Want the driveway and front walk cleared so you can focus on the backyard? Request a free quote. Residential quotes are measured from City of London maps and come back within 1 business day.
Where the barbecue should sit
- Outdoors only. Never use a barbecue in a garage, a shed, a closed porch or any covered space with walls. Barbecues give off carbon monoxide.
- Away from the house. Follow the clearances in your grill maker's manual, and keep it away from doors, windows, vents and anything that can burn.
- Not under a roof edge. Snow and ice can slide off the roof onto you and the grill. See roof snow sliding onto steps and walkways.
- Not near vents or the gas meter. Heat, grease and the snow you clear around the grill should stay away from furnace vents and the meter. Our guide to keeping furnace vents and gas meters clear explains why.
The path from the door to the grill
You will walk this path carrying hot food, plates and tools, often in the dark. Clear it to full width before you start, not halfway through cooking. Treat any ice with salt or grit, and check it again later, because the heat from the grill and your footsteps can melt snow that refreezes once the sun goes down.
- Keep the patio door track and threshold free of snow and ice so the door opens and closes properly. Hot tubs, decks and patio doors in winter has tips on frozen tracks.
- Deck boards and stairs get slippery fast. Check your decking maker's care guide before using salt, and use grit for traction.
- Turn on an outdoor light, and keep a boot tray inside the door so salt and slush stay off the floor. See keeping salt and slush out of your house.
Watch the ice under and around the grill
A grill warms the ground around it. Snow melts, water runs off the lid and grease drips, then it all freezes once the grill cools. Clear a wider area around the barbecue than you think you need, and put down grit where you stand. Do not pile the snow you clear right next to the grill or against the house.
Propane cylinder safety in the cold
- Store propane cylinders outdoors, upright and away from doors and windows. Never bring one into the house, the garage or a shed, even to warm it up.
- Brush snow off the cylinder, valve and hose gently. Do not chip ice off the valve or connections.
- Check the hose and connections the way your grill maker recommends, and replace damaged parts before using the grill.
- If you smell gas, turn off the cylinder valve if it is safe to do so, move away and call 911 or your supplier from a safe place.
After cooking
Close the valve, let the grill cool completely before putting the cover on, and brush fresh snow off the cover after storms so the weight does not build up. Leave the path and the area around the grill clear for next time. If you are hosting, our guide on hosting holiday guests: parking and safe walkways covers the front of the house too.
How a seasonal plan helps
The backyard is yours to enjoy, but the driveway and the path to your front door can be taken care of. 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
Do you clear backyard paths and patios?
Our plans cover the driveway and, with the walkway and steps add-on, the walk and steps to your door. If you want another path included, mention it when you request your quote.
Want it handled for you?
Seasonal snow removal from $650 + HST. Automatic at 5 cm, photo after every visit.
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