Winter is already almost upon us, which means so are the blizzards, sleet storms, and morning drives over black ice. Is your business prepared to handle these forecasts in a safe and controlled manner? Or will you admit defeat to Jack Frost, shut your doors, and lose out on valuable business opportunities all winter long? Keep your commercial property safe and running smoothly throughout these harsh weather events with these essential commercial snow removal techniques.
Snow Plowing & Shoveling
If your employees, customers, clients and suppliers cannot access your premises, business comes to a halt. Accordingly, your first order of business after a heavy snowfall should be to clear your sidewalks, walkways, entrances, stairways, and parking lots. Not only does it keep your commercial property functional and help to avoid injury lawsuits, but it also shows your customer base that you take their safety seriously. For larger properties, a snow plow will do the job in no time and with minimal effort. Shoveling is not out of the question for hard-to-reach areas, but of course, it can be time-consuming and physically demanding to do on your own.
Snow Removal
Just because you moved the snow off your access ways, that doesn’t mean it magically disappears. Especially if your region customarily sees several feet of snow with one storm, all that matter is bound to pile up into huge mounds. Your property may have a convenient area out of the way where it can sit and slowly melt away. However, you must be aware that the water runoff can still cause erosion and structural damage to your building, landscaping, and pathways. Plus, the water could run straight back onto your freshly cleared parking lot and refreeze overnight into black ice, rendering all your safety precautions meaningless. The best course of action is to have the snow removed entirely from your premises and hauled to a safe location off-site.
Deicing
Unfortunately, snow is not the only villain of the winter months. Ice is even more dangerous because it’s harder to spot and much more slippery than snow. When applied before a weather event, deicing treatments like rock salt can help to prevent ice formation. A post-storm application of a deicer can also help to break down existing ice.
Emergency Winter Weather Plan
By now, you might be thinking, “Snow plowing, shoveling, snow removal AND deicing? Who has time for all that?” Thankfully, you don’t have to spare the time or effort. While you remain focused on running your business, you can rely on professional snow removal services to do all that hard labor in the cold and wet outdoors for you.
In addition, a snow removal contractor can help you make a winter weather contingency plan in advance so that you’re not caught in a bad storm without anyone to dig you out for weeks. First, they will evaluate your property and assess its unique risks and requirements. Next, they will sit down with you to discuss an appropriate service plan. Make sure to work with a contractor who offers 24/7 emergency service, daily weather reporting, and the right price model for your budget. Most snow removal plans are priced according to each service request, each weather event, or a full-season package.
In Conclusion
As long as your commercial property remains clear of snow and ice, your business can stay open and enjoy a winter as prosperous as the summer. Snow and ice removal don’t have to break your back or your bank either. When you work with a trusted exterior maintenance provider, you can rest assured that your grounds will be kept safe and operational even at a moment’s notice. Your and your loyal customers can look forward to another peaceful winter of business as usual.
