightly toward the house, or worn spots in the middle, hold small puddles that refreeze overnight. A few millimetres of clear ice on a step is very hard to see.

Foot traffic polishes snow into ice

Light snow on a walkway gets packed by every footstep. Within a day it can turn into a smooth, compacted layer that bonds tightly to the surface. Driveways get some of this too, but tires spread the load and the plow clears most of the surface at each visit. A narrow walkway concentrates traffic into one line, which is why a packed path often appears down its centre.

Practical ways to keep steps safer

• Clear steps fully, edge to edge, rather than leaving a packed path.
• Treat steps before an icy night, not just after ice forms.
• Use a de-icer that is gentle on your step material, and on pets if you have them.
• Fix overflowing eavestroughs and drips above doorways before winter.
• Add a sturdy handrail and keep it free of ice.
• Keep a mat inside so tracked-in snow does not melt on the landing.

Making steps part of the plan

Because steps behave differently, they need their own attention. Our walkway and steps service starts from $150 plus HST, and steps are marked before the season so the crew can find them under snow. A pet-safe de-icer option is available for $120 plus HST if you would rather avoid ordinary salt near the door.

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 residential snow removal and salting and ice control.

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.